IHSA Safety Podcast

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the health and safety resources available to young workers and their parents and features Pam Patry, northern region manager at WSPS.Pam highlights that young workers don’t know what they don’t know, so if they’re not trained or taught about hazards in their workplace, they won’t know what to look out for or how to recognize a hazard. Young workers often receive generic training such as WHMIS but may not be educated on specific hazards they could face in their roles. There’s a pressing need for site-specific training so that young workers can be better equipped to handle hazards. Workplace training should clearly explain what the job involves, the hazards that may be present, and how to manage or remove them. Training should also be easy to understand to help young workers quickly grasp the essential information they need.Pam emphasizes that young workers should be reminded of their three rights—right to know about hazards, right to participate in safety procedures, and right to refuse unsafe work. Parents should support their children in asserting those rights and be proactive in understanding their child's work environment, including what their tasks are and how much safety training they’ve received. Their tasks may appear simple, but they could pose risks if not done correctly.  Free resourcesHealth and safety basics for new and young workersNew and Young WorkersRights of workers in OntarioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses adequate health and safety training for teenagers entering the workforce and features Angela and Melanie.Angela and Melanie express concerns about young workers receiving proper training on common workplace hazards, emergency procedures, or personal protective equipment (PPE) at their places of work. Angela says, although her son learned some basic safety protocols, there should have been more focused training at his workplace on potential hazards like chemical exposure and working at heights.Melanie states that while her daughter did receive some training on health and safety at her current job, her previous job did not provide adequate training, especially in the context of potential violence and harassment, which are common hazards in the workforce. Angela and Melanie emphasize the importance of safety education and communication in preventing workplace incidents. Both parents agree that high schools should provide more education on workplace safety, especially before students enter the workforce. They also encourage other parents to ask questions about their children's work environments, emphasize their rights, and engage more proactively in conversations about safety. Free resourceHealth and safety basics for new and young workersNew and Young WorkersRights of workers in OntarioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses young workers' experiences with health and safety training and features guest speakers Ashley and Will, who share their experiences from different sectors.Ashley and Will discuss the challenges young workers face when it comes to health and safety awareness and training. Ashley, who works in healthcare and previously in a grocery store, mentions that her grocery store job provided only minimal training during orientation, mainly through video content that wasn’t engaging. However, her healthcare job involves ongoing learning, helping her stay informed about safety practices. Will, who works in the service sector, didn’t receive any formal safety training at his job; however, he learned some safety tips from family and other sources.When asked about overall safety at their jobs, Will feels his safety is prioritized, while Ashley, who received little attention when she got injured at her grocery store job, says her current workplace supports and encourages open discussions on safety. They both discuss more topics such as safety procedures, incident reporting, and PPE, and both express the need for improved and more interactive safety training processes to better prepare young workers for real workplace hazards. Free resourcesHealth and safety basics for new and young workersNew and Young WorkersRights of workers in OntarioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses IHSA’s 5-part video series "Ask a Construction Health and Safety Expert" and features series host Ken Rayner and industry experts Deb Moskal and Dave Dametto.Ken states that the series is designed to support small business owners, especially those in their first year, by providing easy, accessible health and safety resources and helping them achieve compliance. With over 10,000 new construction businesses joining IHSA each year, the series addresses common questions and misconceptions about health and safety compliance.Deb Moskal highlights how crucial it is for new construction businesses in Ontario to have basic health and safety guidance. The number of requirements and responsibilities they face can feel daunting; however, with the right guidance and tools, they don’t have to be. As these businesses face initial start-up challenges, keeping their workers safe is critical, so it's essential that they create strong health and safety practices from the beginning.Dave explains that the series covers a plethora of health and safety topics for construction workers, such as mandatory training, legislation, hazard assessments, incident response plans, and competent supervision. The episodes are free and available on IHSA's website and YouTube, as well as on a dedicated landing page designed for easy access to additional resources. Free resourcesAsk a Construction Health and Safety Expert landing pageIHSA’s free health and safety resourcesSafety talksIHSA’s 5-episode series on construction health and safety (YouTube)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses COR®’s Maintenance Action Plan (MAP) and features Peter Smith, Lead COR® Auditor at IHSA, and Margaret Hart, health and safety program administrator at Hart-Well Electrical.The MAP, which was introduced in Alberta in 2016 to improve health and safety standards, is a new option for mature COR®-certified organizations in Ontario to enhance health and safety without the burden of repetitive internal audits.Peter explains that following a recertification audit a company has the option to participate in a MAP instead of completing an internal maintenance audit. The company would submit a MAP proposal to IHSA that outlines five objectives for continuous improvement. Once IHSA approves, the company has nine to 10 months to address the outlined objectives and provide evidence to IHSA 60 days before their certification anniversary date. Once IHSA signs off, the MAP effectively replaces the internal maintenance audit for that recertification year, and a letter of good standing is issued to the company.Margaret discusses her team’s experience with MAP, and she and Peter offer tips on the MAP process for companies that may be considering taking the MAP approach. Free resourcesWhat is COR®?  COR® – Getting StartedThe Benefits of COR®Debunking Seven Myths about the COR® ProgramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the new COR® Combined Audit program and features Peter Smith, Lead COR® Auditor at IHSA.Peter states that the COR® Combined Audit allows organizations with many accounts to undergo one comprehensive COR® audit rather than multiple audits throughout the year. The key benefit of the program is to enhance efficiency during the COR® certification process, so that instead ofreviewing the same health and safety management system with various accounts multiple times, the review can be completed in a single audit of all accounts. The combined audit program isn’t mandatory but rather optional, and it doesn’t change the COR® standards or audit expectations. Each account is still expected to be in compliance withthe COR® 2020 standard, and each account still gets its own individual certification.Peter also highlights other benefits of the program, such as saving time and money. It cuts down on the time spent writing several audit reports for each account and also lowers the cost of auditing each account. Free resourcesWhat is COR®?  COR® – Getting StartedThe Benefits of COR®Debunking Seven Myths about the COR® ProgramSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the hierarchy of controls as a fundamental tool in workplace health and safety and features Scott Laing.Scott explains that the hierarchy of controls is a framework that helps to reduce or eliminate hazards, starting with the most effective methods such as elimination and substitution and moving down to less effective measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE).The hierarchy of controls helps manage workplace risks effectively, particularly on construction sites. Because construction sites are dynamic with conditions changing frequently, it’s always critical to identify hazards before they lead to incidents. Scott emphasizes that workers' involvement in hazard identification and safety discussions is necessary, as they can best identify risks that may not be obvious to supervisors or health and safety committee members.Scott discusses the ways technology is improving the ability to recognize and control hazards in construction, such as the use of drones for site inspections and the Building Information Modeling (BIM) equipment, which visualizes a project before the construction begins. Scott also shares additional safety tips for workers and safety professionals when using the hierarchy of controls.Free resourcesHierarchy of Controls to Ensure Workers’ SafetyBasics of Supervising TrainingTraining Requirements ChartSafety TalksSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.