Instructor-led health and safety training now available in person and online
Workplace Safety North (WSN) has reopened its offices and is gradually resuming the full scope of training and consulting services at its facilities across northern Ontario, including Sudbury and North Bay, as well as at employer worksites.
As one of four sector-based health and safety associations in Ontario, WSN provides province-wide government-approved workplace health and safety training and services for both the forest products and mining industries, as well as for businesses across northern Ontario.
Strict protocols to ensure health and safety
Resumption of services includes strict protocols to ensure the health and safety of staff and participants. This includes complying with physical distancing requirements in the delivery of all programs and only allowing a certain number of participants in each classroom or location, depending on space.
“The health and safety of our staff, clients, and the public is priority number one,” says Paul Andre, WSN President and CEO. “Risk assessments have been conducted for our field staff who train across the province, as well as for office staff in North Bay and Sudbury. Mine rescue training has been operational throughout the pandemic, with smaller classes.”
WSN continues to follow the recommendations of local public health units, as well as Ontario’s chief medical officer, and makes adjustments as required and permissible.
Your patience and understanding are much appreciated as WSN continues to make everyone’s safety the top priority.
Class Registrations
Please contact Customer Care if you would like to inquire about any upcoming classes or a class you were previously registered in but was cancelled due to COVID-19 closures: 1-888-730-7821 (toll-free Ontario) or 705-474-7233. Some members of Joint Health and Safety Committees now have until November 30, 2020 to complete refresher training from approved training providers like Workplace Safety North. This applies to members whose certification expires between February 28, 2020 and August 31, 2020. The extension does not apply to JHSC Part 1 or Part 2 training.
Training program participants are requested to:
- Wear a face mask or face covering
- Have been trained by their employer on the proper use, care, and limitations of such face masks or face coverings
- Have received COVID-19 screening in advance by their employer
- Understand and co-operate with WSN pre-screening of all participants prior to entering its facilities. (WSN reserves the right to refuse anyone entry.)
Train at your facility
Please note WSN continues to hold training courses at employers’ facilities that allow for proper physical distancing between participants and the instructor. For additional information or to request a course be offered at your facility, visit https://www.workplacesafetynorth.ca/training/all-courses, call 1-888-730-7821, or contact customer care.
Field Consultations
WSN health and safety specialists are continuing to assist employers at the workplace by providing a range of audits and assessments, including advice on COVID-19 best practices. If you are interested in having a WSN health and safety specialist work directly with you, please contact the specialist in your region.
Webinars
WSN offers four free webinars on health and safety during COVID-19, which you can listen to and watch at your convenience.
1. COVID-19 Conversations: Adapting to the New Normal – Community business leaders Amy Kembel and Karen McKissick share their experiences during the 59-minute webinar. Discussion topics include the opportunities and challenges of remote work, engagement strategies to keep the workforce productive, and how to support employee mental wellbeing during times of uncertainty.
2. COVID-19 Conversations: Leadership in Times of Uncertainty – Learn skills that can make a difference in this 54-minute webinar with leadership expert Nadine Trodel. Discussion topics include how to lead in a crisis; the power of observation to quickly learn and adapt to a new environment; skills that make a difference to influence, enable, and inspire; and how to engage the workforce from the frontline to the executive suite.
3. COVID-19 Conversations: Returning to the Workplace - Legal Considerations for Employers – Lawyer Brad Smith discusses legal considerations during the pandemic in this 59-minute webinar. Discussion topics include general considerations for businesses re-opening; legal considerations around health and safety precautions, absenteeism, and work refusals; and employer and employee responsibilities.
4. Avoid distracted driving using mindfulness techniques: This 45-minute webinar is geared to all employees. Nearly 65 per cent of near crashes have some form of driver distraction. According to the Canadian Automobile Association, checking a text message for five seconds while travelling 90 km hour means you have just travelled the length of an entire football field blindfolded. Learn more about distracted driving and how practicing mindfulness can improve your driving.
New Virtual Instructor-led Training
WSN is coordinating the launch of distance learning for a number of current WSN classroom-based programs where instructors will hold live classrooms online. WSN currently offers several virtual instructor-led courses held for individual employers. Public open calendar courses are expected to be available by October. In the meantime, these are the virtual instructor-led courses currently available privately for employers:
Multi-sector courses
- Competent Supervisor (modules in incident investigation; legislative awareness; the internal responsibility system and due diligence; and planned workplace inspection)
- Occupational Health and Safety Act and Industrial Regulations
- Safe Driving on Forest Roads
Chief Prevention Office-approved courses
- Joint Health and Safety Committee Refresher
- Joint Health and Safety Certification: Part One (coming soon!)
Mining supervisor common core courses
- Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
- Introduction to Safety Programs
- Manage Employees
- Incident Investigation
- Prepare for Emergencies
- Occupational Health and Safety Act and Mining Regulations
Additional mining specialty courses
- Duly Diligent Mining Supervisor
- Mining Train-the-Trainer
Self-paced e-learning courses
Visit WSN E-learning page to learn more.
- Business Case for Health and Safety English French
- Health and Safety Representative Basic Training
- Lockout English French
- Mandatory Awareness Training
- Manual Material Handling English French
- Mechanical Harvesting, Forestry Pit, and Road Construction Equipment Operator Common Core (MHEO) English French
- Mental Health Awareness English French
- Musculoskeletal Disorders Awareness English French
- Occupational and Environment Cancer: Recognition and Prevention English French
- Principles of Rigging, Hoisting and Towing on Logging Operations English French
- Safe Driving on Forest Roads
- Safeplanting.com
- WHMIS 2015 for Workers English French
Health and Safety Excellence program
The WSN Health and Safety Excellence program is a performance-based rebate program developed by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Participants can create safer workplaces and earn both financial and non-financial rewards.
Please note the August 1 WSIB Excellence program submission deadline has been extended to August 28 for existing members with completed action plan topics, and affects important requirements in order to qualify for your November rebate.
Related
Program Delivery at WSN Facilities and Training Rooms