Best practices in preventing slips, trips and falls in winter

Falling temperatures, ice and snow can create many hazards. The first snowfall of the year will inevitably result in accidents on the road or slips and falls on the walkways and stairs. An effective workplace safety program should focus on prevention by reminding workers about their roles and responsibilities. Hazard identification is the first step in preventing workplace injuries.
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Employers should focus on preventing ice and snow from building up on walkways, stairs and in parking lots. Attention should be paid not only the areas that customers use but also to outdoor break areas or secondary entrances that might be used by staff and for deliveries. De-icing should be done throughout the day if weather conditions changes.

Attention should also be paid to indoor areas near entrances, where snow and ice may be tracked in. Actively clean floors indoor throughout the day to prevent melting snow and ice from creating slippery surfaces, and use hazard signs to alert workers and visitors of potential hazards.
Tips for employers
  • Clear parking lots and walkways before workers arrive at work and throughout the day if conditions change
  • Use salt or other de-icing material to keep walkways and parking lots ice-free
  • Clearly identify potential hazards, including areas of changing elevation, steps or areas
  • Remind employees about best practices in preventing slips, trips and falls
Tips for employees
  • Walk slowly and deliberately, focusing on the path ahead
  • Use handrails when available
  • Avoid slippery surfaces such as snow banks and icy areas. Walk along grassy areas if walkways are icy.
  • Wear appropriate, slip-resistant footwear when outside and change into indoor footwear
  • Wipe shoes clean on floor mats when entering a building to prevent tracking ice and snow throughout the building
  • Report all slips, trips and falls to employers immediately

Understanding Changes to JHSC Certification Standards

There are two sets of Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Certification Standards – the 1996 Certification Standards (all courses completed prior to February 29, 2016) and the 2016 Certification Standards (all courses completed after March 1, 2016). If you have 20 or more employees then you are required to have a JHSC with at least two certified members – one representing workers and one representing management. Certified members must complete both Part I (basic training) and Part II (workplace-specific training).
Under the New 2016 Standards
  • Part I, Part II & Refresher training must be taken from a MOL approved trainer.
  • Part I and Part II training must be completed within 6 months of each other
  • Refresher Training must be taken every 3 years to maintain certification status,
  • Part I is a minimum of 3 days & Part Two is a minimum of 2 days. Refresher training is 1 day (6.5 hours).
What Training Classes Should Employees Take?
Employees who have completed both Part I and Part II before March 1, 2016 were trained based on the 1996 Certification Standards. As long as there are no new hazards in the workplace, these employees do not need to do refresher training either Part I or Part II. Part II should be taken again if there are new hazards or a new workplace.

Employees who completed only Part I prior to March 2016 are required to take the new Part II Certification (based on the 2016 standards). Part I does not need to be repeated. Register for training.

Employees who have not completed Part I or Part II prior to March 2016 must complete both Part I and Part II based on the 2016 Certification Standards to become Certified Members, as mandated by the Ministry of Labour. Register for training.

Refresher Training Requirements
The 2016 Certification Standards require a refresher course to be completed every 3 years but no refresher courses are required for employees who have completed the courses based on the 1996 Certification Standards (the 1996 Certification Standards are "grandfathered in").

First Aid Training Saves Lives

Knowing basic first aid and CPR can be a lifesaving skill, both at home and at work. Employers who provide employees with first aid and CPR training ensure that their workplace comply with both federal and provincial/territorial occupational health and safety legislation. More importantly, the skills learned at a first aid training course can help to save a life in an emergency situation in the workplace, at home or in the community.

 In the past 12 months, two individuals who have participated in On-site First Aid/CPR training classes taught by MidSouthWest Training and Consulting trainers have used their first aid skills to save lives in the community. In one case, the individual saved a 13-year-old boy who nearly drowned in a family swimming pool. In the second case, the individual saved the life of a 23-year-old woman by performing emergency CPR on the beach at Port Dover before the arrival of the paramedics. The employee had just completed an optional First Aid/CPR training the day before the incident. When interviewed about her experience using the first aid training, the employee who saved the life of the 23-year-old woman said "I wasn’t required to complete this course for work, but I decided to do it for my own personal advancement. For all those who don’t think they need a CPR course, you just never know if tomorrow could be the day you will. I hope my colleagues hear this story and sign-up."

MidSouthWest offers comprehensive First Aid and CPR training that goes beyond the minimum Level A standard (adults only) by meeting the Level C standard (adults, children and babies). All of our First Aid/CPR classes include defibrillator training. We offer both initial and refresher training, including blended online and in-class training options. Contact MidSouthWest today to discuss First Aid training options for your employees.
For all those who don’t think they need a CPR course, you just never know if tomorrow could be the day you will.
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Consequences of inadequate equipment operator training

A series of recent cases involving workers who have sustained serious injuries or died as a result of inadequate equipment operation training highlight the devastating human and financial consequences of poor quality health and safety training. This August, the Town of Innisfil was fined $100,000 after a worker was critically injured in an incident involving a forklift truck, Goldcorp Canada was fined $100,000 for failure to provide a haulage car operator with adequate training, and a Sudbury company was fined $200,000 after the death of a worker caused by improper operation of a load haul dump. In addition to fines, company’s can face long stop-work orders, resulting in thousands of dollars of lost revenue.

MidSouthWest Training and Consulting offers equipment training courses taught by experienced trainers who can ensure that workers understand how to conduct the required pre-inspections, operate equipment safely, and understand the risks and challenges of operating equipment such as lift trucks, boom lifts, and overhead cranes. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

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Worker Roles and Responsibilities

Two of the most common questions that our trainers are asked is “what defines a worker” and “what are workers’ roles and responsibilities?” This article answers both questions, as well as outlines the roles and responsibilities of employers and supervisors.

What defines a worker?
The OHSA’s definition of “worker” includes both paid and unpaid workers. That means that unpaid students and trainees have the same duties and rights as paid workers. For example, they have to work in compliance with the OHSA and regulations, operate equipment safely, and report any hazards to the employer or supervisor. Unpaid workers also have the right to know about workplace hazards and refuse unsafe work. All workers, including unpaid students and trainees, must complete the basic occupational health and safety training required by Ontario Regulation 297/13 (Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training). For more information, visit the Ministry of Labour website Frequently Asked Questions about the definition of a worker.
​Roles and Responsibilities
Worker Roles and Responsibilities:
  • reporting hazards in the workplace
  • working safely and following safe work practices
  • using the required personal protective equipment for the job at hand
  • participating in health and safety programs established for the workplace

Supervisor Roles and Responsibilities
Supervisors are responsible for:
  • making workers fully aware of the hazards that may be encountered on the job or in the workplace
  • ensuring that workers work safely
  • responding to any of the hazards brought to their attention, including taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker
Joint Health and Safety Committee Members' Roles and Responsibilities
Joint health and safety committee members and health and safety representatives also have roles to play in the workplace. For more information see our JHSC Frequently Ask Questions page.
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Employer Roles and Responsibilities
The employer has the greatest responsibilities with respect to health and safety in the workplace and is responsible for:
  • taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker
  • ensuring that the IRS is established, promoted, and that it functions successfully
  • ensuring that equipment, materials and protective equipment are maintained in good condition
  • establishing a strong health and safety culture in a workplace by providing information, instruction and supervision to protect worker safety
  • establishing and cooperating with the joint health and safety committee​
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Keeping construction sites safe

Approximately 30% of all work-related traumatic fatalities and occupational disease fatality claims for workplaces in Ontario occurred in the construction sector, yet the sector comprises only 6.7% of all provincial employment and 8.4% of WSIB-insured employment. In the construction sector:
  • 36% of traumatic fatalities are due to falls from heights
  • 51% of fatal occupational disease claims caused by exposure to asbestos
  • 53% of non-fatal occupational disease claims are associated with noise-induced hearing loss.
(Source: Government of Ontario)

The Ontario government is committed to keeping construction sites safe. As part of that commitment, the MOL has mandated Working at Heights training for all employees who use fall protection equipment on construction sites. In March 2017, the MOL extended the transition period for workers to obtain Working at Heights Training. This extension applies only to those workers who have previously completed a Fall Protection or Fall Arrest training program. To comply with the MOL regulations, employees must be registered in an Working at Heights course approved by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) that is scheduled before October 1, 2017 and have completed a Fall Arrest/Fall Protection training program previously. Workers who have not previously completed Fall Arrest/Fall Protection training are required to complete CPO-approved Working at Heights training course before working at heights.
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MidSouthWest Training and Consulting offers Working at Heights training classes. Register your employees today to ensure that you comply with MOL regulations. The MOL will be conducting site visits throughout the summer to ensure compliance. Workers need to demonstrate proof of enrollment in an CPO-approved Working at Heights course to avoid penalties.
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7 things to include on your health and safety bulletin board

Employers in Ontario are required to post health and safety information in a prominent location in the workplace. There are 7 things that every company should have posted on the Health and Safety Bulletin Board. We've included a summary of the 7 essentials components as well as links to free downloads below. 

What you need to know about the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

​All organizations with 1 or more employee(s) in Ontario must comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The purpose of the AODA is to ensure that all Ontarians have fair access to programs and services in Ontario. The AODA outlines standards to help businesses and organizations identify and remove barriers and improve accessibly in five key areas:

  1. Customer Service Standard
  2. Information and Communication Standard
  3. Employment Standard
  4. Transportation Standard
  5. Design of Public Spaces Standard
 
Since the AODA was enacted in 2005, there has been a transition period to enable organizations to comply. All employees are required to have received AODA training, even if they do not participate in customer service. MidSouthWest offers an online AODA training course that employees can complete in 1 hour.

Frequently Asked Questions about the AODA

​What is the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)?
The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)  is to ensure that all Ontarians have fair access to programs and services in Ontario. The AODA outlines standards to help businesses and organizations identify and remove barriers and improve accessibly in five key areas:
  1. Customer Service Standard
  2. Information and Communication Standard
  3. Employment Standard
  4. Transportation Standard
  5. Design of Public Spaces Standard
  
Who needs training on AODA?
All employees and volunteers – including paid and unpaid positions – regardless of whether they have contact with the public are required to receive training on the AODA. Anyone who participates in developing an organization’s policies, including Board Members is required to receive training on the AODA. Anyone who provides goods, services or facilitates on behalf of your organization is required to receive training.
 
How do employees receive training on the AODA?
Employees require a minimum level of training by taking an online AODA training course. Additional training may be required based on the employee’s roles and responsibilities. MidSouthWest provides a comprehensive online AODA training course that employees can complete in 1 hour.
 
Does the size of the organization matter?
Yes. The requirements outlined by the AODA depend on the size of organization. AODA defines a small organization as one with 1-49 employees and a large organization with 50+ employees.  All organizations are required to ensure that employees receive a minimum level of training by taking an online AODA course.
 
For more information about the requirements based on the size of your organization, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/accessibility-rules-businesses-and-non-profits
 
How do I determine the size of my organization?
To determine the size of your organization, count all of the full-time, part-time, seasonal and contract workers. Volunteers, independent contractors and workers outside of Ontario are not included. Organizational size is considered to be the highest employee count at any time over the previous 12 month period.
 
Who enforces ADOA?
AODA is enforced by the Ministry of Labour through site inspections, Director’s Orders, administrative penalties and court enforcement.
 
What is the definition of a “disability” under AODA?
AODA uses the same definition of disability as the Ontario Human Rights Code. This includes both visible and non-visible disabilities.
 
How can organizations ensure that they comply with the AODA?
  1. Determine what you are required to do by understanding the law and assessing the size of your organization. Our online AODA training course will provide you with familiarity with the AODA.
  2. Assess your organization’s level of accessibility by reviewing your current accessibility achievements in sales, maintenance, human resources, programs, communication and training.
  3. Identify barriers to accessibility that make it difficult for people with disabilities to participate in your organization and access your organization. These may include barriers in attitudes of employees, information or communication barriers, or systemic barriers in policies and practices.
  4. Develop a strategy to address your organization’s barriers by identifying your priorities. When you have set your priorities, develop an accessibility policy and accessibility plan for your organization based on your priorities. Seek consultation from experienced health and safety professionals if you need advice or support . The government of Ontario provides guidelines for employers creating an accessibility plan.
  5. Review and update your plan regularly, and at least once every five years.
 
Where can employers and employees get more information about the AODA?
Read the AODA statute:
www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05a11

For more information visit:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/accessibility-laws

WSIB report states that Ontario workplaces have become safer

On June 26, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) released By the Numbers: 2016 WSIB Statistical Report. This report indicates that Ontario has the lowest lost-time workplace injury rate in Canada and that workers’ compensation claims have steadily decreased.
 
Report highlights​
  • Ontario’s lost-time injury rate in 2016 was 0.94 claims per 100 workers, compared with 1.5 for the entire country
  • The most common injury claims were for sprains and strains (39%), overexertion (17%) and lower back injuries (17%)
  • The WSIB paid $2,521M in total benefit payments and had 230,000 registered claims
  • The WSIB return-to-work team visited over 25,000 workplaces
  • Small and medium-sized employers represent 97 % of employers with WSIB coverage and 32 % of covered workers in 2016 (large employers account for just 3 % of employers but 68 % of employees covered)
  • The average number of days lost from work within 1 month for small-sized employers was 11.4, for medium-sized employers was 7.5 and for large-sized employers was 6.6.
  • The top industry for small employers covered was construction (36%). Manufacturing firms made up 23 % and 22 % of medium and large-sized employers
  
The report is accessible online at http://wsibstatistics.ca/

Protect your employees
It is the employers responsibility to take all necessary precautions to ensure employees safety. Employers can reduce their worker injury rates by ensuring that employees have adequate training.
  • Working at Heights training is designed provide workers who may be exposed to the hazard of falling from heights with adequate knowledge about fall hazards and general safety practices to work safely at heights
  • Ergonomics training will show workers how to effectively identify ergonomic hazards and reduce the risk of pulled muscles, fatigue, back strains, stress, etc. This course provides workers with effective strategies to reduce the three most common injuries reported to the WSIB in 2016 - sprains and strains, overexertion, and lower back injuries.
  • Due Diligence for Management training will ensure that your management team understand their roles and responsibilities in managing workplace health and safety​ ​

Bill 70

Bill 70, recently passed in Ontario. It opens the door for accreditation of health and safety management systems through changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). As in 2008 the WSIB was about to pilot their version of accreditation under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, a legislated power the WSIB has had since 1998. Although we don’t currently know what accreditation will look like under the OHSA, what we do know is that WSIB described accreditation in the context of a "program" vs. Bill 70’s “managed system”.

What’s the difference?
Some of you have safety programs, which are in large part reactive (responding to an event) or compliance driven (responding to minimum legal compliance). Fewer of us have managed systems, which can be described as a formalized process for managing risks through goal setting/planning/measurement/evaluation/continuous improvement. A managed system identifies hazards, assesses their risk, set targets, put processes in place to achieve those targets and measures results.

How do you start to implement a managed system?
Moving to a managed system does not mean you need to immediately adopt a managed system standard such as CSA Z1000 OR OHSAS 18001. A simpler path to begin with is to align activities with the pillars of managed systems. Common characteristics of managed systems include system objectives that are embedded in a continually improving loop.

Implementing a health and safety management system is an ongoing process. One of the key characteristics of a managed system, the continually improving loop, is the catalyst of this ongoing nature. With Ontario moving towards Accreditation of Health and Safety Management Systems, maybe the time to start the journey is now.

Contact MidSouthWest to arrange a consultation to assess your organization's needs today.

Article written by Michael Langlois, Trainer with MidSouthWest Training and Consulting.

Ministry of Labour Summer 2017 Inspection Blitz

From May 1 to August 31, the MOL officers will be visiting sites to ensure that employers comply with hours of work (HOW) agreements and overtime pay legislation. Maximum working hour limits are:
  • 8 hours a day
  • 48 hours of week
Employers must give employees at least:
  • 11 consecutive hours off each 24 hour period
  • 8 hours off between shifts
  • 24 consecutive hours off work each work week
  • 30 minute eating period after no more than 5 hours of work​
For overtime work to be permitted, employers must apply for approval from the MOL’s Director of Employment Standards. Employers and employees should agree to the terms of overtime work in writing before beginning overtime work. Employees are entitled to a rate of 1 ½ times the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 44 hours per week.

For more information visit the Ministry of Labour Infosheet about Hours of Work agreements.

Health Canada extends deadline for WHMIS 2015 Transition

On February 11, 2015, the Government of Canada published the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR). These regulations, combined with amendments to the Hazardous Products Act (HPA), modified the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 1988 to incorporate the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling for Chemicals (GHS) for workplace chemicals in Canada. This modified WHMIS is referred to as WHMIS 2015.

The transition to WHMIS 2015 included a three-stage transition period that is synchronized nationally across federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions.  However, Orders in Council have recently (May 19, 2017) been approved to defer two of the milestones for transition.  In the interim, suppliers and employers should be aware of the new transition deadlines.
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Manufacturers and importers now have until June 1, 2018 to comply with the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR).  The deadline of June 1, 2017 has been delayed by one year to June 1, 2018.

The second deadline of June 1, 2018 has been delayed by three months to September 1, 2018 whereby employers must either comply with the Controlled Product Regulations (CPR) or HPR requirements.

The target deadline set for employers by the Ontario Ministry of Labour remains unchanged at December 1, 2018.

​​What does that mean for you?

If you are searching for WHMIS 2015 Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s), you may not find them yet. The previous requirement was June 1, 2017 for compliance. You may only find Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) instead. The extension to June 1, 2018 means that manufacturers and importers now have until that date to comply.
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Since many manufacturers and importers were striving to meet the WHMIS 2015 deadline of June 1, 2017, it is very likely that you have products within your workplaces that have one or the other labelling system. The two systems, including pictograms, are vastly different. Your workers need to know both WHMIS and WHMIS 2015 as we transition. Let us know if we can help with your WHMIS or WHMIS 2015 training requirements.

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Young Worker Awareness Training

 With the start of the summer season, many employers hire additional workers to fill seasonal vacancies. Young workers (under 25 years of age) are ideal candidates for summer contracts because they are eager and available to work. It is the employer’s role to ensure that young workers understand their rights and are protected against workplace health and safety hazards. Ensure that all young workers comply with the Occupation Health and Safety Act:
  • Provide adequate training for equipment, materials and protective devices
  • Ensure that workplace health and safety policies, programs and procedures are current and always followed
  • Provide ongoing information, instruction and supervision to protect workers
  • Comply with sector-specific minimum age requirements ​
MidSouthWest provides online training resources to support young workers, including:

Roofing Company Fined $57,500 After Worker Falls Through Roof

A Mississauga roofing company pleaded guilty and has been fined $57,500 after a worker fell through a roof and was seriously injured.  The decision was released on March 1, 2017 and related to an incident that occured while a working was working on the roof of an industrial establishment on April 30, 2015.  The defendant failed to ensure that the worker was adequately protected by a guardrail system, in contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Ontario Regulation 213/91 (the Construction Projects Regulation).

The company pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to ensure that a worker worked in accordance with the measures and procedures prescribed by law. Full details about this story can be found on the Government of Ontario website (opens in a new window).

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Study shows that inspections with penalties reduce workplace injuries

A 2016 study reports that introducing government inspections with penalties would be an effective tool to motivate employers to improve health and safety standards. The study was published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH) in Toronto. The results indicate that there is strong evidence that introducing new OHS policy would be effective in reducing injuries and/or increasing compliance with legislation. This study compiled evidence from a variety of previously published works, as well as included new categories: compliance as an outcome, nature of enforcement, awareness campaigns, and smoke-free workplace legislation. 

In Ontario, there are approximately 350 labour inspectors inspecting around 250,000 workplaces, and a typical year includes about 80,000 field visits, resulting in about 140,000 orders, said IWH president Dr. Cam Mustard. “An order can be a relatively easy thing to deal with, or it can be a complicated thing to deal with, on the part of the employer.” A complete review of the study can be found on the OHS Canada website and the study can be downloaded from the American Journal of Industrial Medicine's website.

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Ontario Ministry of Labour Announces New Working at Heights Training Requirements

New working at heights training requirements for workplaces covered by the Construction Projects Regulations came into effect as of April 1, 2015. These include construction projects that make use of any of the following fall protection methods: travel restraint systems, fall restricting systems, fall arrest systems, safety nets and work belts or safety belts.

MidSouthWest / Langlois Safety offer an on-site Working At Heights training program is approved by the Chief Prevention Officer. As of April 1, 2015, employers must ensure that certain workers complete a working at heights training program before they work at heights and use fall protection equipment and systems.

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Steel Company Fined After Worker Injury

Mississauga steel company Schmolz + Bickenbach Canada Inc., an international manufacturer, was fined $100,000 after a worker was injured as a result of a falling steel slab. The worker suffered injuries that resulted in amputation. The incident took place in September 2014 and charges were laid in April 2016. Injuries were sustained while the driver of a flat-bed truck was standing on the back of the truck to assist a crane operator who was lowering a steel slab onto the truck bed. The slab dropped unexpectedly and the worker fell off of the back of the truck onto the concrete floor. Read the complete story on the Government of Ontario News website. 

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Importance of Fall Protection Equipment

A series of falls from heights in Ontario prompted Ontario's chief prevention officer, George Gritziotis, to urge supervisors, employers, unions, and regulators to substantially increase their efforts for health and safety at construction sites. "These workplace incidents are needless, intolerable tragedies that must stop," said Gritziotis. "We are continually seeing people lose their lives as a result of falls in construction." Ontario has recently introduced new working at heights training requirements for those who work at heights. Read the complete story on the CBC News website.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the OHSA

The Ontario Ministry of Labour answers a series of frequently asked questions about the Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA), including:
  • What Ontario legislation now applies to workplace health and safety?
  • What does the OHSA require?
  • Who is covered by OHSA?
Find out more on the Ontario Ministry of Labour website.
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