About Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
Established over 100 years ago, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) has a proven history of helping Ontario employers make their workplaces safer.
As Ontario's largest and longest-serving health and safety
association, WSPS (and before 2010, the three organizations that came
together to form it) has long advocated for legislative change to
protect workers. This advocacy can be traced back to a number of pieces
of legislation that were passed throughout the 1900s to spell out the
duties of employers in different sectors, to protect workers. For
example:
- 1968: The First Employment Standards Act was established.
- 1978: Ontario passed the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S Act) enshrining the three key rights of workers in law.
Incredible strides in workplace health and safety have taken place since 1917. Since then, WSPS has been an active agent of change as a provider of innovative, impactful solutions, and has acted as an advocate on behalf of their member firms.
Since 2002, Lost-time injury rates in Ontario have declined across the three sectors:
- Agriculture by 48%
- Manufacturing by 68%
- Services by 59%
Today, WSPS serves 171,000 member firms representing four million employees throughout Ontario. While their name has changed over the years, their commitment to eliminating all work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities among Ontario workers has not.
WSPS has evolved in how they serve as a health and safety association for Ontarians, and they will continue to evolve. What remains constant is their unwavering commitment to helping build and expand a successful, growing, and vibrant health and safety system that truly reflects the needs of workplaces across Ontario.
Would you like to stay up to date about all that WSPS is doing to keep Ontario workplaces safe? Subscribe to their email newsletter so that you won’t miss a thing.
Looking for additional resources, and templates? Use the QR code below to link to WSPS' Small Business Centre.
CCA/WSPS Joint Education
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Tuesday, January 14, 2025 12:00 PM • Via Zoom Webinar
WSPS Articles
The Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 (Bill 190) received Royal Assent on October 28, 2024. The bill makes changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), the Employment Standards Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
6 tips to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases in your workplace
As the respiratory illness season begins, it’s crucial for employers to take proactive measures to protect their workforce from the spread of flu and other respiratory diseases. “Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment not only helps maintain productivity and morale but also reduces absenteeism and protects the well-being of employees,” says Pam Patry, Health & Safety Consultant with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS).
What to expect when a Ministry inspector comes to your workplace
When an inspector from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) arrives at your workplace, how the visit will go depends on why the inspector is there. “There are two types of inspector visits,” explains Kristin Onorato, Health and Safety Consultant with WSPS. “There are proactive visits and reactive visits. For proactive visits, the inspector is there to complete an inspection. For reactive visits, the inspector is there to investigate.”
WSPS is proud to announce the recent release of the Retail Safety and Security Guide. This guide was developed in partnership by Retail Council of Canada, WSPS and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. With the rise of crime and threats in retail this guide will help your members identify types of incidents and the responsibilities of management and the employees.
Based on consultations with retailers, security organizations and police services, and industry best practices, the Guide:
- Outlines methods to prevent and address the most common and severe forms of retail crime, including robbery, break & enter, fraud, and shoplifting.
- Reviews techniques to address abusive customers, suspicious individuals, intoxicated individuals, as well as individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Provides measures to address or prevent violence in the workplace between customers or customers and staff.
- Provides checklists and risk assessment tools to help businesses action the advice given.
MLITSD Occupational Hygiene Campaigns Toolkit: WHMIS and Exposure to Chemical Agents
Enhance your compliance efforts with the MLITSD’s campaigns on chemical exposure and WHMIS training, by using valuable resources within this toolkit. Get free resources, training and more.
9 workplace tips for a safe and healthy fall season
Seasonal changes are just around the corner. Is your workplace ready? Find out how you can protect your employees as the cooler weather approaches.
10 tips for preventing slips, trips and falls in warehouse and distribution centres
Slips, trips and falls are a significant hazard in warehouse and distribution centres and can lead to injuries for workers, and high costs for employers. Get tips to prevent them in your workplace.Manual material handling continues to be a high-risk hazard resulting in high numbers of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Do your supervisors understand their legal responsibilities? Do they know the expectation of due diligence? Find out how to set them up for success.
Retail theft and violence: 6 ways to keep your staff and business safe
A sharp rise in retail theft and associated violence is affecting the profitability of retail stores, and the health and safety of workers and customers. Get tips to protect your business and workers.The definition of workplace harassment is changing to include online spaces. Find out what this means for your business.
“Workplace inspections give you regular opportunities to see where you are at and to figure out where to go next.” Ontario workplaces with six or more workers are legally required to perform workplace inspections every month. When done properly, inspections provide a systematic check of hazards and controls in practice
Work refusals: What the law says, plus 8 ways to prevent and manage
A worker’s right to refuse unsafe work is enshrined in Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA, Section 43). So is the employer’s duty to investigate the matter and try to resolve it internally. “Resolving a refusal involves controlling the hazardous situation, if present, in a way that removes any dangerous circumstance,” says WSPS Health and Safety Consultant Ted Balazs.
At its core, health and safety is simple: proactively determine the risks presented in the workplace and eliminate or control them so they do not lead to harmful incidents. However, running a business is rarely simple and our continually changing world creates challenges that compete for attention.
Selling alcohol in your grocery or convenience store? 7 tips to keep staff safe
Grocery and convenience stores that are gearing up to sell alcohol in the coming months also need to prepare for possible impacts to the health and safety of staff, says Amanda Gorman, WSPS Healthy Workplaces Consultant.
Avoid violent encounters at work: 4 expert tips to safely handle a person in distress
If someone in crisis—agitated, aggressive, confused—walked into your store or restaurant, would you know what to do? “We’re getting more reports from businesses about individuals who may be unhoused, impaired, or experiencing a mental health crisis walking into a workplace and the staff aren’t sure how to handle it,” says Kristy Cork, Specialized Consultant with WSPS.
How can employers help injured workers avoid opioid-related harms?
Canada is experiencing an opioid crisis. According to Health Canada, there have been more than 44,000 opioid-related deaths in our country since 2016. Between 20% and 40% of those deaths were among working adults, which led the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) to investigate this issue.
6 ways to protect employees from wildfire smoke
Masks
alone won’t protect all at-risk employees from the alarming health
effects linked to wildfire smoke. Find out what else you can do.
Gender identity and gender expression: what does an inclusive workplace look like?
Employers have a legal and social responsibility to respect gender rights and provide a safe workplace. Discover what this looks like in action.
6 expert tips to support people after a traumatic workplace event
Sometimes the unthinkable happens. When it does, organizations need to be ready to support employees and their mental health. Find out how to be prepared.
Protect your eyes on the job: tips for choosing the right sunglasses
Choosing
the right pair of sunglasses isn’t just about looking good. Find out
how the sun can damage our eyes and what to do about it.
Is low risk perception a problem in your workplace?
When people don’t fully appreciate the risks involved in a task, they are less likely to follow health and safety protocols. Change that mindset with these tips.
Naloxone kits and addictions in the workplace: balancing privacy with responsibility
As of June 1st, the OHSA will require that naloxone be available in some workplaces in case a worker has an opioid overdose. Naloxone is one aspect of managing addictions at work. Find out what else employers can do.
***Click on this link Naloxone Training - Free Online | WSPS to sign up for a 30 minute free E-course to learn about an opioid overdose, how to administer naloxone and acquaint the worker with any hazards related to the administration of naloxone. The training includes a discussion on opioid related deaths, overdose, and addiction.
8 tips for managing age-related changes in workers
Hold on to the many talents older workers bring to the workplace with strong, flexible health and safety programs that set everyone up for success.
New survey shows safety is critical in attracting and retaining top talent
If you’re struggling to attract and retain talent, take a proactive approach to health, safety, and mental well-being. That is the lesson learned from WSPS’ recent Health and Safety Leadership Survey.
4 tips to protect young workers – and your business – this summer
Set up your newly hired young workers – and your business – for success this summer, with these training tips from WSPS’ Ayden Robertson.
Investigating non-critical injuries: tips to overcome 4 common challenges
Although vital to improving your safety program, non-critical incident investigations are getting less attention from supervisors. Find out why and what to do.
Why encouraging vacations can increase productivity and job satisfaction
Vacation is an important part of healthy workplaces. Find out why and learn how to leverage the benefits of workforce that takes vacation.
4 biggest safety challenges of last-mile delivery and solutions
Last-mile delivery is the most challenging phase of the fulfilment cycle. Here’s a look at some last-mile delivery safety challenges and practical solutions that don't compromise safety.
What to do when domestic violence enters your workplace
The workplace plays a vital role in protecting against further abuse and ensuring the safety of all employees.
16 tips to strengthen your emergency response plan
A catastrophic emergency like the Ohio train derailment is unpredictable. Workplaces need to be ready for anything and everything.
Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers: Get recognized and receive rebates
WSPS has achieved SOSE recognition. Find out how you can too and get the public and financial rewards that come with it.
Food manufacturing workers identify lockout/tagout as top risk they face
WSPS brought industry insiders to the table to share insights and real-world data. See the findings.
Stop slips, trips and falls with these expert tips
Slips, trips, and falls are still among the most common types of workplace injuries. Find out how to prevent them.
Don’t do what the tech giants did. Follow these 6 tips for more compassionate layoffs
A respectful approach to layoffs will reduce psychological harm to those affected and those left behind and reduce negative impacts for the employer.
How to reduce manufacturing injuries: new study sheds light on causes and solutions
There’s
a disconnect between how workers and managers view health and safety,
say researchers. Bridging that gap is key to reducing injuries.
De-escalating high-stress situations at work: four stages of aggression; four responses
No matter who is displaying the aggressive behavior – a customer, client, contractor, co-worker, or supervisor – knowing when and how to respond will keep everyone safe.
Go beyond generic WHMIS with workplace-specific training. Is your organization compliant?
Employers are responsible for providing workplace specific WHMIS training. But what does that mean?