IHSA Safety Podcast

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast explores what Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) inspectors look for during construction site inspections, and features Aris Finnson, a former Occupational Health and Safety Inspector with MLITSD. Aris explains that the primary goal of an inspection is to assess whether a strong internal responsibility system (IRS) is i...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses how workplace health and safety research is being translated into practical tools that employers and workers can use to improve safety outcomes across Ontario, and features Rod Cook, Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services at WSIB, and Dr. Amin Yazdani, President of the Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness and Performance (CISWP)....

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) and features IHSA experts Chris McKean, Vice President of Programs and Strategic Development, and Ken Rayner, Vice President of Market Development and Communications. This episode builds on Episode 132, where we explored the WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program. Now, we look at what c...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the importance of proper-fitting workwear for women in skilled trades and features Alicia Woods, founder of Covergalls. Alicia discusses the real challenges women in trades face in finding suitable workwear, including reduced mobility, discomfort, and safety risks caused by poorly fitting personal protection equipment (PPE). Alicia was motivated to...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses commercial diving and its underlying risks and features Doug Elsey, Executive Director of the Canadian Association for Diving Contractors (CADC). Doug explains that commercial diving typically happens when something sinks, breaks, or needs inspection or repair underwater. Commercial divers are essential for maintaining underwater infrastructure, an...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses how Ontario employers—especially small and growing businesses—can build effective occupational health and safety systems using WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence Program (HSEp). The episode features experts Maren Gamble and Chris McKean. HSEp is a flexible program developed by WSIB that helps employers build and improve their occupational health a...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the health and safety resources available to young workers and their parents and features Pam Patry, northern region manager at WSPS. Pam highlights that young workers don’t know what they don’t know, so if they’re not trained or taught about hazards in their workplace, they won’t know what to look out for or how to recognize a hazard. Young worker...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses adequate health and safety training for teenagers entering the workforce and features Angela and Melanie. Angela and Melanie express concerns about young workers receiving proper training on common workplace hazards, emergency procedures, or personal protective equipment (PPE) at their places of work. Angela says, although her son learned some basi...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses young workers' experiences with health and safety training and features guest speakers Ashley and Will, who share their experiences from different sectors. Ashley and Will discuss the challenges young workers face when it comes to health and safety awareness and training. Ashley, who works in healthcare and previously in a grocery store, mentions t...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses IHSA’s 5-part video series "Ask a Construction Health and Safety Expert" and features series host Ken Rayner and industry experts Deb Moskal and Dave Dametto. Ken states that the series is designed to support small business owners, especially those in their first year, by providing easy, accessible health and safety resources and helping them achie...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses COR®’s Maintenance Action Plan (MAP) and features Peter Smith, Lead COR® Auditor at IHSA, and Margaret Hart, health and safety program administrator at Hart-Well Electrical. The MAP, which was introduced in Alberta in 2016 to improve health and safety standards, is a new option for mature COR®-certified organizations in Ontario to enhance health an...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the new COR® Combined Audit program and features Peter Smith, Lead COR® Auditor at IHSA. Peter states that the COR® Combined Audit allows organizations with many accounts to undergo one comprehensive COR® audit rather than multiple audits throughout the year. ...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the hierarchy of controls as a fundamental tool in workplace health and safety and features Scott Laing. Scott explains that the hierarchy of controls is a framework that helps to reduce or eliminate hazards, starting with the most effective methods such as elimination and substitution and moving down to less effective measures such as personal pro...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses mental health and self-care within the construction industry and features construction supervisor Andy Fournier.  Andy discusses areas of supervising that can lead to stress, such as tight schedules and deadlines. One way he manages stress is to set realistic expectations and understand that deadlines can change due to unforeseen factors. It’s...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the legal responsibilities, safety standards, and regulatory framework that every construction supervisor needs to know and features construction supervisor Andy Fournier. Andy discusses the most important supervisory responsibilities on a construction project, one of which is prioritizing safety above all else. He speaks against a culture that put...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses personal protective equipment (PPE) and features Ryan Smith, health and safety consultant at IHSA. Ryan highlights the necessity of having the appropriate PPE fit and proper training on how to use them. The right fit, the right gear, and the right training could mean the difference between going home safe and not going home at all. Ryan identifies...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the importance of mental health training in the workplace and features Enzo Garritano, IHSA’s President and CEO. Enzo highlights the necessity of understanding mental health and its impact in the workplace. Everyone in the workplace plays a part in mental health, and it should be treated like any other workplace risk, with a focus on raising awaren...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses IHSA’s Associate COR ® Consulting Program and features IHSA’s Chris McKean along with health and safety consultants Mike Russo, Abe Khalil, and Chris Ring. Chris McKean explains that the Associate COR® Consulting Program was developed to help Ontario workplaces achieve COR® certification and to promote collaboration and continuous improvement in he...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the essential elements of building a strong safety culture in the construction industry and features Tracy O'Brien, health and safety manager at Tomlinson. Tracy defines a positive safety culture as a self-sustaining and supportive environment where safety is ingrained in everyday practices, encouraging open communication and allowing all employees...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses women in the trades and features four skilled tradeswomen who are building, welding, wiring, and driving real change in the industry. Gabrielle, a carpenter apprentice; Kenedi, a heavy equipment operator; Kenya, a apprentice; and Catrina, an electrical apprentice, speak about what inspired them to pursue careers in the trades—from family involvemen...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) and the evolution of health and safety in Ontario's construction industry and features Brian Barron, CEO of the OCS. Brian speaks on his extensive history in construction and health and safety in Ontario. Drawing on his experience as a former inspector with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and...

Choosing the right contractor for your home renovation is about more than cost—it’s also about safety. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, we discuss contractor safety standards when it comes to home renovations. This episode takes a different approach as it plays out real-world scenarios and conversations between a homeowner and potential contractors. The conversations emphasize the impor...

In 2022, Ontario recorded the highest number of transport truck collisions in a decade, causing 71 fatalities due to inexperienced drivers, risky moves by some truck drivers, and mechanical failures. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Kim Richardson, senior advisor with The Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada (PTTAC), discusses the crucial need for smarter and more thorough tra...

On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Michele Beckstead-Jackson from Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) discusses the importance of asbestos awareness in Ontario workplaces and the required training for workers and supervisors to ensure they are well-equipped to recognize asbestos hazards and know how to safely control them. Asbestos remains a...

One common mistake organizations often make is using the terms "assessment," "inspection," and "audit" interchangeably. These terms have different meanings and serve different purposes in health and safety, making it essential to not confuse them. This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the differences between assessments, inspections, and audits in workplace safety and features Michael...