Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Resources

• Top Risks Affecting Grocery Store Workers
• Grocery Stores: Risks, Hazards, and Solutions
• MSD Prevention: Hiring & Onboarding Tips for Success
• Developing Workplace Violence and Harassment Policies and Programs
• Workplace Violence and Harassment Toolbox
• Ergo Insights Safe Manual Material Handling

• Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PSR) Frequently Asked Questions
• Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PSR) Checklist for New Equipment
• Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PSR) Checklist for Modified Equipment

Each year the MLITSD schedules proactive health and safety campaigns/initiatives to raise awareness of workplace hazards and promote compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.

Three initiatives impacting agriculture and industrial operations are running this year.

• Material Handling (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025)
  • Workplace inspections have begun 

• Exposure to Chemical Agents (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025)
  • Workplace inspections begin July 2, 2024

• WHMIS Training (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025)
  • Workplace inspections begin July 2, 2024

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services is here to provide support as you prepare your business for an inspection. For resources, free webinars and other support, please visit this page.

Inspections run April 1 – September 30, 2024

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will be conducting a proactive inspection campaign in the southwestern Ontario region (Hamilton, Niagara areas) focused on workplaces within the steel and heavy manufacturing sectors. Inspectors will visit:

• businesses with a high rate of Workplace Safety & Insurance Board lost-time injury claims;
• companies with a history of right to refuse calls or concerns made to the Ministry;
• workplaces that have not been visited in the last five years; or
• new unregistered workplaces.

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) is here to provide support as you prepare your facility for an inspection. WSPS is partnering with the MLITSD to deliver a series of webinars aimed at educating and empowering employers with information to strengthen their health and safety programs. To find out more and register, please visit this page.

Material handling resources for workers, supervisors and employers

Material handling is a high-risk hazard impacting many workplaces and workers in Ontario. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has made material handling a focus of their workplace inspections from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. To help you prepare for the inspections and to make your workplace safer, we’ve developed free resources so employers, supervisors and workers can better understand material handling hazards. Supervisor and employer resources are available in English. The worker resources are available in French,  Spanish, Mandarin, Punjabi, Tagalog  and English.

Share these resources to make your workplace safer.

Industry Focused, Industry Driven: Discover the primary causes behind the top safety risk in Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) from manual material handling is the top risk to workers in the Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution industry. Gain frontline insights into the primary causal factors from industry experts with results from a research study facilitated by WSPS. See what the root cause analysis (RCA) revealed about the underlying causes of MSDs and what they mean for your business with the following resources:

• Whitepaper – Learn about the top health and safety risks in Food & Beverage Wholesale Distribution and the root causes of MSDs from manual material handling from industry leaders.
• Toolkit – Access resources to address the risks of MSDs in your facility.
• Infographic: Top 10 Causes of MSD Hazards from Manual Material Handling

New Worker Multilanguage Resources for Manufacturing and Agriculture

The people in your workforce have a wide range of backgrounds. Your employees may include new Canadians, temporary foreign workers, or others with English as their second language.

All workers have a right to learn how to keep safe on the job, and information needs to be available in languages they understand. That’s why WSPS has developed easy-to-use resources in different languages:

• Agriculture resources (videos and written tips) are available in English, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese and cover 3 top hazards (machine safety, tractor safety and working at heights/on ladders). There is a QR poster available that can be printed so workers can easily scan the language of their choice.
• Manufacturing resources are available in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Tagalog, French and Mandarin. They cover hazards that can contribute to serious injuries and fatalities. Workers can also access resources using the manufacturing resources QR poster.

Share these resources to help your workers better understand how to protect themselves on the job and make your workplace safer. You can also print a QR code poster (manufacturing or agriculture) so your team can easily access these resources on their mobile device.

Small Business Health & Safety Orientation Handbook Generator

Small businesses with limited resources can’t afford to skimp on worker orientation. Within minutes the new Small Business Health & Safety Handbook Generator will help your small business quickly produce a health and safety handbook that provides an overview of health and safety legislation in Ontario. It outlines the responsibilities of the employer, supervisor, and worker as defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and covers basic orientation requirements, including workplace duties, violence and harassment, emergency information, and an introduction to common workplace hazards. Access the new handbook generator at Health & Safety Orientation Handbook Generator.

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