Objective 1 of Prevention Works is focused on demonstrating measurable contributions to preventing occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities. We use the best available evidence and data to target initiatives, measure performance and increase OHS system oversight.

Implementing Prevention Works through system governance

The governance model for Prevention Works is informed by “collective impact.” This approach brings people together from various organizations and sectors to solve problems in a structured, organized and collaborative way.footnote 1 With this in mind, the ministry organized a series of Steering Committees with members from across the OHS system. They were asked to:

  • analyze the most up-to-date available evidence
  • determine the most pressing health and safety needs in Ontario’s workplaces
  • plan new sector-based interventions for the long term

In 2021–2022, the Data and Evidence Steering Committee and Research Partner Table supported governance work by providing advice on changes in OHS research and integrating the best available evidence on three new prevention programs:  

  • System Small Business Study – Small Business Steering Committee
  • Silica Control Tool – Occupational Illness Prevention Steering Committee
  • Addressing Workplace Risk Factors for Opioid-related Harms - Work-related Mental Health and Workplace Violence and Harassment Steering Committee

The ministry will continue to measure the effectiveness of the OHS system’s work and report back on implementation of these programs in 2022–2023.

Conducting risk assessments, identifying root causes and targeting sector-specific hazards

In addition to the initiatives described above, OHS partners have been engaged in a wide range of activities in 2021–2022. With the ministry, they conducted risk assessments, led targeted research and built evidence across priority sectors. Sectors included forestry, mining, construction, transportation, and manufacturing (with a focus on young workers).

Workplace Safety North highlights

Risk Assessment/Root Cause Analysis workshops

Workplace Safety North (WSN) held multiple workshops throughout 2021 and 2022. These workshops included:

After completing the risk assessment and root cause analysis workshop process, WSN’s Education Services team and Health and Safety Specialists, in conjunction with their internal WSN Advisory committees, analyzed results from the workshops and identified opportunities to provide further training program and OHS resources to support industries in addressing these areas of concern.

Safe Driving on Forest Roads

In 2021–2022, WSN formed a training program advisory committee comprised of forest industry representatives to help develop a safe vehicle operation training program. This program is designed to address the highest risk hazards identified through the logging sector risk assessment and address the root causes of these risks while driving on forestry roads. The greatest risk of “distracted driving” was identified by workers and managers who utilize forest access roads for work, as well as for recreational activities.

To promote awareness and prevention of distracted driving, WSN delivered 145 training sessions and 5 educational events through both classroom and online learning. WSN has partnered with Lakehead University’s Enhancing the Prevention of Injury & Disability @ Work Research Institute to measure the outcome and impact of the training. This research study has been extended to March 31, 2023.

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services highlights

Greenhouse Risk Assessment Program

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) launched a predictive, evidence-based, field-tested methodology to evaluate Safety, Health and the Law for Greenhouses. The objective was to have greenhouses adopt safe work practices identified by industry stakeholders.

Between 2021–2022, two surveys were conducted with participants. Findings showed that:

  • participants had a high level of knowledge before taking the course (84%) but increased their knowledge significantly after taking the course (98%)
  • participants increased their knowledge about the Internal Responsibility System, the importance of reporting near misses and the Occupational Health and Safety Act
  • a total of 91% of survey respondents said they felt capable and motivated to apply what they learned to a high or very high degree
  • more than 70% reported improved business performance and an improved OHS program after updating their OHS policies and procedures

Young Workers- Windsor-Essex County

On April 1, 2022, this CPO-directed program concluded its final year. The focus of this project was to determine the root causes of “struck by” lost-time injuries. These injuries are prevalent among young workers in manufacturing.

This project enabled the county to help manufacturing employers in the region address the risks and hazards most affecting young workers. Solutions included:

  • introduce the ‘Toolbox’ as a reference resource on the county website
  • develop four half-day courses in September 2021 for both young workers and supervisors

Public Services Health and Safety Association highlights

Paramedic Risk Assessment and Root Cause Analysis

The goal of this industry-led project was to support the paramedic services sector in preventing injury and illness. The focus was threefold:

  • to identify the OHS hazards to which paramedics and ambulance communication officers are most exposed
  • to understand the associated risks and root causes
  • to develop solutions to mitigate, control or eliminate these risks

The Risk Assessment identified 105 hazards that paramedics face in the workplace. At the top of the list were psychosocial hazards that pose a risk for development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ontario’s Emergency management Services (EMS) Section 21 Sub-Committee reviewed PTSD injuries and identified 36 causal factors for psychological harm to paramedics and ambulance communication officers.

PSHSA sought many perspectives during the project. These included worker and employer representatives from First Nations, rural, urban and remote paramedic services, members of peer support groups at their services, clinicians, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, and academic representatives.

The Root Cause Analysis identified 150 potential solutions/controls. Action items included:

  • update training materials and facilitation for topics such as workplace violence, psychological health and safety, fatigue, handling traumatic events, stigma, self-care and resiliency
  • provide trauma-informed and paramedic-specific mental health support
  • increase collaboration between educational institutions, base hospital programs and service providers on training, mentorship and program development
  • allow for protected or dedicated time for training and continuing education, breaks and pause time to reset and re-energize
  • highlight the need for paramedic-specific health and safety legislation
  • encourage self-care by enhancing facilities (for example, gyms, break rooms, quiet spaces), and spreading awareness

A total of 27 stakeholders were identified to assist in rolling out the solutions. Some of the recommended solutions or controls are expected to be simple and quick to implement. Others are system-level changes that require support and coordination from multiple stakeholders. This project is expected to inform PSHSA’s work within the sector for years to come.

Occupational Stress Injury Resiliency (OSIR) tool

PSHSA partnered with The Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) to develop this tool in 2020. In 2021–2022, PSHSA used the tool to identify ways to better assess occupational stress injury (OSI) risk. This led to the second iteration of the survey tool. In December 2021, the research report was re-released on the CBoC’s website to highlight improvements in the updated tool.

To further understand the tool’s use at the organizational level, PSHSA has launched a number of pilots with select Ontario organizations. PSHSA continues to work closely with clients and stakeholders to determine how the tool can be best applied to support efforts to prevent OSI.

As a result of the OSIR tool, the ResilientME self-guided microlearning program was launched and promoted in April 2021. With its innovative microlearning approach, ResilientME is easy to digest, highly interactive and accessible. The free program has been accessed nearly 1,000 times since it launched.

Infrastructure Health and Safety Association highlights

Dedicated trade solution and control workshops

The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) hosted workshops in 2021 with roofing, outside finishing, rough framing/carpentry, masonry/brick layers, and homebuilder representatives. The focus was on identifying solutions and controls that would best support their trades. These root cause workshops led to the development of a new resource: Top 10 factors contributing to falls. Copies were mailed to 99,264 firms in residential construction. Other resources included infographics, social media messaging, podcasts and a Falls Awareness campaign.

In June 2021, a root cause workshop was also held with industry representatives to identify root causes, solutions and controls for underground utility strikes. IHSA presented findings at various opportunities to validate results and socialization of results will be made available in 2022.

Driver fatigue

IHSA continued to develop solutions building off results of the Driver Fatigue workshop, by updating their “driver fatigue” web page and initiated targeted efforts to addressing the five identified systemic weaknesses, including:

  • classify truck driving as a skilled trade
  • review and address critical training gaps in mandatory entry-level training
  • mandate graduated licensing for all truck drivers
  • provide greater enforcement of non-compliant carriers
  • promote mental health and wellness

IHSA also launched a new awareness campaign in 2021–2022 on “sharing the road safely with large trucks.” This included a dedicated web page, release of new podcast episodes, Laid advertising and a social media campaign which reached 962 views in 2021–2022.

Yard safety

In 2021, IHSA focused its efforts on validating and socializing the results of the Yard Safety workshop. For example, IHSA:

  • hosted virtual sessions and produced an infographic and related articles
  • launched a dedicated web page for yard safety
  • focused on addressing identified systemic weaknesses, including:
    • classifying truck driving as a skilled trade and addressing training gaps
    • establishing yard safety protocols
    • greater enforcement of non-compliant carriers and promoting health
    • wellness tailored to the driver and operational and/or support staff

Translating research into action

Research Day 2021

The ministry partnered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to facilitate an online Research Day series on June 17 and 24, 2021. The three main goals of research day were to:

  • increase access to research findings
  • increase awareness of the Ministry and WSIB-funded research
  • enhance the use of evidence in decision-making within the OHS community

Research Day builds on the ministry’s OHS Research Roadmap and Research Funding Modernization that started in 2020–2021.

Six research studies funded by either the ministry or WSIB were showcased along with a panel discussion and questions and answers period. The series drew 475 participants from the OHS research community, OHS system partners and the general public. A post-evaluation survey showed 95% of attendees were satisfied with the event and agreed that the online format worked well. More than 90% of participants indicated that their knowledge of OHS-funded research increased as a result of their participation.

Partnership With Institute of Work and Health: Return on Investment study

In late 2021 and early 2022, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) developed a study in partnership with the Institute of Work and Health (IWH). The two core goals of the study were to:

  • help promote OHS best practices
  • to help businesses apply research results to create a customized business case for health and safety in their workplace

Key findings from the study showed that financial returns are equal to, if not greater than, OHS expenditures. Experts from businesses with strong OHS performances also report that there are intangible financial benefits.

IndustryTransportationManufacturingConstruction
Average return for every dollar invested$2.14$1.24$1.34

The key findings conducted are consistent with global research and create a strong case to incorporate OHS as part of regular business planning.footnote 2

Partnership with the National Institute of Disability Management and Research

In December 2021, the National Institute of Disability Management and Research received federal grant money to roll out the Towards Excellence in Return-to-Work/Disability Management Professionalization project. The launch mirrors an initiative that went live in 2008 in British Columbia (BC). The BC project resulted in improved return-to-work outcomes. In addition, best practices were encoded into collective agreements covering 150,000 workers, four unions and over 260 organizations in BC's healthcare sector.

In Ontario, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has established a three-year partnership with the Institute as part of this initiative. The launch includes three components to support WSIB's customers’ return to work and disability management programs:

  • Ensure free access to continuing education courses in disability management through Pacific Coast University.
  • Deliver free workplace disability management and return-to-work assessments and subsequent improvement plans.
  • Provide scholarship opportunities for a Bachelor of Disability Management (B.DM) degree through Pacific Coast University.

In February 2022, the WSIB initiated work with the Institute to develop a promotional strategy and awareness materials for Ontario businesses. The outreach and promotion of free disability management and return-to-work support through the Health and Safety Excellence program began in the Spring of 2022.

Footnotes