Ontario's government has announced that they are adding three million more personal support worker (PSW) hours to ensure more seniors can receive the care they need in their own homes.

According to the latest statistics from the Workplace Safety Insurance Board there has been a rise in the number of workplace fatalities in Ontario. Seventy-three workers lost their lives in accidents under provincial jurisdiction in 2011, six more than in 2010.

The Ministry of Labour has now released draft awareness supervisor workbook with an employer guide for your review and comment until June 29, 2012. 

You can read our latest newsletter online. It's full of important updates and interesting health and safety stories.

This week is National Emergency Preparedness week in Canada. This is a time for you to ensure you and your family are prepared for any emergency the might occur here in Ontario and to recognise the fantastic work done by our emergency services workers and volunteers in keeping us safe. You can find out more about Emergency Preparedness Week on the Emergency Management Ontario website.

May 7 marks the beginning of National Nursing Week, a time when people nationwide can celebrate and recognize the vital contribution nurses make to our health and well-being. As the leading workplace health and safety services provider for the healthcare sector in Ontario, PSHSA understands how important nurses are in all our lives.

Premier Dalton McGuinty paid tribute on Sunday, May 6, at the annual Ceremony of Rememberance to Ontario police officers who lost their lives in service to the province.

The Public Services Health and Safety Association is proud to support North American Occupation Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week. The purpose of NAOSH week is to focus employers, employees, partners and the public on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace, at home and in the community.

Following research and analysis, and consultation with stakeholders and experts, Professor Harry Arthurs has completed his final report Funding Fairness A Report on Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance System.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has nominated Elizabeth Witmer as Chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).  

Witmer, the former MPP from Kitchener-Waterloo, takes over from outgoing Chair Steve Mahoney, who announced his retirement in March.

Three bridges along Highway 35 in the Haliburton area have been officially dedicated in the memory of fallen officers from the Ontario Provincial Police.

April 28 marks the National Day of Mourning to commemorate workers who have been killed or injured on the job, or who have fallen ill as a result of their work. The Day of Mourning began more than 20 years ago when the Canadian Labour Congress declared April 28 as a day of remembrance for those who had died or been injured on the job. It was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, and has spread to about 100 countries around the world.

Starting in May, 2012 and continuing through to March, 2013, Ministry of Labour inspectors will be conducting proactive inspection blitzes on sector-specific hazards.  These blitzes are announced in advance and are designed to raise awareness and increase compliance with health and safety legislation.

Schools and teachers have the opportunity to provide a model workplace to the students of today, and the future workers of Ontario.  The Ministry of Labour inspects schools as part of its targeted enforcement strategy.  Watch a new video on what its inspectors look for during an inspection of shops and labs.

As of April 1, 2012, the Ministry of Labour has assumed responsibility for coordinating workplace injury and illness prevention strategies and activity throughout Ontario.  Listen as Ontario's first Chief Prevention Officer, George Gritziotis, outlines his vision for safer Ontario workplaces.

In accordance with recent changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) has the authority to establish standards for training programs and training providers and to approve programs and providers that have met these standards.
 
Effective April 1, 2012, the CPO also has the authority to establish training requirements that a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) member must meet and to certify a member that has met these requirements.   Committee members who have been certified by the WSIB prior to April 1, 2012 are deemed to have been certified by the CPO.

As part of their focus on lab and shop safety in schools, the Ministry of Labour has released a video to help organizations know what to expect from a safety inspection. In the video a Minstry of Labour safety inspector visits a Toronto school and shows viewers exactly what he’s looking for when he visits educational institutions. This video is a handy reminder of all of the areas your health and safety plan needs to cover if you have a lab or a workshop.

The Expert Advisory Panel Report on Occupational Health and Safety, released December 2010 recommended that a new prevention organization be created within the Ministry of Labour (MOL) featuring a multi-stakeholder Prevention Council. Recent amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act establish the organization, headed by a Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) and provide for the creation of a Council with explicit powers.

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women. This day is now recognized in some way in almost every country in the world. This year PSHSA is joining with the Ministry of Labour and the Ontario Women’s Directorate to support International Women’s Day by offering a webinar on preventing domestic violence in the workplace.

PSHSA is now offering the 2012 Pocket Ontario OHS Act and Regulations for pre-order on our store. Health and safety legislation changes regularly and it’s important to have the latest edition on hand to help you understand your organization’s obligations and responsibilities.

Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) or musculosketal disorders (MSDs) describe a collection of painful disorders of the tendons, muscles, and nerves. Repetitive strain injuries are among the most common types of injury at work. February 29 marks the 13th Annual RSI Awareness Day, so it's a great time to think about how you can prevent RSIs in your workplace.

On Monday, 6 February, 11 people were killed, and several injured, when two vehicles collided in Hampstead. The Public Services Health and Safety Association extends its condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those affected by this terrible event. We join with all Ontarians in mourning this tragedy.

From October 1 to October 31, 2011, Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors conducted a workplace enforcement blitz on personal protective equipment (PPE) in the health care sector. Inspectors checked on compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations. During that time, inspectors conducted 119 blitz-related visits to 104 health care workplaces and issued 316 orders under the OHSA and its regulations, including five stop-work orders.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have funded an effort to reduce motor vehicle incidents through Health & Safety Ontario (HSO). Health & Safety Ontario, in collaboration with a stakeholder driven Motor Vehicle Safety Action Committee (MVS AC), is partnering with Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture to support the research and development of this strategy.

In the fall of 2011, the Ministry of Labour began a Safe at Work Ontario initiative looking at health and safety in the secondary school environment. Phase 2 of this initiative is underway now.