Ontario health and safety law requires employers to ensure supervisors complete an awareness training program within one week of beginning work as a supervisor.
 
The WHSC has scheduled training to help workplaces meet this supervisor awareness obligation outlined in Ontario Regulation 297/13—Occupational Health and Safety Training and Awareness. 
 
What:      Supervisor Health & Safety Training*   Register now  Training details        
When:     February 9, 2015 
Where:    Barrie, Cornwall, Hamilton, London, Mississauga, Peterborough, Renfrew/Pembroke,
                Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Toronto
 
*a similar WHSC Supervisor Health & Safety Training is available for online delivery
 
Employers will want to ensure both compliance and competence. Ministry of Labour inspectors continue to issue work orders to employers not complying with their duty to ensure supervisors (and workers) have completed awareness training.
 
Meantime, a Burlington, Ontario-based company was recently fined $70,000 relating to a workplace incident that led to a worker suffering bone fractures, amputation of the tip of one finger and other injuries. The worker was being trained by a supervisor. The MOL found the employer had not ensured the trainer/supervisor was familiar with relevant legislation and the charges related to supervisory competency.
 
In addition to the supervisor awareness training obligation, the WHSC Supervisor Health & Safety Training program helps employers to meet more extensive supervisor “competency” obligations. This obligation mandates employers to appoint a competent person as a supervisor [Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act) section 25(2)(c)]. A competent person is defined as someone who:  

• is qualified because of knowledge, training and experience to organize work and its performance,
• is familiar with the Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
• has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety in the workplace [section 1(1), the Act].

Employers have many other training obligations mandated by law including Certification Training for joint health and safety committee members. To help employers meet these obligations the WHSC has scheduled a range of training programs in many Ontario communities through 2015. The following are a few upcoming examples:
 
What:   Basic Certification Training   Register now (location details)  Training details          
When:  February 10-13, 2015 and March 10-13, 2015
 
What:   Office & Professional—Certification Workplace-Specific Hazard Training   Register now  (location details)  Training details
When:  March 24-26, 2015
 
Want additional information about how the WHSC can help your workplace comply with the extensive training obligations mandated by health and safety law?
 
Call:    1-888-869-7950
Visit:   www.whsc.on.ca
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca