Happy New Year everyone!  I wish you all a safe and injury free 2012.

I read through the Expert Advisory Panel on Occupational Health and Safety today and wanted to share some key points the Ministry of Labour (MOL) is seeking input for implementation.

The Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) identified 11 priorities for implementation which I've summarized below.

• The prevention organization should be created within the MOL, headed by the Chief Prevention Executive and have specific powers explicitly defined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• The MOL should create a health and safety poster that explains the key rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties, including how to obtain additional information and how to contact a MOL inspector.  It would be mandatory to post this in the workplace
• The MoL should create mandatory training requirements for: Health & Safety Representatives (HSRs); All workers; Supervisors; Construction workers (entry-level); fall protection training for workers working at heights and other high hazard activities
• The mandatory training for workers would cover:
• • the rights and responsibilities for workers & supervisors
  • the roles of workplace parties including HSRs and JHSCs
  • the role of the MOL, WSIB & Health and Safety Associations
  • the definition of a hazard
  • the right to be informed of hazards in the workplace
  • WHMIS
  • the introduction of occupational disease and the concept of latency and illnesses
• The mandatory training for supervisors would cover:
• • the rights and responsibilities for workers & supervisors
  • the Internal Responsibility System and the roles of workplace parties including HSRs and JHSCs
  • the role of the MOL, WSIB & Health and Safety Associations
  • the recognition, assessment, control and elimination of hazards in the workplace
  • where resources and assistance are available
• The MOL should appoint committees under Section 21 of the OHSA to provide advise on vulnerable workers and small business needs
• The MOL and the Ontario Labour Relations Board should develop as process to expedite the resolution of reprisal complaints under OHSA and establish independent, third-party organizations to assist employees and employers through this process in the form of the Office of the Worker Adviser or the Office of the Employer Adviser

Follow the link below to find the original documents and provide feedback to the MOL on how to implement any of the above topics.  For example, is training cost and time a concern for your company? 

http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=8162&language=en&utm_source=Exacttarget&utm_medium=HRPA&utm_term=OHSA&utm_content=Email&utm_campaign=ohsachange1