Making it easier to be safe at work
I am a big fan of making things easy to understand. So when the Prevention Office began accepting Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification programs in October, I was pleased to participate in one of two joint forums held by the Health and Safety Program Administration and Certification Unit (HSPACU) and the Training and Safety Programs Branch (TSPB) for about 40 approved and prospective training provider organizations. The forum was set up to help participants learn about changes between existing and new JHSC Certification Training Standards, the application process and guidelines to assist with its completion.
This is not the first successful provider forum we have conducted and feedback continues to be overwhelmingly positive. The attendees really appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with the Prevention Office to gain insight into the Ministry of Labour application and training program approval processes and have their questions answered.
As of the end of December, HSPACU has received 166 Working at Heights applications and 12 Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification applications, and 1 approval. So far, 77 Working at Heights Training programs have been approved by the Chief Prevention Officer and 21 programs have either been rejected or have voluntarily withdrawn from the process. There are 68 programs moving through the assessment process. From April 1, 2015 to December 2, 2015 we have received 71,000 records showing people have completed approved Working at Heights training.
Another way we are making it easier to stay safe at work is by connecting those who register new businesses with information they need to know about their occupational health and safety needs and obligations.
Almost 100,000 new businesses are registered in Ontario each year, most of them small businesses. Starting a business is challenging enough without having to search for information.
We’ve now partnered with ServiceOntario to put our occupational health and safety small business information right at the fingertips of those using the online business registration portal (ONe-Source for Business). Newly registering businesses can get to legal requirements and support resources to help set their business in the right direction through one click.
This information can be accessed on the ServiceOntario business registration portal by clicking business name registration.
