Eleven years ago a small yet determined group of injured workers, suffering the debilitating effects of RSI or musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), began a movement to raise awareness of these injuries, their causes and the need for both solutions and fair compensation. Since then many others have joined their cause as workers around the world will attend events to mark the day.

Applicants for the 10^th annual WHSC post secondary scholarship initiative are being asked “What are the most effective ways to prevent work-related injuries, illness and death among new workers?” Their response, in words or vision, may secure them one of eight $1,000 scholarships.

It's not too late to register for specially priced WHSC ergonomics training programs. These training programs are one of the many events scheduled to mark the 11^th annual International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day on February 28.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

Lafarge Canada Inc. has been fined $350,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act). The incident took place on August 27, 2008 and resulted in a worker being killed.

Do you think your workplace is safe? Many do. But is that because of proactive efforts to meet or exceed government regulations or is it simply the fortunate absence of tragedy?

Your input is being sought to help strengthen Ontario’s health and safety Certification training standards. But don’t delay. Written submissions responding to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board’s (WSIB) consultation paper will be accepted until Friday, February 5, 2010.

The labour councils of Eastern Ontario invite workers and their representatives to attend their annual spring health & safety/workers compensation educational.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) Level 2 Committees training is one of many labour studies courses offered at Hamilton’s Mohawk College over the winter and spring 2010 sessions.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) encourages you to join thousands of health and safety advocates around the world this February 28 to mark the 11^th anniversary of International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day.

Ontario recently introduced new occupational exposure limits (OELs) for polyvinyl chloride and butenes along with 34 updates to existing OELs.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) Level 1 Occupational Health & Safety training is one of many courses being offered at Durham College over the winter and spring 2010 sessions. Each of these WHSC courses is part of Durham College's health & safety labour studies certificate program.

As of January 1, 2010, many Ontario workplaces will be required to track, report and develop plans to reduce the toxic substances they use, create and release.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

A Rockland, Ontario-based manufacture of polystyrene foam products has been fined $55,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act). Two company directors were also fined $5,000 each. The incident took place on July 21, 2007 and resulted in severe injuries to a worker's fingers.

The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) has recently released their much-anticipated public consultation paper on Certification training standards and guidelines. All interested parties are invited to comment. Written submissions will be accepted until Friday, February 5, 2010.

Ontario's labour movement won late stage amendments to a bill that if properly enforced will begin to protect workers against workplace violence and harassment.

Thirty years after Ontario's Occupational Health & Safety Act became law many workplaces are still not safe, much less healthy. Workers and their representatives are demanding better.

More than 300 activists turned out to celebrate the 10^th Annual Cesar Chavez Black Eagle Awards Dinner held in Toronto earlier this month.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) is pleased to announce the successful candidates for the 2009 WHSC Post Secondary Student Scholarships.

A new study published recently in the European Respiratory Journal claims to be the first to link exposure to nanoparticles with ill health in humans.

Certified members of joint health and safety committees have significant rights and responsibilities under Ontario's Occupational Health & Safety Act. By law they must complete Certification training to help them fulfill these many legal duties. To maintain this knowledge and skill level certified members are encouraged to attend a Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) 2009 Certification Renewal session.

A Goderich-based window and door manufacturer has been fined $65,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act). The incident took place in September, 2008 and resulted in a worker falling and suffering wrist and head injuries.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors will blitz workplaces this November to identify hazards responsible for slips, trips and falls.

The labour community in Toronto and York Region invites workers, worker representatives and others to register for their upcoming fall weekend educational.

Government Bill 168 which recognizes workplace violence and harassment as hazards in need of a legally enforceable prevention standard passed second reading in Ontario's Legislature. The bill which amends Ontario's Occupational Health & Safety Act has been referred to the Legislature's Standing Committee on Social Policy for further debate.

An upcoming fall conference challenges organizations, workplace and community leaders to develop strategies and campaigns to create healthy, sustainable jobs and communities.

Calling all activists! It's not too late to have your voices heard.

There ought to be a law... The newest edition of the Workers Health and Safety Centre's publication, At the Source, explores this adage,at least when it comes to addressing two important groups of workplace hazards.

Workers and others are invited to participate in an upcoming health, safety and workers compensation educational sponsored by the labour councils of Eastern Ontario.

A Brampton-based company operating a warehousing and distribution facility has been fined $75,000 for violating the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act). The March 2008 incident resulted in a young worker suffering foot and ankle injuries.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

Does your workplace have an effective health and safety program?

The labour community in the Region of Peel invites workers, worker representatives and others to register for occupational health and safety training opportunities this October.

Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors will blitz workplaces this September focusing on chemical hazards and whether or not workers have received adequate training.

Ontario's Ministry of Labour (MOL) is seeking stakeholder input on their proposal to adopt new or revised occupational exposure limits (OELs) or listings for 17 hazardous substances.

More than 330 substances are known or suspected to cause or exacerbate asthma, according to a recent report from the Massachusetts Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI). The report highlighted the fact "Much of the evidence (for identifying these substances) comes from workers exposed in the workplace."

Brampton-based kitchen manufacturer has been fined $75,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act) that resulted in a worker death. Two supervisors from a temporary help agency were also fined $10,000 for their involvement in the same incident in August, 2006.

Two hundred and sixty Windsor teenagers recently participated in a full day of health and safety training prior to starting their summer jobs - more than most Canadian workers receive over the course of their first year on the job.

Every summer employers hire thousands of new workers, particularly in seasonal industries. This influx of new staff, many of them young, can be challenging. Studies tell us new workers are much more likely to suffer a work-related injury during their first month on the job. This, combined with a lack of training and work experience, can dramatically increase the risk of injury.

The Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers - Windsor Clinic invites you and your organization to participate in the 3^rd Annual OHCOW and Friends Golf Tournament scheduled for Friday, September 18.

The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is another step closer to creating a greener, healthier Ontario. In a special stakeholders information session held in Toronto on July 2, 2009 Ministry representatives revealed a timetable for the consultation and development of the new Toxics Reduction Regulations. Slated for completion in the fall of 2009, these regulations could have a positive impact on the lives of workers across the province.

Amid economic and social upheaval last year, the WHSC's investment in worker health and safety reaped tremendous rewards with overall training numbers holding steady and participants in Basic Certification and Certification Part II training increasing significantly. To learn more about these and other achievements read the 2008 WHSC Annual Report which is now available online.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS) has updated their CanOSH website helping to provide convenient access to health and safety legislation and other resources.

After the long, cold winter we all welcome the warm, sunny weather. For certain workers however hot, humid temperatures can increase the risk of heat-related health problems.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared the H1N1 virus (Swine flu) a global influenza pandemic. But are workplaces ready, in other words, do they have a proper pandemic plan in place? Many workers and their representatives are still asking this question.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre has unveiled a new training program to help workers and other workplace parties translate WHMIS theory into workplace practice.

Durham College is offering a range of Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) training courses this fall as part of its health and safety labour studies certificate program.

Three in 10 Canadian workers are employed in psychologically unhealthy and unsafe workplaces, according to a recently published Ipsos Reid survey.

A Mississauga-based company has been fined $90,000 in a case where a worker was killed after being exposed to a previously identified hazard.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

Educating and engaging students was once again a focus for the Workers Health & Safety Centre and members of their constituency throughout the month of April.

A Toronto, Ontario-based garbage hauling company was fined $85,000 by the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) for violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act) that resulted in the death of a worker.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

A recently updated Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) hazard bulletin introduces workplace parties to ideas and resources they can use to develop ergonomic changes necessary for safer patient lifting.

A persistent lobbying campaign by labour and other occupational health and safety advocates has finally convinced the Ontario government to table legislation to protect most workers from violence and harassment.

Ontario is set to become the first jurisdiction in Canada to require certain employers to develop a plan to reduce the use and production of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Canada's first research centre dedicated solely to the identification and ultimately elimination of worker exposure to cancer-causing substances has opened in Toronto.

On April 1, 2009 the mandatory use of safety-engineered needles was extended to long-term home care facilities, designated psychiatric facilities, laboratories and specimen collection centres.

Thirty-seven Danish women will be compensated for breast cancer linked to their night shift work, according to the Danish National Board of Industrial Injuries.

The operators of the Tim Horton's chain -The TDL Group Corporation were fined $70,000 by the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) for violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided is the most current available from the WSIB.

Prevent Cancer Now (PCN) has unveiled a new web site with extensive resources aimed at achieving their original, but vital goal -the elimination of preventable causes of cancer.

Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) health and safety inspectors will blitz workplaces during the month of April to identify hazards which can contribute to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).

Spring is always a great time to re-evaluate goals. If you're a certified health and safety representative your ultimate goal is the prevention of work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths. This spring the Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) is offering the ideal one-day program to help you review and take stock of your current workplace health and safety program.

The Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, passed on June 18, 2008, will come into force on April 22, 2009 - Earth Day. This law amends the Pesticides Act allowing a ban on the sale and use of pesticides to maintain the appearance of lawns and gardens in Ontario.

Canada is set to publish a notice making us the first country in the world to require companies to report their use of nanomaterials. The requirement will include information on the quantity, usage and toxicity of nanomaterials as well as any procedures, policies and technological solutions currently in place to protect environmental and human health.

Building upon success, the Workers Health & Safety Centre is set to release its revised Basic Certification training program this March.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

A Brantford, Ontario company has been fined $60,000 for violating the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act) and the Regulations for Industrial Establishments. The violations resulted in a worker suffering serious leg injuries. Two supervisors were also fined $5000 each in this case.

A recently published report on women's reproductive health states we cannot assume there are "safe" levels of exposure to hormone disruptors.

"End the Harvest of Death" says the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and Lorna Chandler. Both are calling on the government of Alberta to implement recommendations handed down at the inquiry into the death of farm worker Kevan Chandler.

Multinational automotive and industrial parts manufacturer, Martinrea International Inc., was fined $250,000 by the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) for failing to inform and train one of its workers in the safe operation of a scissor lift.

In an interim report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found its voluntary reporting program on nanomaterials has failed to gather key environmental and health and safety data they need to properly assess the safety of nanotechnology.

Nine in 10 Ontarians feel it's "very important" to substitute toxic chemicals with less harmful chemicals whenever possible. So found a poll sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Society published in December, 2008.

Durham College is offering a range of Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) programs this winter and spring as part of its health & safety labour studies certificate program.

Some compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) can emit ultraviolet radiation (UVR) above current recognized guideline levels, according to research carried out by Britain s Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Quebec researchers, like others here in Canada and abroad, are calling for strict prevention procedures as the only way to ensure the safe use of nanoparticles.

A tool and die company operating an automotive stamping plant was recently fined $120,000 after pleading guilty to violating the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act). This violation resulted in the death of a worker. A temporary employment agency that supplied the worker also pleaded guilty and was fined $40,000.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) is pleased to announce the successful candidates for the 2008 WHSC Student Scholarships. Scholarship candidates were asked to write an essay or design a poster explaining how employers can better ensure the safety of their young or new workforce.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

A new hazard bulletin published by the Workers Health & Safety Centre discusses why indoor air can damage the health of workers and what can be done to improve indoor air quality (IAQ).

The Great Lakes Green Chemistry Network (GLGCN) is seeking to expand awareness and build a network 'to promote the adoption of green chemistry principles across the region.'

Ontario's Ministry of the Environment (MOE) is considering extended producer responsibility (EPR) as the framework on which to broaden its existing waste diversion program. If it's successful it could not only reduce the burden on municipal landfills but could result in the safer manufacture of products, good news for both workers and consumers alike.

"Ontario's working women should not have to choose between their safety and their job."

A grocery retailer operating a store in Chatham-Kent has been fined $75,000 for a violation of the Regulations for Industrial Establishments resulting in a worker suffering a hand injury.

Ontario has become only the second province to ban the sale and cosmetic use of pesticides, joining Quebec.

Leading indicators of occupational injuries, and not just injuries themselves, will play a role in Ontario's new health and safety enforcement strategy.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-lost-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

Postal workers in Canada feel they get little or no respect in the workplace. In a recent study by researchers at McMaster University, postal workers reported increased rates of burnout, anxiety, depression and hostility which they attributed to "rudeness" and "incivility" by supervisors, co-workers and members of the public.

Federally-regulated employers are now legally obligated to take steps to prevent and protect against violence in the workplace.

Dr. Devra Davis knows a secret, or at least, unfortunately, a secret to many.

Want to know more about the Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) Prevention Toolbox recently published by the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO)?

Are you interested in raising money for the sole purpose of cancer prevention? If so, you need to visit The 2008 Cancer Prevention Challenge web site.

A Canadian company has, for the first time, been fined for criminal negligence in a worker death pursuant to Bill C-45 amendments to the Criminal Code.

The Workers Health & Safety Centre has developed Ontario's first re-certification training program for certified representatives on workplace joint health and safety committees.

The Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) has negotiated contract language relating to the adoption of the precautionary principle to improve workplace safety as recommended by the late Justice Archie Campbell in the final report of the SARS Commission.

A new online resource developed by the European-based Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) shares information about the links between diseases and exposure to specific chemicals.

The Greater Essex District School Board has been fined $40,000 for failing to comply with a Ontario Minister of Labour (MOL) order to provide adequate time for joint health and safety committee members to inspect schools.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-lost-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

Violence against workers in Canadian long term care facilities is a common occurrence, according to a recently released study.

More than 20 per cent of European workers believe their health is at risk because of work-related stress, according to a recent report from the European Union's Agency for Safety and Health at Work (the Agency).

An Alberta-based company that specializes in cooling tower construction and repair was recently fined $150,000 for a series of violations of Ontario health and safety law. These violations resulted in paralysis to a young worker.

When a worker is injured, develops a disease or is killed as a result of work, they along with their families pay the dearest price in human terms. But beyond this burden of pain and suffering are considerable financial implications for workers, their families and employers.

United States government statistics show injury rates for poultry workers have declined over the past ten years. Workers from this sector tell a different story.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

More than 2,100 lost time claims for assault, harassment and violent acts were allowed by Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in 2005. This represents an increase of 40 per cent over the previous 10 years. Even this growth is likely just the tip of the iceberg as many incidents are never reported to compensation boards.

Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides monthly statistical updates for lost-time, no-loss-time and fatality compensation claims through its Monthly Monitor publication. The information provided in the table below is the most current available from the WSIB.

A commercial chicken processing company based in Bradford, Ontario was recently fined $150,000 for failing to provide instruction on confined space entry protocols and procedures. This violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act) resulted in the death of a worker in a confined space.

Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Hamilton Centre, Andrea Horwath, recently introduced a private member's bill that would legally require employers to take proactive steps to protect workers from harassment and violence.

The Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO) has approved a new series of tools aimed at reducing the single largest source of worker compensation claims in Ontario.