Upcoming Virtual Safety Connections 

Safety starts with identifying hazards- before they cause injury, illness or property damage. Some hazards are obvious, while others hide in plain site. And once you identify one, the next question is: What do you do about it, how do you know if you are effectively controlling the hazard to prevent injuries and illnesses?

This session breaks down hazards and hazard assessments in a simple practical way. You Will learn how to use the RACE method to recognize hazards, understand basic risk assessment techniques, choose the right controls and check whether those controls actually work to reduce the risk to your workers.

By the end, you’ll see how a coordinated hazard identification and risk assessment system makes day‑to‑day work safer, clearer, and easier for everyone.

You don’t have a problem identifying hazards—you have a problem seeing.
Inspections don’t fail because we miss what’s there—they stop at what’s visible. The real risks often lie beneath the surface.

In this session, you’ll learn how to uncover hidden risks using PEMEP (People, Equipment, Materials, Environment and Process) and 5 Whys. You’ll develop a practical approach to move beyond surface-level inspections and observations—so you can ask better questions, dig deeper, identify risks others miss, and prevent more incidents.

In this Safety Connection session, participants will gain knowledge in the following areas:

• Critical Injury Investigations: Understand legislative requirements under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, including notification, reporting, and conducting timely, thorough, and compliant investigations.
• Root Cause Analysis: Learn how to move beyond immediate causes to identify underlying system failures using proven investigation techniques and practical tools.
• Best Practices: Explore effective strategies for documenting findings, engaging key stakeholders, and implementing corrective actions that are both impactful and sustainable.
• Lessons Learned: Gain valuable insights from real-world manufacturing incidents to help prevent recurrence and support continuous improvement of workplace safety systems.

The Ontario Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09) has been around since the 1980s, but has been considerably revised. Employers are still working on completing and/or updating their Designated Substances Assessments and/or Control Programs today. Get some background information on both existing and new applications where designated substances are used in industry today, and learn about some practical tools and approaches to help with the implementation of the assessment. 

Workplace impairment can arise from many sources: fatigue, stress, medications, substance use, personal or psychosocial factors, and more. This 90‑minute WSPS Safety Connection provides a practical introduction to workplace impairment and fitness‑for‑duty within a health and safety context, including the roles and responsibilities of employers, supervisors, workers, HR, and the JHSC.

Participants will learn how to recognize potential signs of impairment, engage in supportive conversations, understand when additional considerations may be needed for safety‑sensitive tasks, and explore high‑level expectations around documentation, confidentiality, and accommodation. We’ll also highlight WSPS tools and Building Blocks resources available to help organizations strengthen or develop their own impairment and fit‑for‑work programs.

This Safety Connection will provide updated information for school boards on the status of funded supports related to technical learning environments and skilled trades programs.

Are you a supervisor who manages machine operators? If so, this foundational session is designed specifically for you. As a frontline leader, your role is critical in ensuring a safe and compliant work environment. This session will equip you with the essential knowledge and practical tools to identify and control machine-related hazards, enforce safety protocols, and foster a culture of safety within your team.

Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, you'll learn:

• The basics of machine safety and regulatory requirements
• Common risks associated with industrial machinery
• How to conduct and support machine safety inspections
• Machine lifecycle phases and guarding ideas & LOTO
• Strategies for effective communication with operators about safety
• Your responsibilities in incident prevention and response

Whether you're new to supervising machine operations or looking to refresh your safety knowledge, this session will help you to lead with confidence and keep your team safe.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will be conducting a compliance campaign on Noise from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Prepare now by attending our free and interactive 90-minute Safety Connection webinars on April 22nd or June 24 2026 co-hosted with the MLITSD Provincial Hygienist.

It will provide you with an overview of the campaign, including helpful information on what to expect during an inspection, employer obligations, measures that can be taken, and resources available to assist with compliance.

This online event will outline:

• MLITSD Occupational Hygiene Campaign on Noise 2026-27
• Employer Responsibilities
• Potential MLITSD orders and how to comply
• Resources to help you prepare

Receiving an order from a Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) inspector can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this practical, employer‑focused session, we’ll break down exactly what happens after an inspector’s visit and what steps you should take next.

We will explain who the MLITSD is, what their mandate is, and the range of enforcement tools at their disposal. From there, we’ll walk through the anatomy of a field visit, including how to interpret the Field Visit Report—its narrative, commitment of compliance and orders.

You’ll gain guidance on what employers should do once an order is received , including common remedies, best practices for responding, and how to effectively plan for compliance within required timelines. To bring real‑world context, an active MLITSD inspector will join us to answer questions and provide insight from the field.

Service and hospitality sectors across Ontario are experiencing growing threats of workplace violence and harassment, such as uncivil, disrespectful, and abusive behaviours. This session will discuss why these behaviours are on the rise and how to effectively de-escalate individuals using an approach of caring, understanding and validating. We will explore how employers can create a comprehensive program and equip workers with the necessary skills to manage violence in the workplace.

This strategy aims not only to prevent violence and harassment, but also to create a safer environment for employees, emphasizing the importance of a psychologically safe workplace. Participants will be provided with a number of free resources to either begin implementing a workplace violence and harassment program in their workplace, or to expand and improve existing initiatives.

In this session, you will learn about overexertion and practical strategies to prevent injuries related to material handling and other common retail tasks.

Recognizing and controlling the hazards that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders at every stage of a product’s journey is a key priority for retail employers. Join us for an informative webinar focused on enhancing material handling practices, ladder safety, and pedestrian safety in retail environments. The session will also introduce a new toolkit designed to help businesses identify hazards and provide practical guidance to control and eliminate risks.

This webinar is designed for retail managers, safety professionals, and employees. By attending, you will gain valuable insights and practical tips to help create a safer workplace and reduce the risk of injuries.

This session focuses on pedestrian safety in manufacturing environments, emphasizing the high risks associated with workers sharing space with vehicles and mobile equipment. It highlights key hazards such as poor visibility, congestion, and distractions and presents data showing significant injury and fatality rates linked to pedestrian incidents.

The material outlines a hierarchy of controls (from elimination to PPE) and provides practical strategies, tools, and technologies to reduce risks and improve workplace safety. Through case studies and best practices, the session reinforces the importance of proactive hazard assessment, strong safety culture, and continuous improvement to prevent injuries and save lives.

Are you a small businesses with 5–50 employees looking to create a health and safety system in your business? Join us to learn more about the Safety Excellence for Leaders Program and how this program can help build a strong safety culture with easy steps. This program is connected to the Health and Safety Excellence program.

Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting out, workplace safety is crucial. Join us for an informative session where we’ll explore fundamental safety practices applicable to everyone. Topics Covered:

• Identifying Common Hazards: Learn how to recognize and address everyday workplace risks.
• Understanding Roles: Discover the distinct responsibilities of employers, managers, and employees.
• Resources: Discover essential resources that will support your health and safety journey. Whether it’s training materials, guidelines, or best practices, we’ve got you covered.

The Health & Safety Awareness Presentation (HSAP) program helps businesses and employers set new and young workers up for success. Through engaging, practical training, HSAP equips your young and new teams with essential safety knowledge and skills to reduce risks, prevent injuries, and build a strong workplace safety culture from the start

This webinar will equip Ontario employers and workers with the knowledge to distinguish legitimate, standards and compliant PPE from counterfeit or non‑certified products. Participants will learn how to verify compliance with Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), understand required certifications such as CSA, NIOSH, and Health Canada approvals, and spot the red flags that indicate fake or unsafe equipment. By attending, organizations may enhance their due diligence processes and increase confidence that the PPE they purchase and use offers appropriate protection for workers across Ontario worksites.

New, young, and vulnerable workers continue to be injured at higher rates—often after orientation and initial training are complete. In many manufacturing, service and agriculture workplaces, factors such as task changes, time pressure, working alone, and reduced supervision can quietly increase risk, even where strong safety programs are already in place.

This Safety Connection takes a practical, insight‑driven approach to understanding why injuries still occur during the early stages of work. Rather than revisiting compliance basics, the session focuses on how everyday decisions about work assignment, supervision, and timing influence risk when workers are new, young, or temporarily vulnerable.

Participants will explore vulnerability as a changing risk condition, examine common moments where exposure increases, and consider practical ways to stage work, supervision and responsibility until workers are truly ready. The session is designed to support better decisions at the point of work, reduce injuries, and strengthen due diligence under real‑world conditions.

This session is ideal for employers, supervisors and health and safety professionals who want to move beyond onboarding and improve prevention where it matters.

Strengthen your retail operations with practical approaches to prevent crime and respond confidently when issues arise. In this session, you’ll explore how to:

• Create a Safer Layout: Apply smart design choices that lower risk while keeping your space inviting.
• Manage Challenging Interactions: Use effective techniques to calm tense situations and handle disruptive behaviour.
• Plan for the Unexpected: Build clear procedures for emergencies like evacuations, lockdowns, or suspicious items.
• Define Team Responsibilities: Establish who does what, and ensure regular reviews to stay ahead of potential risks.

Give your team the knowledge and confidence to maintain a secure, resilient retail environment.

This session explores how transformational leadership can strengthen organizational culture, improve engagement, and drive long‑term performance. Participants will learn the core principles of transformational leadership, understand why it outperforms traditional compliance‑based approaches, and discover practical strategies for modeling behaviors, building trust, and empowering teams. The presentation blends concepts with actionable tools, helping leaders create safer, more resilient workplaces through influence, vision, and authentic connection.

A new, free, web-based Workplace Violence Risk Assessment Tool is now available to support Ontario workplaces in meeting their legal obligation to complete a workplace violence risk assessment. This session will introduce participants to the tool, demonstrate how it works, and highlight how it can be applied in organizations.

Designed to be simple, practical, and effective, the tool streamlines the risk assessment process by helping organizations identify workplace violence hazards and provides a clear report and action plan. Participants will learn how this resource can support due diligence and safer workplaces as well as contribute to proactive violence prevention efforts within their workplaces.

Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to access the tool and how to use the generated report and action plan as a resource to improve their current workplace violence program. 

Are you doing your best in preventing workplace injuries and illnesses? Want to earn financial incentives while building a healthier and safer workplace? Join Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) as we explore WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program and the many ways the program can benefit your business.