IHSA Safety Podcast

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses women in the trades and features four skilled tradeswomen who are building, welding, wiring, and driving real change in the industry.

Gabrielle, a carpenter apprentice; Kenedi, a heavy equipment operator; Kenya, a apprentice; and Catrina, an electrical apprentice, speak about what inspired them to pursue careers in the trades—from family involvement to sheer curiosity, as we...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) and the evolution of health and safety in Ontario's construction industry and features Brian Barron, CEO of the OCS.

Brian speaks on his extensive history in construction and health and safety in Ontario. Drawing on his experience as a former inspector with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD...

Choosing the right contractor for your home renovation is about more than cost—it’s also about safety. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, we discuss contractor safety standards when it comes to home renovations. This episode takes a different approach as it plays out real-world scenarios and conversations between a homeowner and potential contractors.

The conversations emphasize the importance of contractor safety ...

In 2022, Ontario recorded the highest number of transport truck collisions in a decade, causing 71 fatalities due to inexperienced drivers, risky moves by some truck drivers, and mechanical failures. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Kim Richardson, senior advisor with The Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada (PTTAC), discusses the crucial need for smarter and more thorough training in the trucking indu...

On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Michele Beckstead-Jackson from Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) discusses the importance of asbestos awareness in Ontario workplaces and the required training for workers and supervisors to ensure they are well-equipped to recognize asbestos hazards and know how to safely control them.

Asbestos remains a dangerous material, partic...

One common mistake organizations often make is using the terms "assessment," "inspection," and "audit" interchangeably. These terms have different meanings and serve different purposes in health and safety, making it essential to not confuse them. This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the differences between assessments, inspections, and audits in workplace safety and features Michael Falls, health and safety m...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the Office of the Worker Adviser (OWA) and features Kevin Brown and Kristen Lindsay from Ontario's Office of the Worker Adviser.

The Office of the Worker Adviser is a resource that supports injured Ontario workers and ensures their rights are respected and enforced. The OWA team provides assistance in filing claims and navigating appeals, helping injured workers understand t...

The Office of the Employer Advisor (OEA) is a little-known resource in Ontario that’s been quietly saving employers time, money, and stress, and it does not cost a thing. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, OEA’s Director, Susan Adams, and one of their Employer Specialists, Dunstan Francis, discuss what the OEA does and how they assist Ontario employers.

The OEA offers expert guida...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast continues the discussion on the importance of an effective road safety program in preventing motor vehicle incidents (MVIs) and features IHSA’s Michelle Roberts.

Michelle continues with the Plan–Do–Check–Act Model within a road safety program, emphasizing the importance of driver assessment and vehicle maintenance as crucial parts of the program. She highlights the need for regular as...

Motor vehicle incidents (MVIs) are a leading cause of workplace injuries in Ontario. With thousands of Ontario workers driving daily, including professional and non-commercial drivers, it is crucial for employers to invest time and effort in building a road safety program. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Michelle Roberts discusses how employers can build and implement an effective road safety program that can s...

April 28 marks the National Day of Mourning—a time to honour those whose lives have been forever changed by workplace tragedies. It’s a time to remember, but it’s also a time to renew our commitment to safer workplaces for everyone. On this special National Day of Mourning episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, we welcome back Eugene Gutierrez to share his story of resiliency, hope, and the work being done across Canada to cr...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast is the final segment on the roles and legal requirements of Joint Health and Safety Committees (provincial legislation) and Workplace Health and Safety Committees (federal legislation) in Ontario, featuring IHSA’s Alain Leger and Doug Heintz.

JHSCs & WHSCs play vital roles in Ontario workplaces. Alain and Doug iterate that a key function of both committees is to conduct regular mo...

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast continues the discussion on the roles and legal requirements of Joint Health and Safety Committees (provincial legislation) and Workplace Health and Safety Committees (federal legislation) in Ontario, and features IHSA’s Alain Leger and Doug Heintz. JHSCs and WHSCs play crucial roles in identifying hazards, improving workplace conditions, and ensuring compliance with legislation.

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This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the roles and legal requirements of Joint Health and Safety Committees (provincial legislation) and Workplace Health and Safety Committees (federal legislation) in Ontario and features IHSA's Alain Leger and Doug Heintz.

A Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) and a Workplace Health and Safety Committee (WHSC) are composed of workers and employee representatives who are m...

A health and safety representative (HSR) plays a crucial role when it comes to workplace safety, and IHSA’s Deb Moskal and Doug Heintz return to the IHSA Safety Podcast to discuss their importance in the workplace. On Episode 102, Deb and Doug explained the legislative requirements for a health and safety representative in Ontario small businesses. On this episode, they discuss the importance of having a health and safety ...

On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, IHSA’s Deb Moskal and Doug Heintz discuss the role of health and safety representatives (HSRs) in Ontario small businesses. Deb and Doug explain when a workplace requires a health and safety representative, how they are selected, and their functions according to workplace health and safety legislation.

There are similarities between federal and provincial legislation regarding hea...

On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, IHSA’s Maren Gamble discusses the importance of understanding legal and other requirements when building an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS). Employers, supervisors, and workers need to understand their obligations under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) or the Canada Labour Code Part 2.

To determine which requirements should be addressed,...

During the winter months in Canada, the weather can get extremely cold, and workers in industries such as construction, transportation, and electrical utilities oftentimes endure frigid temperatures and face the risk of experiencing cold stress.

On this 100th episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Jasmine Kalsi, IHSA's Occupational Hygienist, revisits the topic of cold stress, a highly important topic that was discussed in dep...

On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Michele Beckstead-Jackson from Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development discusses the importance of asbestos awareness and training in Ontario workplaces to ensure workers are well-equipped to recognize the dangers of asbestos and know how to safely control the hazard.

Michele states that, although asbestos was mostly halted in construction projec...