2023-2024 Specialized Professional Services compliance plan: The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), through its Specialized Professional Services team, will be focusing on ergonomics, respiratory protection, and asbestos in building structures.

To assist stakeholders with achieving compliance during the year-long MLITSD campaigns, IHSA is highlighting the following resources this month:

• Musculoskeletal Disorders & Ergonomics topic page
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) topic page
• Asbestos topic page
• Occupational Health topic page

Stay tuned for further resources being released throughout the year through the IHSA website

2023-2024 Industry Compliance Campaigns: Construction inspectors will be focusing on struck-by equipment hazards in specific settings and falls from heights in the single-family residential sector. Learn More

To assist stakeholders with achieving compliance during the year-long MLITSD campaigns, IHSA is highlighting the following resources this month:

• Fall Protection Work Plan
• Ladder Handling Training
• Ladder Awareness Webinar
• Podcast: Workplace Parties Roles and Responsibilities in Preventing Falls
• Wait for the Wave poster
• Keep your Promise - Struck By poster
• Hazard Identification & Control Awareness eLearning

Construction Health & Safety Program Report

The MLITSD puts together a report for the Provincial Labour Management Health & Safety Committee each month with an overview of events, court bulletins and statistics.

Learn More

The MLITSD is updating its regulations to improve crane safety on construction sites to keep workers and the public safe and avoid work stoppages. Amendments to various crane-related provisions of O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and amendments to O. Reg. 420/21 (Notices and Reports Under Sections 51 to 53.1 of the Act - Fatalities, Critical Injuries, Occupational Illnesses and Other Incidents) have been made.

Most amendments will come into force on January 1, 2024. Other requirements, including those that may require equipment upgrades, will come into force on January 1, 2025, to provide stakeholders with additional time to comply with the changes. Learn More

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The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has created a new process to confirm the status of independent owner-operators using a questionnaire. This questionnaire will identify whether a worker must be insured by the business they work for, is an independent operator who can choose to be insured, or a business with employees. Learn More

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The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has announced that as of September 1, 2023, the air brake knowledge test will no longer be available for renewal purposes. Drivers who wish to renew their air brake endorsement will instead be required to complete the online learning module prior to renewing their driver’s licence.

Additional information is available through the MTO website or the learning portal.

To keep up with news from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) including announcements, safety advisories, event registrations and more, click on the News and Events button.

Register Now! Ironworkers Health and Safety Event with 3M is offering six-free 50-minute classroom training sessions running simultaneously starting at 9 am on September 19th, 2023.

Register Now! IHSA's Annual General Meeting and Labour-Management Network Co-Chairs Meeting is being held on October 4, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Airport West, 5444 Dixie Road, Mississauga.

Register Now! The second annual NCSO®/NHSA™ Educational Conference is being held virtually on November 24. Registration is open to those who are, or who are interested in becoming a National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO^®) or a National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA^™).

Save the Date: The Occupational Disease and Research LMHSC will be holding an Occupational Health and Safety Day on November 30, 2023 at 21 Voyager Ct, Etobicoke. This in-person only event will have presentations on a variety of topics related occupational health and safety. Stay tuned for more details.

Ladders, Work Platforms, and Fall Protection in Construction eLearning

Falls to a lower level continues to be the top cause of on-the-job fatalities in the Ontario construction industry. The most common heights of fatal falls are between six metres and three metres, and the most common locations for fatalities is the edge of the roof and ladders. This eLearning module will help learners identify the safe use practices related to ladders and work platforms, as well as the common methods to control fall hazards in construction.

Hearing protection

Did you know that IHSA offers two free eLearning presentations on hearing protection? Each presentation provides valuable health and safety information on help better understand, reduce, or eliminate this hazard. They include:

• Basics of Hearing Protection for Employers, JHSC and H&S Reps
• Basics of Hearing Protection for Workers

In construction, transportation, and utilities, workers face chemical and physical hazards. An exposure assessment helps determine the risk level from hazardous substances and agents. Visit IHSA's Occupational Health page for more information on types of assessments and their application in your workplace.

Latest podcast episodes available

The IHSA Safety Podcast is a free podcast that seeks to improve the lives of workers in Ontario - one thought-provoking discussion at a time. The latest episodes include:

Episode 63 - School bus safety and passenger Management

Episode 64 - Noise exposure in the workplace

New issue of IHSA.ca Magazine now available

The latest issue of IHSA.ca Magazine is now available on the IHSA website.

IHSA.ca Magazine is produced regularly throughout the year. In each issue, you will find valuable information such as injury prevention tips, enforcement blitz announcements, regulatory updates and more.

Proud Member of IHSA

Display the "Proud Member of IHSA" logo on your website and show your commitment to occupational health and safety at your workplace. Download the logo at IHSA.ca/brand-assets.

Request for Participation

The Construction Legislative Review Committee (CLRC) is inviting members of the Labour Management Network (Regional, Trade & Sector Committees) to join a Working Group aimed at addressing one of two-needs analysis.

1) O. Reg 213/91 Regulations for Construction Projects, Section 105 - Reversing Vehicle Alarms & Cameras - Learn More

2) O.Reg 213/91 Regulation for Construction Projects, Section 29 - Hygiene - Learn More

Fleet Safety & Transportation News

Access monthly updates, news and events from the Fleet Safety Council and the transportation industry.

Niagara Construction Association hosts Membership Appreciation Day & Member/Safety Tradeshow

IHSA is pleased to be a part of the Niagara Construction Association at its Membership Appreciation Day and Safety Tradeshow in St. Catharines on September 28.

Recruiting focus group participants

IHSA is assisting with a focus group on September 19. We are looking for 21 men working in construction or other labour-intensive industries, such as manufacturing or trades, with lived and living experience of opioid and substance use, to join us for a 3-hour afternoon focus group discussion. The Mental Health Innovations (MHI) team will facilitate a conversation about the issue of opioids and substance use in workplaces like yours. 

If you are interested in participating please email or call Kathy Martin at 416-358-3686.

Ontario providing free training for construction workers

The Ontario government is investing $3.6 million to support three innovative projects to help over 2,200 women and young people across Ontario prepare for meaningful and well-paying careers in the construction trades.

Led by the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTCO), these free programs will focus on increasing female participation in the industry, providing online training tools and exclusive employment opportunities to jobseekers, and giving grade 12 students a first-hand look at life-changing careers in construction.