With rising inflation, businesses both big and small are struggling with an increase in theft and retail crime. Is your business prepared? We share training tips so your workers know how to respond to suspicious activity and theft. Then, get reminders on personal security as we approach the holiday season.

Note: This episode was recorded on November 1, 2023. All information presented was in effect at that time. 

Show Notes

• Building an OHS Policy and Program: Violence Assessment (WSPS.CA)
• Quick Safety Tips: Violence and Harassment in the Workplace (WSPS.CA)
• Reporting Workplace Violence and Harassment Procedures (WSPS.CA)
• Retail thefts on the rise, becoming more violent: Retail Council of Canada (CTV News)
• New Toronto Crime Stoppers campaign targets ‘organized retail crime’ that goes beyond shoplifting (CP24)

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre

Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Customer Care online or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).

Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected].

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How can moving towards a healthy workplace culture improve your small business? Learn simple steps you can take to retain great people and boost productivity. Then, hear about three free tools that simplify health and safety - and save you time! Guest is Kelly Hultink, WSPS Consultant, Workplace Mental Health.

Note: This episode was recorded on October 11, 2023. All information presented was in effect at that time. 

Show Notes

• Level Up! Ontario Skilled Trades Fairs

Healthy Workplaces: Positive Workplace Culture

• Download a copy of Psychological Safety in Practice: A Guidebook for Managers
• Visit the Mental Harm Prevention Roadmap site to build a psychological safety action plan.
• Mental Health Infographic Poster
• Quick Safety Tips: Workplace Psychological Safety - Watch these quick safety tips to find out what it means to have a psychologically safe workplace, the role of managers and supervisors, the positive outcomes on worker mental health and the workplace, and steps to get started.
• Check out a variety of mental health and well-being resources to protect employees from mental harm

Free tools and checklists to save you time with health and safety 

• WSPS Small Business Centre
• Health and Safety Road Maps for Your Business
• Free Small Business Advisory Service

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre

Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Customer Care online or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).

Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected].

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As the cooler weather approaches, we have your autumn safety checklist for work and home. Plus, learn about new licensing requirements for temporary help agencies in Ontario. 

Note: This episode was recorded on September 14, 2023. All information presented was in effect at that time. 

SHOW NOTES

Temporary Help Agencies

• New temporary help agency licensing requirements are coming: How will this impact your business?

• Licensing for temporary help agencies and recruiters – Ontario.ca

Autumn Safety Checklist

• WSPS Safety Checklists - use these helpful checklists to inspire safety talks in your workplace
• Travelling in rural areas this Fall? 10 tips on sharing the road with farm equipment
• Road safety: winter edition
• Top 3 winter hazards: how to keep employees safe
• Stop slips, trips and falls with these expert tips
• Free Guide: Protecting Against Respiratory Hazards
• 6 tips to stop the spread of respiratory illness
• Connecting Ontarians to The Tools They Need to Stay Healthy This Respiratory Illness Season – Ontario.ca
• 9 workplace tips for a safe and healthy fall season

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre

Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Customer Care online or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).

Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected].

Follow WSPS on social media for all your OHS updates

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Wildfires are expected to continue for the rest of the summer and to increase in intensity, severity, size and duration in future. Learn how you can use the Air Quality Index and protect employees from the impact of wildfire smoke. Guest is WSPS Occupational Hygienist, Gord Pajuluoma.

Note: This episode was recorded on July 19, 2023. All information presented was in effect at that time. 

Show Notes

• 6 ways to protect employees from wildfire smoke
• Wildfire Smoke in Canada: Understand the health risks to ensure workplace safety with a Q&A
• Infographic: Understanding Canada's Air Quality Index
• Air Quality Health Index (Canada.ca)
• Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) (airqualityontario.com)
• Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health (Canada.ca)
• Wildfire Smoke in Canada: Understand the health risks to ensure workplace safety with a Q&A
• Guide to developing human rights policies and procedures (Ontario Human Rights Commission)
• Wildfire Smoke infographic (OHCOW)

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

·       Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre

·       Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Customer Care online or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).

·       Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected].

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Wildfires, staffing shortages, and violence in the workplace are issues many businesses have been faced with lately. We welcome Alexandra from Camping in Ontario to share insights on how campgrounds across the province have tackled these hazards. Hear tips to keep your workplace safe that apply to any industry. Plus, learn about the new naloxone legislation now in effect. 

Note: This episode was recorded on June 7, 2023. All information presented was in effect at that time. 

Show Notes

Naloxone

•  Naloxone kits and addictions in the workplace: balancing privacy with responsibility
• Safety in 60 Seconds – safety tip videos on naloxone in the workplace
• New Naloxone Requirements: Your Top Questions Answered
• Small Biz Safety Podcast Episode 24: NEW Naloxone requirements: will they impact your business?
• Sample Workplace Impairment Policy
• Reporting Suspected Impairment Checklist
• Naloxone Awareness - Free eCourse (30 minutes) - This eCourse will teach you how to recognize an opioid overdose, administer naloxone, and acquaint workers with any hazards related to the administration of naloxone. The training includes a discussion on opioid-related deaths, overdose, and addiction.

Wildfires

• Wildfire Smoke in Canada: Understand the health risks to ensure workplace safety with a Q&A

Staffing Shortages

• New survey shows safety is critical in attracting and retaining top talent
• Feeling the labour market pinch? 6 tips to retain staff
• Create a healthy workplace by building a mental harm prevention roadmap
• Employee Well Being Resource Stream
• How to Recognize and Cope with Burnout

Violence in the Workplace

• Quick Safety Tip videos – Violence and Harassment
• 5 de-escalation tips when responding to agitated customers
• Workplace Violence and Harassment Toolbox
• Workplace Harassment Policy Checklist 
• Workplace Harassment Investigations in Small Businesses: Tips for Employers
• Reporting Workplace Violence and Harassment Procedures Checklist

New and Young Workers

• 4 tips to protect young workers — and your business — this summer
• New and Young Worker Resource Stream - Browse through our extensive collection of videos, articles, downloads and other resources to learn how to keep your most vulnerable workers safe.
• Quick Safety Tip videos - New and Young Workers
• Checklist - New Worker Orientation Guide

Camping in Ontario

• Camping in Ontario

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

·      Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre

·      Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Customer Care online or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).

·     Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected].

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A new WSPS and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) study reveals a disconnect between how workers and managers view health and safety. Hear tips on bridging the gap between workers and managers, and ideas to improve health and safety communication and protect your business. Guests are members of the research team Craig Fairclough of WSPS and Chun-Yip Hon of TMU. 

Note: This episode was recorded on May 3, 2023. All information presented was in effect at that time.

SHOW NOTES

Threads of Life – Steps for Life Fundraiser

• Steps for Life – Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy – how to get involved and support Threads of Life.

Comparison of management and workers' perception, attitudes and beliefs toward health and safety in the Ontario manufacturing sector

• Comparison of management and workers' perception, attitudes and beliefs toward health and safety in the Ontario manufacturing sector – Abstract of the research study published in the Journal of Safety Research in February 2023.
• Manufacturing in Ontario: Worker and manager attitudes towards health and safety – This short video highlights the findings of the Comparison of management and workers' perception, attitudes and beliefs toward health and safety in the Ontario manufacturing sector.
• Sign up for a virtual focus group on manager and worker perceptions in health and safety – You can help participate in this research project! You’ll be asked to share your feelings or perceptions on workplace health and safety with the research team. Each participant will be given an e-gift card as a token of appreciation for their participation. The session will run up to 90 minutes and will take place in June. The virtual focus groups of workers will be separate from the groups of managers.
• New study: closing gaps in worker/manager OHS attitudes key to reducing manufacturing injuries

Other resources

•  Internal Responsibility System (IRS) Primer
•  Quick Safety Tips – short videos on the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• WSIB Health & Safety Excellence program

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

·       Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre

·       Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Duty Consultant by email [email protected] or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).

·       Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected]

Follow WSPS on social media

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·       Facebook

·       LinkedIn

·       YouTube

In Ontario, young workers are 3x more likely to be injured in their first 30 days on the job than at any other point in their working life. Learn 3 important tips all young workers should hear and how to share messages they need to stay safe and keep your business running.

This episode was recorded on April 3, 2023. All information presented was current and in effect at that time.

SHOW NOTES

Young Worker Resources

• New and Young Worker Resource Stream - WSPS.CA
• Quick Safety Tip videos - New and Young Workers - WSPS
• Checklist - New Worker Orientation Guide - WSPS.CA

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

• Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre
• Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Customer Care Team or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).
• Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected]

Follow WSPS on social media

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A Kitchener company and its CEO were fined $100,000 for machine guarding violations – could this happen to you? Protect your people and your business by learning about your legal requirements and the power of identifying hazards/risks and putting controls in place. Today’s guest is Rafik Zaki, Specialized Consultant (Machine Safety) at WSPS.

This episode was recorded on February 28, 2023. All information presented was current and in effect at that time.

MACHINE AND ROBOT SAFETY RESOURCES

CSA Partnered Training Courses (One Day)

·        Safeguarding of Machinery - Understanding and Applying CSA Z432

·        Robot Safety – Decoding and Applying CSA Z434

Half-day Training Options

·        Lockout/Tagout Safety Essentials

·        Managing Machine Safety

·        Managing Robot Safety

·        Managing Pre-Start Reviews

Consulting

·       Machine and Robot Safeguarding Assessments (Note:  WSPS does not provide Pre-start Reviews)

·        Lockout/Placard Development Facilitation

·        Risk Assessment Training and Facilitation

·        Control of Hazardous Energy (LOTO) Program Development

Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1 (ontario.ca)

R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851: INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS (ontario.ca)

Guideline for pre-start health and safety reviews | ontario.ca

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) – Pre-Start Health and Safety Review Guideline 

CSA Group Store

ANSI Webstore 

ANSI Webstore, RIA TR R15.306 (Risk Assessment Methodology) 

ISO Store 

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services 

·        Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre 

·        Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Duty Consultant by email [email protected] or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777). 

·        Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected]  

Follow WSPS on social media 

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·        Facebook 

·        LinkedIn 

·        YouTube 

There are new naloxone requirements for Ontario workplaces – do you need to comply? Find out when the new legislation comes into effect and how it could impact your business (0:53). Then, hear how an easy-to-use tool and short video can make hazard assessments simpler (5:40).

Note: This episode was recorded on January 24, 2022. All information presented was in effect at that time.

Naloxone and the Workplace

• New naloxone requirements: do you need to comply? Your top questions answered (WSPS.CA) - The answer depends on whether your workers are at risk of overdose. But how do you determine that? The process just got a little clearer, says WSPS Consultant Pam Patry.
• News Release: Ontario Providing Free Naloxone Kits in Workplaces (Ontario.ca) - Life-saving kits required to be on hand in at-risk workplaces by June 1, 2023

New Free Hazard Assessment Tool

• Free Hazard Assessment Tool - Download this template and use it to control hazards and reduce injuries and illnesses in all types of workplaces, industry sectors and work tasks.
• Short Explainer Video – How to use the Hazard Assessment Tool – This short explainer video will walk you through the process of using the free hazard assessment tool in just over 2 minutes.
• Perform a hazard assessment to make your business safer: a step-by-step guide - When your employees arrive at work, are they aware of the hazards around them? Find out how to assess and control hazards in your business to keep workers safe.

Pedestrian Safety

• 8 winter safety tips for pedestrians (Sunnybrook.ca)
• Top 3 winter hazards: how to keep employees safe

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

• Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre
• Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Duty Consultant by email [email protected] or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).
• Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected]

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It’s time for our experts to answer your questions! Find out about the latest on masking guidance, learn how to reduce the risk of violence and harassment during stressful times, and if you regularly employ 6-19 people, find out how you can get free safety training! And just in time for the holidays, hear about safe food handling, winter driving tips, and decorating safety as you make the season merry and bright. 

Note: This episode was recorded on December 6, 2022. All information presented was in effect at that time.

SHOW NOTES

Question 1: Masking

• Some resources that can help you address the issue of masking:
  • Workplace Safety Plan Builder | Ontario.ca
  • Workplace masking guidance | Ontario.ca
  • Using Masks in the Workplace: How to Select, Care and Use to Protect Workers - A free, 20-minute recorded webinar that pulls it all together – helping you to make decisions about the use of masks in your workplace and developing your workplace policies to support this.
  • Small Biz Safety Episode 16 January 2022 “Masks Revisited: Omicron Update
  • Small Biz Safety Episode 4 February 2021 “Masks: The Next Frontier”

Question 2: HSR Training

• Sign up for Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Basic Training - Ontario | WSPS
• Health and Safety Representative (HSR) training: reimbursements available for your small business | WSPS

Question 3: Violence & Harassment

• Small Biz Safety Episode 17 March 2022 #17 – Violence and Harassment Prevention: De-escalation Tips by Small Biz Safety Podcast | soundcloud.com
• 5 de-escalation tips when responding to agitated customers | WSPS
• Quick Safety Tip Videos: Violence and Harassment

Question 4: Holiday Decorating Safety

• Keep the holiday spirit bright with these 12 tips for safe decorating | WSPS
• NIOSH Ladder Safety App

Question 5: Winter Driving Safety

• Road safety: winter edition | WSPS

Question 6: Food Safety for the Holidays

• Appetite for Safety: A CBC News investigation about food safety in B.C. - British Columbia | CBC.ca
• General food safety tips | Canada.ca

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

• Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre
• Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Duty Consultant by email [email protected] or call 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).
• Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected]

Follow WSPS on social media

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