Certification Part I - Virtual
WHSC developed this virtual program to help workplaces meet their legal responsibility to provide the first phase of Certification training to members of joint health and safety committees in Ontario. This program, critical to securing safer, healthier work, is applicable to workplaces in all sectors. Delivered over a three-day period, this program gives participants a complete understanding of occupational health and safety legislation, including rights and responsibilities of workplace parties and certified representatives on joint health and safety committees in particular. This will include a full discussion about the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) and the purpose and requirements of workplace health and safety policies and programs. Equally important, participants learn how to identify, assess and control, or better yet eliminate, workplace hazards. Like the traditional classroom version, this virtual program applies adult learning principles to ensure learning is achieved. For further details, see our product sheet library.
Certification Part II - General - Virtual
This program offers a convenient option for Ontario workplaces who want to quickly comply with the second phase of Certification training for members of joint health and safety committees (JHSC). Part II training must address at least six hazards relevant to the JHSC’s workplace. Delivered over two days and now virtually, the general stream for WHSC Certification Part II training explores six of the most common workplace hazards through the following modules: Safety Hazards; Physical Hazards, Chemical Hazards, Ergonomics and MSDs; Biological Hazards; and Psychosocial Hazards and Workplace Mental Health. For each hazard, participants will learn how to identify, assess and control, or better yet eliminate, exposures.
Certification Part II - Health Care & Social Services - Virtual
Certification Refresher - Virtual
Certified members of joint health and safety committees (JHSC) in Ontario must complete a Certification Refresher program approved by the Ministry of Labour’s Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) within three years of completing Certification Part II and every three years thereafter. Like WHSC Certification Refresher training delivered in traditional classrooms, this virtual version is also CPO-approved. This program revisits key concepts from Certification training, including the information and tools essential for identifying, assessing and controlling, or better yet eliminating, workplace hazards. The program further affords participants the opportunity to share and discuss new or amended legislation/guidelines/standards, current or emerging issues, plus best practices for hazard elimination and control. This program is applicable to all Ontario workplaces.
Critical Incident and Post Traumatic Stress - Virtual
Participants review the many causes of critical incident stress (CIS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) including major catastrophes, violent situations and hazardous exposures. How the body responds to stressful situations or events is explored in terms of acute and chronic health effects. Equally important is a focus on primary prevention in order to eliminate or limit exposure to stressors along with methods for coping with CIS and PTSD such as counseling provided through Employee Assistance Programs. Participants will also discuss the development and implementation of policies and programs dealing with CIS and PTSD.
Ergonomics and MSDs - Virtual
Poorly designed work and work environments can contribute to painful and life-altering musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These account for more than 40 per cent of all approved lost-time injury claims in Ontario. This program provides joint health and safety committees with the knowledge and skills to recognize, assess and control, if not eliminate, factors that contribute to MSDs. Participants will review types of MSDs, their symptoms and health effects, explore how job demands and workplace components can contribute to MSDs, and learn how to identify and assess tasks that increase the risk of injury. Participants will also learn how ergonomics can be used to reduce job demands allowing workers to complete tasks more comfortably and safely.
Federal Committees and Representatives - Virtual
This program reviews participants' rights and powers under federal health and safety laws and regulations with special focus on the role of workplace and policy committees. Most importantly, participants are equipped with an understanding of federal requirements for a hazard prevention program and a violence prevention program. Among other things, methods for conducting workplace inspections and accident investigations are also discussed, along with strategies aimed at fostering active and confident members of workplace and policy committees. Beyond legal considerations, the program further demonstrates how the two levels of health and safety representatives can communicate and work together effectively for change.
Globally Harmonized WHMIS (2 hours) - Virtual
Intended for workers, supervisors and other workplace parties, like the traditional classroom version, this virtual program offers an overview of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for WHMIS. Participants will explore new standardized information, classification and communication requirements for hazardous products used, stored, handled or disposed of in the workplace. This includes GHS WHMIS labels, safety data sheets and pictograms. Like all WHSC programs, this training applies adult learning principles to ensure learning is achieved.
Indoor Air - Virtual
Indoor air pollution is two to five times higher than outdoor pollution. Moreover, workers today often find themselves in closed buildings with outdated HVAC systems that recirculate polluted air. This three-hour module is designed to help workplace representatives proactively recognize, assess and make recommendations to control or better yet eliminate indoor pollution sources. Taking into account new research and developments, this program covers hazards such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, formaldehyde, pesticides, legionella and now the virus that causes COVID-19. Relevant legislation and measures to combat these hazards now notably also include those needed to mitigate against the transmission of COVID-19 too.
Lockout - Virtual
Participants are introduced to the many sources of energy in a workplace and how each can be hazardous and sometimes fatal to exposed workers. They will discuss the basic concepts of lockout as a method of producing a "zero energy state". Relevant legislation will be outlined along with components of an effective lockout program including the tools used to recognize and assess potential hazards. Strategies for developing and implementing an effective workplace specific lockout program, including training, will also be discussed.
NOTE: The WHSC also offers a six-hour comprehensive Lockout program for the manufacturing sector.
Psychosocial Hazards and Workplace Mental Health - Virtual
This program provides a basic understanding of psychosocial work hazards and how they may impact workers’ mental health. It outlines the health effects associated with psychosocial hazards and explores a range of workplace factors from job demands/job control and worker engagement to civility and respect. Equally important, participants will discuss a host of methods to identify and assess psychosocial hazards including policies and programs, physical and cognitive demands analysis and workplace surveys. The program concludes with a discussion on preventative and protective measures for a safer and healthier workplace. The use of video clips and case studies also engages learners and helps them identify and understand contributing and workplace factors and gain a basic understanding of the accommodation process.
Stress in the Workplace - Virtual
Mounting evidence shows workplace stress is a serious hazard posing significant risk to workers’ health and the financial well-being of businesses. This program is designed to equip participants with information helping them to understand the tell-tale signs in those suffering stress-related health impacts. The many aspects of work that can be stressful to workers are explored along with strategies to eliminate or reduce exposure. This program includes several practical tools participants can use in their workplace for assessing harmful working conditions and related health impacts, including the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ).
Supervisor Health & Safety Training - Virtual
This informative one-day program is designed to help supervisors understand and fulfill all of their legal duties and responsibilities including the consequences of noncompliance. Under Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act and Regulations, employers must ensure supervisors complete basic occupational health and safety awareness training in addition to knowledge and competency-based training specific to the workplace. Participants will learn about the Internal Responsibility System (IRS), the concept of due diligence and the rights and functions of the joint health and safety committee (JHSC). Detailed attention is paid to the supervisor's role in work refusals, Ministry of Labour workplace inspections and JHSC or health and safety representative inspections and investigations, all governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The program also reviews relevant case law and provisions of the Criminal Code to give participants a clear understanding of their duties under this Federal statute.
Workplace Violence and Harassment - Virtual
This program is designed to raise awareness about the serious risk to physical and mental health posed by workplace violence and harassment. It is also intended to help workplace parties understand and comply with the legal requirements mandated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act to address violence and harassment (including domestic violence). Employers, for instance, are required to develop workplace-specific violence and harassment policies and programs. Essential elements of these will be explored including procedures for workers to report incidents along with worker training. Participants will discuss workplace-specific strategies for identifying and assessing potential for workplace violence and harassment and observing for evidence of domestic violence. Also discussed will be specific control measures for eliminating or controlling potential exposure to violence and harassment.