IHSA Safety Podcast

A federally regulated small business must have an occupational health and safety (OHS) program with components that promote a workplace safety culture. This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast (the second in a three-part series) discusses the first steps a federally regulated business should consider when building their OHS system and features Liz Tavares, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)—Labour Program/Government of Canada, and Michelle Roberts, Vice President, Stakeholder and Public Relations at IHSA.

Liz explains the necessary steps to establish a federal occupational health and safety program, which include finding a health and safety expert who is well-versed in the Canada Labour Code Part II, developing a comprehensive OHS program that incorporates a hazard prevention program, and reviewing the program every three years or whenever necessary.

Liz and Michelle also emphasize the importance of training as another necessary step. Employers have the duty to train managers and supervisors in health and safety, while employees must be informed and trained on workplace hazards, the use of personal protective equipment, and reporting hazards.

IHSA offers customized training programs and a number of free resources for federally regulated small businesses to assist them in identifying and addressing their most critical workplace hazards, developing a successful OHS program, and ensuring a healthy and safe working environment.

Free Resources

Reporting requirements for federally regulated firms

Legislative Requirements and Best Practices

Road Safety Solutions (ihsa.ca)

What supervisors need to know

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It is vital for small businesses to understand which jurisdiction governs them and what legislation they must follow. This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast (the first in a three-part series) discusses jurisdiction and features Liz Tavares, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) – Labour Program / Government of Canada, and Michelle Roberts, Vice-President, Stakeholder and Public Relations at IHSA.

Liz and Michelle discuss federal occupational health and safety—specifically for the transportation industry—and the differences between Canada Labour Code Part II and the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Transportation services fall under federal jurisdiction, including trucks and buses that cross provincial borders or international borders on a regular and continued basis.

Liz also highlights the importance of understanding the circumstances and requirements of each jurisdiction, as well as the steps an owner of a transportation company can take to determine which legislation applies to them.

IHSA has resources available at IHSA.ca that can assist an owner of a transportation company comply with legislation under their applicable jurisdiction. Employers can also connect with ESDC at labour.gc.ca or 1-800-641-4049 for more information.

Free Resources

Reporting requirements for federally regulated firms

Legislative Requirements and Best Practices

Transportation: Links & Resources

What supervisors need to know

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Traumatic events may occur suddenly and without warning. Depending on the severity, the level of exposure, and personal history and coping abilities, trauma can be problematic in the long term for some individuals, but can also affect most in the short term. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Kathy Martin, IHSA's Mental Health and Wellness Specialist, discusses trauma management in the workplace.

Kathy highlights the essential need for employers to be prepared to manage and respond to traumatic events and provide support to affected employees. It is critical for all businesses, regardless of size, to develop an Incident/Emergency Response Plan, which should include a Worker Trauma Response Plan. Kathy also discusses:

• The first steps to take when responding to a worker who has experienced trauma
• The four phases of Crisis Management—Prevention, Preparedness, Response (incident management), and Recovery
• Activities that workplaces can get involved in to prepare to respond to trauma, such as education and training, preparing resources, and setting up policies in place
• The importance of keeping trauma management simple. Interventions should be simple, and interactions should be short.

IHSA offers a wide range of free resources at IHSA.ca to help employers recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental wellbeing and how to support them.

Free Resources

Workplace Mental Health

Workplace Mental Health: Supporter Toolkit

Workplace Mental Health: Employer Toolkit

IHSA Safety Talks: Mental Health

How to Talk About Mental Health at Your Workplace

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Silica is a primary component of many construction materials. CAREX Canada estimates that approximately 380,000 Canadians are occupationally exposed to silica, and approximately 570 lung cancers are due to exposure to crystalline silica each year. Exposure to silica dust, produced during work processes such as digging, grinding, and drilling, can lead to serious health issues including lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease.

On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Jasmine Kalsi, IHSA’s Occupational Hygienist, and Shirly Yan, Occupational Hygienist at the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)—Toronto Clinic, discuss the hazards posed by silica in construction, addressing topics such as:

·      How a worker can get exposed to silica

·      Legal limits to which a worker can be exposed to silica

·      The responsibilities of workplace parties to ensure the health and safety of workers

·      The Silica Control Tool™ (SCT), a new tool from Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety System that collects details about a company, the jobsite, and planned work activity, estimating and analyzing the risk of silica dust exposure

Beginning in November 2023, workers and employers in the Ontario Construction Industry will receive full access to the Silica Control Tool™ to help assess silica exposure levels in the workplace.

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Noise is a significant hazard in the construction, transportation, and utility sectors, and extended exposure can be harmful at levels that workers may not notice or consider disruptive, resulting in gradual hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss continues to be the leading cause of non-fatal occupational disease claims in Ontario. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, we are joined once again by Jasmine Kalsi, IHSA's Occupational Hygienist, and Blair Allin, Canada's National Health and Safety Representative for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.

Jasmine and Blair discuss in detail noise exposure in the workplace and the need for audiometric testing. Audiometric testing is a non-invasive and painless hearing test that assesses an individual's ability to hear sounds at different intensities. Audiometric tests are beneficial in the workplace, as they allow both employers and workers to have a record of hearing function and determine the effectiveness of existing noise control measures.

Jasmine and Blair also speak on the process of getting and conducting audiometric testing in a workplace, emphasizing the necessity for employers to consider audiometric testing as a best practice.

Free Resources

IHSA Podcast Episode #63: Noise Exposure in the Workplace

Noise control tool

Noise assessment tool

Doing something about noise

Controlling noise exposure in construction

Basics of hearing protection for workers (eLearning)

Basics of hearing protection for employers, JHSC, and H&S reps

The leading causes of occupational illness in Ontario

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The Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) model, also known as the four stages of continuous improvement, is crucial for an organization's health and safety goals. On Episode 66 of the IHSA Safety podcast, Maren Gamble, Manager of Strategic Programs at IHSA, walked through the PDCA model as a fundamental framework for developing and implementing an effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). On this episode of the IHSA Safety podcast, Maren delves deeper into the practical application of the PDCA model, breaking it down as follows:

·      During the Plan stage, having a well-developed plan is critical, which involves carefully outlining each step and considering all possible scenarios to ensure everything is covered

·      The Do stage involves assigning roles to individuals and ensuring everyone understands their roles in order to carry out the plan effectively

·      The Check stage involves assessing the outcome of the event and identifying areas for improvement

·      The Act stage involves celebrating the successes and small victories, as well as making necessary adjustments to improve the overall OHSMS process

Every step of the PDCA model is important for continuous improvement and maintaining a safe work environment.

Free resources:

IHSA Magazine: Plan, Do, Check, Act

Steps to building your Road Safety Program using PDCA

Downloadable Template (click here)

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The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model is a fundamental framework for developing and implementing an effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). This approach allows organizations to continuously improve their safety performance, encourages employee engagement, and can be applied consistently across a variety of management systems.

On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Maren Gamble, Manager of Strategic Programs at IHSA, compares the planning phase of building an OHSMS to planning a boat ride to your favourite restaurant across the lake: in both cases, careful planning ensures that everyone involved stays safe and has fun.

Building an OHSMS can certainly be complex -- the PDCA model can help firms focus on the basics and create a solid foundation, so that their plan can be applied universally across each of their jobsites.

The PDCA is also a critical component of COR® and a requirement of participants in the WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program (HSEp).

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Implementing an occupational health and safety management system in an organization is crucial for both employees and employers, as it helps to address and control hazards in a safe and consistent manner. Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development recognizes two systems: COR® 2020 and ISO 45001:2018. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Carson Powell and Cameron Mitchell from AudEng International discuss the value of, and differences between, both systems. Both Carson and Cameron are certified occupational health and safety management system auditors for both COR® 2020 and ISO 45001:2018.

Carson and Cameron emphasize the importance of having a functional health and safety management system, as well as understanding which system may be better suited for an organization. They also provide valuable information on topics such as:

·      The differences between an accredited ISO audit and an unaccredited audit

·      Reasons why an Ontario employer might pick COR® 2020 over ISO 45001:2018

·      The need for an organization to have staff or consultants with high-level understanding of occupational health and safety

Free resources:

COR® – Getting Started

Benefits of COR®

COR® 2020

COR® Internal and External Audit

IHSA COR® Podcast

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As back-to-school season approaches, school bus operators and drivers must be ready and equipped to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for their passengers. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Doug Heintz, Vice President of High Risk Activity Training and Operations at IHSA, shares valuable tips on school bus safety and passenger management.

Doug, who worked in the bus business for 14 years, shares his experiences as a former school bus driver and the strategies used by school bus drivers, including understanding the Highway Traffic Act and Ministry of Transportation requirements. Doug also emphasizes the importance of understanding the seven Cs of student management: create, control, clarity, consistency, collaboration, consequences, and communication. These strategies will help ensure the safety and well-being of 50 to 60 children on school buses.

Free resources:

School buses – the importance of a pre-trip inspection

School bus safety

Driving near school zones

Stopping for school buses

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Noise exposure is a significant hazard in the construction, transportation, and utility sectors. When workers are exposed to noise for too long or at excessive levels, this can cause irreversible damage, resulting in hearing loss. This is known as Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).

In this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Jasmine Kalsi discusses the importance of raising awareness about the potential risks associated with noise in the workplace. Backhoes, chainsaws, and compressors are examples of equipment that could produce a loud amount of noise and cause damage to hearing, especially when used over a long period of time. Jasmine also highlights important details such as:

-       The misuse of music listening devices (like earbuds) by workers, which are not rated for hearing protection and can be considered counterproductive

-       The importance of establishing controls and evaluating their effectiveness to ensure the safety of workers’ hearing

-       The resources IHSA offers for employers and workers, including a safety talk on hearing protection, a chapter in the Construction Health and Safety Manual, and various eLearning courses

Free Resources:

Noise Control Tool

Noise Assessment Tool

Doing Something about Noise

Controlling Noise Exposure in Construction

Basics of Hearing Protection for Workers (eLearning)

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