Upcoming Virtual Safety Connections 

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.

The newly updated CSA Z434 robot standard contains numerous changes and updates that are important for robot manufacturers, integrators, and end-users alike.  This session will highlight some of these important updates and help participants understand their impact on the overall safety of robotic applications.

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

Join us for an interactive and practical session that will review past confined space incidents and examine what we can learn from them and provide you with the information you need to establish an effective confined space program, including how to recognize, assess and control common confined space hazards.

As temperatures rise, so does the risk of heat stress. Now is the time to plan and prepare. This interactive 1.5‑hour session will equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent heat‑related incidents in the workplace.
During this session, participants will:

• Understand how heat stress affects indoor and outdoor workers throughout the year
• Learn best practices supported by real‑world examples
• Gain practical strategies to recognize, assess, and control heat stress hazards
• Review the key components of a heat stress program

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.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) is conducting a Health and Safety campaign in the Agriculture sector from April 1st, 2026, to March 31st, 2027

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) is conducting a Health and Safety campaign in the retail sector from April 1st, 2026, to March 31st, 2027

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Workplaces in the agricultural sector bring together a wide range of workers, including newcomers to Canada, temporary foreign workers, and others for whom English is a second language. This diversity enriches the sector but can also create communication challenges that affect health and safety. Discuss common communication barriers. Explore strategies for managing multi-lingual workplaces. Discover multi-lingual resources that help workers understand common hazards and controls in the agricultural sector. This session will empower you with knowledge and tools to improve health and safety in the agricultural sector.

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.

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.