IHSA Safety Podcast

When a worker has suffered a work-related injury or illness, it can be challenging and overwhelming to think about returning to work. To encourage a successful return to work, it is essential for injured workers to receive proper support and guidance throughout their recovery process. In this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Sarah Knight, Manager of the Return-to-Work program at the Workplace S...

Summer in Ontario is typically hot and dry, which can cause heat stress for outdoor workers who work long hours. Heat stress is a seasonal hazard that can occur when the body's core temperature rises, causing severe dehydration that can be harmful if left untreated.  In this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Jasmine Kalsi, IHSA's Occupational Hygienist, discusses heat stress in de...

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), one of the largest insurance organizations in North America, offers various supports and benefits to injured workers, including income replacement benefits, medical coverage, and assistance with returning to work or recovery. In this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Suzanne McClelland, Manager, Stakeholder Relations at WSIB, provides a step-by-st...

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is one of the largest insurance organizations in North America, covering over five million people in more than 300,000 workplaces in Ontario. WSIB provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage, and other support to help people get back to work after a work-related injury or illness. In this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Dere...

There’s a reason why thousands of Ontarians take working at heights training each year. In the industries IHSA serves—but especially the residential construction sector—many common tasks put workers at risk of falling from heights. That’s why the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) is conducting a year-long education and enforcement campaign to help improve c...

At a busy workplace, there’s always something being moved around—materials, mobile equipment, vehicles, you name it. But each of these puts workers at risk. Struck-by hazards account for nearly one-third of all lost-time injury claims in Ontario. They are also a significant cause of workplace fatalities. This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast welcomes Guy Taillon, a provincial specialist with the...

When it comes to investing in health and safety, most small businesses face challenges because they may not have the financial resources or expertise to implement effective safety measures. IHSA recognizes these challenges and provides free tools and resources to help small businesses protect their workers and meet their legal obligations under Ontario’s Occupational Healt...

Disclaimer: This podcast discusses a sensitive topic that may be challenging for some listeners. As we kiss our loved ones goodbye before they head off to work, we hope they return home in the same condition they left. Regrettably, this isn't the case for some of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to a workplace injury. In this episode of IHSA Sa...

Statistics show that large vehicle crashes account for 21% of fatalities, with occupants of the smaller vehicles more likely to suffer. Large commercial vehicles are not like cars—they require extra skill and training to drive. Their size and weight can inhibit the drivers’ ability to react quickly to unexpected moves by other road users, and drivers of smaller vehicles may feel intimidated and re...

Truck yard safety does not get as much attention as road safety, yet hazards in yards are just as significant. Anywhere trucks are on the move 24 hours a day, the risk is heightened and constant. This episode covers a number of important points related to truck yard hazards and safety measures: ·      IHSA held a workshop where industry experts identified systemic wea...

Small businesses are an integral part of Ontario’s economy. They also make up the majority of IHSA member firms. 90% of our member firms have fewer than 20 FTEs (full-time equivalent employees). IHSA recognizes the challenges faced by small businesses when it comes to investing in health and safety. We provide free tools and resources to help them protect their workers and meet their legal obligat...

Small businesses are an integral part of Ontario’s economy. They also make up the majority of IHSA member firms. 90% of our member firms have fewer than 20 FTEs (full-time equivalent employees). IHSA recognizes the challenges faced by small businesses when it comes to investing in health and safety. We provide free tools and resources to help them protect their workers and meet their legal obligat...

Small businesses are an integral part of Ontario’s economy. They also make up the majority of IHSA member firms. 90% of our member firms have fewer than 20 FTEs (full-time equivalent employees). IHSA recognizes the challenges faced by small businesses when it comes to investing in health and safety. We provide free tools and resources to help them protect their workers and meet their legal obligat...

Small businesses are an integral part of Ontario’s economy. They also make up the majority of IHSA member firms. 90% of our member firms have fewer than 20 FTEs (full-time equivalent employees). IHSA recognizes the challenges faced by small businesses when it comes to investing in health and safety. We provide free tools and resources to help them protect their workers and meet their legal obligat...

The Fleet Safety Council (FSC) is an association of driver trainers and safety professionals working to promote safety within the transportation, transport, bus, and coach industries. The Council encourages the improvement of driver behavior through increased awareness and training. Working with government agencies and private organizations, the Council strives for a uniform system of safety requi...

Whether you drive a commercial vehicle or a passenger vehicle, it’s always important to be fully aware of the hazardous road conditions created by winter weather. In this podcast, IHSA’s Ken Rayner and Michelle Roberts discuss winter driving tips and break them down into four basic principles: preparation, planning, patience, and practice. You can find additional winter driving resources at I...

Everyone has the right to return home healthy at the end of each day. In the same way that we need protection from hazards such as falls, we need protection from work-related illnesses such as lung cancer. These illnesses can range from acute to fatal. In some cases, symptoms can be reduced or reversed. But too often they become something people have to live with for the rest of their lives. The m...

Host Ken Rayner and guest, Maren Gamble, IHSA’s Manager, Strategic Programs discuss WSIB’s “Health and Safety Excellence Program”, a performance-based rewards program. It integrates the strengths of the previous WSIB Small Business, Safety Groups, and Workwell programs into a new improved model. This new Excellence Program is designed to provide businesses with a clear road map to improving their...

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, including oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine. Opioid overdoses and deaths are a public health crisis affecting many working Canadians. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy No...

Everyone has mental health concerns from time to time. But what some may consider “normal” challenges can develop into a mental illness if left unaddressed. A mental illness is a medically diagnosed disorder that affects how a person thinks, behaves, and interacts with others. It can have a prolonged, negative effect on quality of life. • By age 40, about 50% of people will have—or will have had—a...

Mental health and physical health are similar concepts: they both refer to states of well-being. Mental health includes your thoughts and emotions, feelings of connection to others, and ability to manage life’s highs and lows. We all have mental health challenges, just as we all have physical health challenges, from time to time. It’s important to monitor your mental health and seek help and suppo...

Sam Pitaro, Lead COR™ Auditor, brings his experience with the external audit process to this episode as he outlines what to expect during the audit as well as how to achieve a smooth and successful experience. Sam and Stacey also talk about important timelines and administration associated with an external audit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http...

In this episode, Stacey Blea, HSMS Consultant, discusses what to expect during your internal audit results debrief. Sam Pitaro, Lead auditor, provides insight into this experience and how to maximize its benefits for the organization See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario) has been amended to require employers to provide naloxone kits and comply with related requirements if the employer becomes aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, that there may be a risk of a worker having an opioid overdose at a workplace where that worker performs work for the employer, or where the prescribed circumstances exist. See Privacy Po...

UBC’s Dr. Chris McLeod describes the methodology he and his team utilized in conducting their research on how the Certificate of Recognition (COR™) program affected lost-time and high-impact injury rates in Ontario. In this discussion, IHSA’s Paul Casey also shares what prompted IHSA to engage with Dr. McLeod and the University of British Columbia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy a...