In this issue:

Returning to Our New Normal
JOINT HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE CERTIFICATION TRAINING
Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions (WHSS) is the only Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) approved Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Certification training provider located in Kingston.  

As most workplaces with twenty (20) or more workers must have a JHSC established, we regularly hold training sessions. At least one (1) worker and one (1) management representative of this committee must be certified by completing the prescribed training standards set by the MOL.  

Part One Basic Certification Training 
Part One Basic Certification training provides an overall knowledge of the Health and Safety Legislation that applies to most workplaces. 

Part Two Workplace Specific Training 
Part Two Workplace Specific Certification training focuses on the significant hazards in your workplace and how to assess, control and/or eliminate them.
Refresher Certification Training 
This course is designed to include all sectors and reviews the essentials of the Part 1 and 2 Certification training as well as highlight any legislative changes that have occurred within the last three years.
Visit our website to register for the Part 1, Part 2 or Refresher Certification Courses.

IN THE NEWS
Brantford Company Fined $50,000 for Injuuries to Two Workers

January 29, 2021

Two workers were injured when a heavy electrical panel fell over while it was being moved. The employer failed to ensure that there was a procedure in place to prevent material from injuring workers by tipping or falling. Following a guilty plea, Lorik Tool & Automation Inc. was fined $50,000 and the court also imposed a 25 percent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special government fund to assist victims of crime. 

Two Workers Injured at Whitby Steel Plant Resulting in $115,000 Fine for Cambridge Company

December 29, 2020

Two workers were injured after being struck with a piece of waste material that fell from a furnace. There was no overhead protection to protect the workers from the hazards of falling material. Following a guilty plea in provincial offences court in Whitby, Gerdau Ameristeel Incorporation was fined $115,000 and the court also imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
  
COVID-19
Ontario Restrictions Lifting

As stated in the announcement from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, on Monday February 8, 2021, the following health units entered into the Green Level - Protect on Wednesday, February 10, 2021:
  • Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington
  • Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
  • Renfrew County and District Health Unit

As long as the numbers of COVID -19 cases do not change significantly, all other health units will enter back into the colour levels (based on local area COVID numbers, each local health unit will return to the appropriate colour level as detailed in the re-opening Ontario Guidelines) on February 16, 2021. A few Health Units, namely Toronto, Peel and York regions are expected to re-enter the colour level framework on February 22, 2021. Until these dates, areas governed by these public health units will remain in the current shutdown and must continue to follow the current restrictions.  


Also included in the recent announcement, are some changes which are required to be implemented in the retail sector for each colour zone. These can be found by visiting Ontario's Reopening Response Framework page. Please remember that this page is an overview that was prepared by the government and is not an all inclusive listing of requirements. There may be some additional information in each of the legislative regulations that define each colour and local Health Units.

To access the official government announcement outlining this information, please click here.

If you have any questions regarding the updated legislation and what this means for your business, contact us at 613.546.9814 or at www.whss.ca.


Mental Health
Tips for Working from Home

Even before this pandemic, the work-from-home model had been growing in popularity in our country. However, since the onset of COVID-19, Canada has seen more employees working from home than ever before. With the announcement of another provincial wide lockdown at the end of 2020, many employees that had previously returned to work were required to return to their home office once again.

Some employers are seeing many benefits to having some or all their employees work from home and may continue to have a certain percentage of their workforce continue to work from home, even after the pandemic is over.

Meaningful social connections help protect our mental health, and for many of us, a percentage of these social connections are fostered in the workplace. Below are some tips to help address the isolation and loneliness that some employees may experience while working from home:
  • Set a schedule:
    • Keep your "getting ready" for work routine the same as you would if you were going into the office.
    • Set regular working hours, including breaks and resist the temptation to work after hours.
    • Know and respect your limits to avoid burnout.
  • Stay connected:
    • Pair up with a colleague to whom you can relate, sharing successes and challenges.
    • Set up a channel on social networks for impromptu, informal workplace conversations.
    • Help colleagues with disabilities - for example, offer to take notes during virtual meetings. 
  • Make time for self-care:
    • Get sufficient sleep - aim for seven and a half (7.5) to nine (9) hours per night.
    • Ensure proper, balanced nutrition throughout your workday and stay hydrated.
    • Exercise regularly - aim for at least 30 minutes per day.
If you or someone you know is in experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact your local crisis centre, a crisis hotline, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. For more information, click here.

Reminder: If you are interested in learning more about mental health and are looking for tools to help you deal with an individual in crisis or experiencing a mental health problem, we offer the Basic Mental Health First Aid Course at Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions. You can find course dates on our website or in the training calendar below.  


WHSS News
Celebrating 20 Years!

On March 15, 2021, Wiebke Wilkens, Owner & Principal Consultant of Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions will celebrate 20 years in business! Please join the WHSS team in congratulating Wiebke on achieving this milestone!

Wiebke has worked many years in the Health and Safety field, previously holding positions as District Manager with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Queen's University before opening her consulting practice.

Thank you for the support from all of our clients and businesses that helped WHSS succeed as a safety partner in the community!


Health and Safety Excellence program
Provider Updates

2020 Program status:

At this point, all companies that were part of the 2020 program, should be working on gathering their documents for evidence and creating their evidence stories to be submitted for validation. Once these items are prepared, please send the information to Sarah Salisbury at ssalisbury@whss.ca at for review. We will assist you in the next steps submitting for validation.

For those companies who have paid for the Premium membership, we will be writing your Evidence Stories for you.

REMINDER: In order to be eligible to receive a rebate and recognition in May 2021, all firms must submit their documentation to us at Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions, no later than February 19, 2021.

2021 Program:
Registration for the 2021 program is ongoing for both new and returning members. You can register for the full program with Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions until March 31, 2021. Meeting dates will be announced shortly for the 2021 program.

If you have questions about the program or would like to register or the 2021 program, please contact us at 613.546.9814 or by emailing info@whss.ca.


Employment Standards
Public Holiday

Reminder to all businesses that Ontario employees must receive public holiday pay for Family Day, under the Employment Standards Act. Family Day falls on Monday, February 15, 2021.

For more information on our Human Resources services and what you need in place, contact Sarah Salisbury, Associate Consultant at 613.546.9814 ext. 222 or by email


Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions
Placement Student

WHSS welcomes Jessica Traplin as our Human Resources Placement Student. Jessica is currently completing the Human Resources Post-Graduate Diploma at St. Lawrence College and will complete the placement component of her studies at WHSS from January to April of this year.

Jessica completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Waterloo in 2015 and has multiple years of customer service and retail management experience. She developed a keen interest for Health & Safety while being the management member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) while working in retail, as well as during her studies at St. Lawrence College.

Jessica looks forward to gaining practical work experience in the field of Occupational Health and Safety and Human Resources Management from a team that continuously strives for excellence.

 
 Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills   Development Program Initiatives
Upcoming Provincial / Eastern Ontario Inspection Initiatives

Program
Focus
Sector / Business
Date
Health & Safety
Workplace Violence in Education
Industrial
April 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021
Health & Safety
Warehousing (Ergonomics)
Specialized Professional Services
April 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021

*Please note that the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has stated that these dates may be adjusted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We will keep you informed as updates become available.

View the full schedule here.

For help preparing for an upcoming inspection, contact us today. 


Upcoming WHSS Courses
Register your employees today!
Course
Date
Time
JHSC Certification Part 1 - Basic
March 8 - 10, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Certification Part 2 - Healthcare
March 22 - 23, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Mental Health First Aid
March 25 - 26, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Refresher
March 29, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Certification Part 2 - Industrial
April 8 - 9, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Certification Part 1 - Basic
April 14 - 16, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Certification Part 2 - Healthcare
April 19 - 20, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Refresher
April 30, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Certification Part 1 - Basic
May 10 - 12, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Certification Part 2 - Industrial
June 1 - 2, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
JHSC Certification Part 2 - Healthcare
June 17 - 18, 2021
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

All courses scheduled are offered following safe distancing protocols, as well as all other mandated safety protocols- this means fewer people being allowed to register for each course - allowing for safe participation.

Private on-site courses can also be arranged for groups of six (6) or more. Please contact Sheena Smith for details.

WHSS continues to be a training partner for Working at Heights with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA). Contact us today to arrange your full or refresher course. Courses are scheduled on an as needed basis and can be held at your site or at the Kingston Construction Association (KCA).

For a complete listing of upcoming courses, click here or contact Sheena Smith by email or 613.546.9814 ext. 224 for more details.

Contact Us

t:   613-546-9814
     www.whss.ca

"Specializing in incident prevention and mitigation strategies."

- Wiebke Wilkens