The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many workplace routines, but never have routine health and safety inspections been more important or required greater diligence.
 
Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act requires employers to take every reasonable precaution to safeguard worker health and safety (s25(2)(h)). Joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) and worker health and safety representatives though, also have both a right and responsibility to participate in the pursuit of safer, healthier workplaces. Included in their role is a requirement for JHSCs (s9(23-29)) or worker health and safety reps (s8(6-9)) to inspect the workplace at least one a month.
 
Given the evolving nature of this pandemic, what we know about the virus and its transmission, and concerns for future waves of infection, it may be prudent to conduct even more frequent workplace inspections. As many more workplaces prepare to reopen, conducting a thorough inspection prior to workers re-entering the workplace is reasonable too.
 
With this timing in mind, conducting effective COVID-19 workplace inspections is featured in this WHSC webinar in a series we are calling Confronting COVID-19. 
 
This webinar also launches WHSCs new tool created to support workplace inspections of COVID-19 hazards and workplace control measures, which is also available in French. The PowerPoint for this webinar is also available. Be sure to watch, download and share all these resources.

WHSC virtual training & COVID-19 docs

WHSC webinars, our virtual training classrooms and many COVID-19 resources are made available during these unprecedented and challenging times to help ensure workers, supervisors, joint health and safety committee members and others have access to a trusted source of training and information. Register today for any one of a growing list of WHSC virtual training classrooms. 

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WHSC role

As Ontario’s only designated health and safety training centre, WHSC supports workers, their representatives, supervisors, contractors and employers in every work sector with comprehensive training programs and information services. In all we do, we put workers first.  After all, it is their lives and livelihoods that are affected most when workplace hazards, including the COVID-19 virus go uncontrolled.

To learn more: 
Visit: www.whsc.on.ca
Call: 1-888-869-7950
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca