"NCA Health & Safety News" provides you with valuable information and assists in your quest to achieve a world-class safety culture. We believe that developing a safe work ethic is a never-ending process that must be part of every business's professional development.
Please do not hesitate to contact the office with your input, suggestions or safety questions.
We value your feedback!
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As your health and safety partner, we are reaching out to introduce the free orientation handbook generator. This tool generates an employee handbook tailored for small businesses like yours to help ensure compliance and success. Compliance has never been easier!
The handbook covers everything from defining employer, supervisor, and worker responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to outlining essential orientation safety requirements, including workplace duties, violence/harassment, emergency information, and common workplace hazards.
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Heat Stress Toolkit
Source: Click Here
As we approach summer, with the weather improving, it is important to keep in mind the hazards workers can face when working outdoors. While hot weather is great when you’re relaxing at the cottage, at work it can become a serious health hazard. When your body loses too much sweat through heavy labour or working under hot, humid conditions, you can become dehydrated and face a heat-related illness. Some examples include:
· Heat rash (plugged sweat glands)
· Heat cramps (salt loss from sweating)
· Heat exhaustion
· Heat stroke
Collaborating with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health (CROSH), the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. (OHCOW) has launched the NEW Heat Stress Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to support, empower and protect workers and guide workplaces. This toolkit was developed with the support of the Occupational Health and Safety Prevention System partners and local labour unions.
IHSA Resources:
Additionally, we encourage you to visit IHSA's Heat Stress topic page to access many FREE resources regarding Heat Stress. Check out some resources below:
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Are your crews ready for the summer?
Source: Click Here
Construction employers should prepare for heat and smokey conditions.
Canada’s summers have been challenging in recent years. Widespread extreme heat has affected a number of regions, and a notably dry winter in some parts of the country has increased the likelihood of wildfires this summer, meaning construction workers could face the dual risks of extreme heat and smoke exposure. READ MORE
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Ontario OHSA Changes for Construction Worksites – What Employers Need to Know
Source: Click Here
On January 1, 2024, the government of Ontario made further adjustments to the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to help keep workers safe with the introduction of Bill 190. These OHSA changes focus on developing better hygiene and sanitation and workplace safety at worksites. They are aimed at improving conditions for women in the industry and increasing their workforce participation. Read More
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MLITSD compliance campaigns
Source: Click Here
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) recently launched two new occupational hygiene campaigns for 2024 and 2025. The campaigns aim to improve workplace compliance through education, outreach, and ultimately, enforcement, with regard to:
- Worker exposures to chemical agents in the workplace (with a sub-focus on silica)
- WHMIS training based on the amended Hazardous Products Regulations
Learn more about these important campaigns.
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Construction
From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, MLITSD Construction inspectors will be focusing on falls from heights in single family residential and multi-family residential construction, as well as struck-by material, equipment and vehicles.
To assist stakeholders with achieving compliance IHSA is highlighting the following resources this month:
Hierarchy of Controls for Falls
· Fall Protection and Working at Heights in Residential Construction
· Hierarchy of Controls Video
· Fall Protection Work Plan Document
Work Zone Safety
· Signaller vs TCP Video
· TCTWZ Training (Book 7)
Guidelines for Training Traffic Control Persons
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Specialized Professional Service
From April 1, 2024, to March 31. 2025, the MLITSD will have two on-going compliance campaigns:
· Worker exposures to chemical agents in the workplace, and
· WHMIS training based on the amended Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR)
To assist stakeholders with achieving compliance during the year-long campaigns, IHSA is highlighting the following resources this month:
· IHSA's Silica Control Tool topic page
· Silica Control Tool
· Current occupational exposure limits for Ontario workplaces
· Amendments to the Hazardous Products Regulation
· WHMIS - A guide to the legislation
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Tower Crane Hazard Alert from MLITSD
Source: Click Here
In the past four months, Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) has investigated two near-miss incidents involving the hoist reduction gear assemblies on tower cranes.
Each event occurred when the gear assembly’s main shaft bearing failed, causing the shaft to become misaligned. This in turn caused the gears controlling the hoist to disengage, allowing the hoisting drum to unspool freely and drop the crane’s load.
These incidents put workers who work near cranes at serious risk of traumatic injury or death. It is therefore important that tower crane owners and operators ensure that thorough inspection—and maintenance, if necessary—is carried out on the hoist reduction gear assemblies and the lubrication system for gear bearings of their cranes.
Download this MLITSD alert to learn more about conducting an inspection of a tower crane’s hoist reduction gear assembly.
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Working outdoors
Source: Click Here
Employers have a duty to protect workers who work outdoors. Learn more about the hazards and what you can do to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
If you employ workers and they work outdoors, it is your responsibility to protect them from outdoor hazards including:
- ultraviolet radiation from the sun
- heat stress
- cold stress
- adverse weather conditions
- hazardous plants
- Lyme disease and West Nile virus
- wild animals and pests
Read More
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Call to Action: Pause for a safety moment
Source: Click Here
IHSA has learned of a fatal incident that took place earlier in May in Whitby, Ontario. A worker was trapped beneath an overturned asphalt roller.
Please pause all work for a safety moment and re-establish a commitment to preventing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
Safety Tips To Consider When Working Around Heavy Equipment
· Make sure your drivers/operators wear their seatbelts.
· Rollover Protection Systems (ROPS) are in place, whenever applicable.
· Whenever possible, plan a drive-through site to eliminate the need for vehicles to back up.
· Train your drivers/operators to know their blind spots.
· Use a signaller where necessary, and make sure the signaller has been trained on standard hand signals.
· Have your workers wear high-visibility clothing as required.
· When trucks and heavy equipment have to operate in reverse ensure signs are posted warning of the danger and trucks are equipped with an audible back-up alarm.
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Visit the IHSA's Heavy Equipment page and access many relevant free resources to consider in controlling the hazards while working around heavy equipment. | |
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MLITSD Ministry of Labour, Immigration Training & Skills Development Report for:
June 2024
Click above for full reports (critical injuries, fatalities, Provincial Coordinator's Comment, incidence details and codes, news)
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Are you looking for registration for the following courses?
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Working at Heights - Full Course or Refresher
- Elevated Work Platform - EWP
- Joint Health and Safety Certification Refresher Training
- Joint Health and Safety Certification (Part 1 & 2 and Refresher training)
- First Aid Standard
- First Aid Recertification
- Confined Space
To register: Please call our training partner: Langlois Safety Training and Consulting Services at 289-271-8623.
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WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program
IF YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS (99 or fewer employees), YOU'LL WANT TO FIND OUT MORE!
The WSIB is offering an extra financial incentive to small businesses, in addition to the regular Rebate!
You may have received a phone call or email from the WSIB informing you about the WSIB H & S Excellence program. We are pleased to bring this to our members in partnership with Safety Works Consulting Inc., as the WSIB-approved Provider.
If you would like more information on another WSIB Rebate, please CONTACT US for information on the WSIB H & S Excellence program.
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GAIN THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF GOLD SEAL CERTIFICATION - Gold Seal Webinars
The Gold Seal Certification program has been the industry’s most trusted, valued, and reliable certification for those in the management of construction. Gold Seal Certified (GSC) credentials demonstrate your commitment to the profession and your expertise through certifying education, experience, and competency.
Ever wonder what it takes to get Gold Seal Certified?
Find out the answers to these questions and more:
• Do I qualify to write the Gold Seal exam?
• Do I need more experience or training?
• What information do I need to apply?
• What is the application process through the online portal?
Watch a recording of a Gold Seal information session here.
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NCA Training Courses
(membership discounts)
♦ Live Webinars
♦ Online
Please see the most recent training newsletter here.
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Safety courses created to enhance health and safety awareness and help prevent injures to workers, e.g. Confined Space Safety Awareness, Pipeline Construction Safety Training and more - safety and management courses. Click HERE for available courses.
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Helpful H&S Resources and Information | |
Ministry of Labour, Training & Skilled Trades NEWSROOM
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Stay up to date with the latest industry safety news and training by clicking here. | |
Check out this valuable resource by clicking here.
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Check out this valuable resource by clicking here.
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Click Here for WSIB Newsletter
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PARTNERS ALIGNED TOGETHER FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY
NCA has made safety awareness a primary initiative for our Association.
We have launched our PATHS initiative, Partners Aligned Together for Health and Safety, formally making a stronger commitment to safety awareness and training.
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