Occupational Health & Safety in Ontario: 2015-2016 Annual Report

On behalf of the occupational health and safety system, I am pleased to share the Occupational Health and Safety in Ontario: 2015-16 Annual Report. The report highlights our 2015-16 accomplishments in advancing the integrated strategy, Healthy and Safe Ontario Workplaces.

Over the past few years, with the help of your partnership, a strong foundation of occupational health and safety has been established in the province. This has been accomplished through a number of activities guided by the integrated strategy, including the development of mandatory training standards, new regulations focused on high risk activities, increased occupational health and safety awareness in workplaces, and an expanded network of partners dedicated to eliminating workplace injury, illness and fatality in Ontario.

In 2015-16, we challenged ourselves to build on this foundation through targeted and collaborative initiatives aimed at advancing the priorities of the integrated strategy. This led to some notable achievements, including:

• Over 106,000 workers trained to work safely at heights based on the new Working at Heights training program standard
• A new Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers in eastern Ontario to improve access to occupational health and safety services across Ontario
• Introduced Bill 163, Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act and implemented a prevention strategy to recognize the importance of psychological health in the workplace and make it easier for first responders with post-traumatic stress disorders to get Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits and other support
• Developed an all-sector noise regulation, made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, to protect Ontario’s workers from noise-induced hearing loss
• Developed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Bill 132), establishing the legislative framework requiring employers to address workplace harassment
• Established new standards to improve the quality and consistency of training for Joint Health and Safety Committee members and strengthen workplace Internal Responsibility Systems.

As we move forward, we are aware of existing as well as emerging challenges. These challenges present transformational opportunities for improving and expanding the delivery of occupational health and safety in Ontario. We will continue to address the highest risks in occupational health and safety, such as occupational disease exposures, and target certain sectors where the incidence of injury, illness and fatality is persistently high. While we do this, we will turn our attention to issues of growing importance such as violence in the healthcare sector and workplace mental health. We will increase support to all businesses with tailored supports for small businesses and vulnerable worker groups.

As you read this report, I encourage you to consider opportunities to renew your efforts in promoting a culture of occupational health and safety in Ontario. I thank you for your partnership and perseverance as we continue to strive toward our shared goal — every single worker healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

George Gritziotis
Chief Prevention Officer
Ontario Ministry of Labour