b'CPO UPDATEAN UPDATE FROM ONTARIOS CHIEF PREVENTION OFFICER, RON KELUSKYW hat a year this has been. and employer recognition program and the Workplace Safety and COVID-19 continues to widely impact the lives ofInsurance Boards (WSIB) Health and Safety Excellence program. every worker in Ontario. Throughout the pandemic,We also implemented a risk assessment framework. This framework the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD)continues to provide the OHS system with a better understanding has worked closely with its health and safety system partnersof the top safety risks for each sector and ways to mitigate or and industry to develop and share resources and guidance witheliminate them. We also developed compliance plans and conducted employers to help keep workers safe on the job. Resources wereinspection blitzes to identify areas of concern and target hazards in made available for over 30 different sectors, including a toolkitsector-specific workplaces. for developing a workplace safety plan to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19.The ministry collaborates with our OHS system partners to achieve Our COVID-19 workplace resources webpage was viewed morethe best possible results. We want to ensure the systems activities are than 1.3 million times on ontario.ca. I am proud that we were ablemutually reinforcing and complementing each other. I encourage to successfully deliver crucial information to workers and employersyou to read our 2019-2020 annual report (ontario.ca/document/when they needed it most. occupational-health-and-safety-ontario-april-2019-march-2020) for details on these and other collaborative initiatives. In addition, a free eLearning course on basic Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) was made available to workers in all sectorsWORKING AT HEIGHTS REVIEWthrough the Public Services Health and Safety AssociationWe are finalizing a five-year review of training standards established (PSHSA). The course was funded by the ministry and developedfor working at heights in 2015. This review provides us with a in collaboration with ministry course infection control consultantsunique opportunity to assess the past five years of this mandatory andepidemiologists. training in construction and ensure we are ready for the future. While we continue to support workplaces during the pandemic, weWorking at heights training must be approved by the Chief have also continued to focus on the bigger picture and how we canPrevention Officer (CPO). The training is generally best delivered in improve health and safety over the long term in Ontario.person; however, we are exploring more ways to deliver the training The ministry is leading renewal of Ontarios strategy for Occupationalso workers can stay safe on the job, including during COVID-19. Health and Safety (OHS) over the next five years. The strategy willThis may include offering more training online and through help ensure Ontario remains one of the safest jurisdictions in Canada.distance learning. It is being developed based on research and stakeholder feedbackWe are drawing from many sources to inform the review. from province-wide consultations last year. It will address some of theThisincludes: biggest OHS issues, including the need for better data, more compli-ance support for employers and making OHS compliance easier for r eviewing ministry data, injury statistics and reports to determine small businesses. The strategy will protect workers and move Ontariowhere enhancements can be made in the standards;forward in adapting to evolving workplace needs and changes duelooking at best practices in adult learning principles; andto COVID-19 and other factors. It will help Ontarios OHS system partners move towards an evidence-informed, risk-based model inreviewing best practices for industry and jurisdictions outside which prevention initiatives are focused on outcomes with measur- ofOntario.able results for continuous improvement. Most importantly, the review allows us to receive feedback from ONTARIO HEALTH AND SAFETY ANNUAL REPORTstakeholders to better understand their perspectives on working FOR 2019-2020 at heights training. I want to thank everyone who participated in Every year, I provide the Minister of Labour, Training and Skillsour recent consultations. I especially want to thank the Scaffolding Development with an annual ministry report that highlights resultsIndustry Association of Canada (SIAC). The comments and sugges-and outcomes of provincial programs delivered by the OHS system.tions you provided are being activelyconsidered. The new 2019-2020 annual report provides information on ministry initiatives, including for COVID-19, and resources to help busi- Based on this feedback, we will enhance the standards to ensure they nesses create and maintain healthy and safe workplaces.continue to add value for learners and employers across Ontario.During the year, two OHS incentive programs were launchedtheWe will announce the changes in the near future. I look forward to ministrys Supporting Ontarios Safe Employers (SOSE) accreditationdiscussing them with you.14THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SCAFFOLD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF CANADA'