Today is the first of four training sessions that ACT is delivering for the Ontario Ministry of Labour to support the upcoming Safety Blitz  In February  for Material Handling.   ACT has developed a customized program focusing  on compliance as it relates to safety governance and measurement of acceptable material handling practices.   This session was developed to increase the awareness of the material handling hazards present in the workplace and covers multiple equipment disciplines and…

A reminder to everyone the extent and range of the MOL measurement of governance of Occupational health and Safety Compliance.

ORILLIA ONTARIO

The failure of the City of Orillia to ensure a hand-hold was securely attached to a wall has resulted in the Ontario municipality being fined $50,000.

In late September, the Corporation of the City of Orillia received the penalty for violating Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act in connection with the injury of a lighting and sound technician on…

I have received some questions about safety training having legitimate expiration dates or are these dates issued as a "cash grab" by un-ethical safety consulting companies.

The answer is not cut and dry as there are multiple levels of governance in occupational health and safety, thus providing some confusion in this area. Yes there are numerous programs that do expire and some that do not. The courses having an expiry date have had this assigned to support the level of risk, accident…

Ontario is working towards safer workplaces by focusing on protecting workers from hazards that can cause them to slip, trip or fall.

During a November blitz, health and safety inspectors will concentrate on transportation, education, industrial services, retail and wholesale workplaces.

Inspectors will look for fall-from-height hazards involving platforms, raised floors, mezzanines and ladders.  They will check fall-arrest equipment and guardrails and will be on the lookout for dangerous…

I decided to post this blog as a recent survey completed by ACT revealed a surprising result for this fundamental yet mandatory part of your safety program. Out of 100 company's surveyed only 14% were completing regular inspections and adversely 76% were unsure as to what they should do or what type of inspection may be appropriate.

General Overview

A workplace inspection is a necessary and critical part of a health and safety program in which the workplace is reviewed closely on a regular basis…

Whether you are conducting weekly safety meetings and need to be at a constant search for new safety topics to discuss at the meeting, or your meetings are held more sporadically over longer durations of time you are faced with some of the same dilemmas. What is the group going to discuss that is meaningful?

There are formal safety meetings that are planned and scheduled. These meetings may be held once a month or once a quarter depending on your safety program, or may be a one-time formal event…

I was recently in P.E.I on business with a client that ACT has worked with for many years. The company faced many challenges relating to Occupational Health and Safety and has demonstrated a strong commitment from both a management and financial perspective to ensure a safe and healthful workplace for everyone within their operations.

In 2008 the company's senior management and middle managers were extremely frustrated with the level of workplace safety buy in from the front line workers…

In a bid to lower the number of workplace injuries and the incidences of occupational illness, the province announced a blitz to focus on hazardous chemicals in workplaces at Algonquin College yesterday.

Beginning in September, Ministry of Labour occupational health and safety inspectors will focus on hazards involving disinfecting chemicals like chlorine, dry cleaning solvents, metal-working fluids and detergents in all workplaces, including swimming pools and spas, dry cleaning operations,…

The reality of needing a workplace violence program is fast approaching as Bill 168 passed it's first reading in April 2009.  With the Ontario Ministry of Labour having introduced legislation that will amend the province's Occupational Health and Safety Act to include worker protection against workplace violence many HR and OHS Mangers are finding a challenge between the employer's responsibilities to protect workers, with an employee's right to privacy

Under Bill 168, if employers "become aware…