WSIB@WORK – Summer 2018 – Issue # 13
Making safety for small business easier
We know that the health and safety of employees is important to small business owners. That’s why we’ve made it easier to access our small business health and safety resources online.
Now you can: Connect with an expert. Learn your responsibilities. Build your program.
From our website you can access free programs, services and resources tailored to the needs of small businesses. We offer free health and safety information sessions where participants can meet with a regional small business health and safety consultant. The Building Your Health and Safety Program training is designed to help participants understand their role and responsibilities, and participation in the program can earn a one-time 5 per cent rebate.
Once a business has completed training, one of our regional small business health and safety consultants can schedule a free on-site visit to their workplace.
Getting started is easy. Visit wsib.on.ca/smallbizsafety to find a free health and safety information session near you.
Meaningful new experiential learning to help people find new jobs after a workplace injury
For people whose workplace injury or illness prevents them returning to their previous role, experience in a new field can be hard to come by. We’re here to help.
Our return-to-work team has teamed up with Mohawk and Georgian colleges to help people gain the experience they need to find new work through job-shadows and short-term placements on top of their in-school training.
These experiential learning opportunities help people build their resumés and employer network to help prepare them for the transition into the workforce.
The partnership will run through 2019 and will cover students at Mohawk and Georgian colleges who are also part of the WSIB’s return-to-work program.
Read more about our return-to-work program.
“It’s Your Job” student video winners announced
Every year we ask high school students across the province to create videos capturing the importance of working safely on the job. The more creative the better! This year’s winners did not disappoint. Watch this year’s winning videos.
First place winner: Brennan Windsor from Resurrection Catholic Secondary School in Kitchener.
Brennan’s video went on to the national competition against winners from all other provinces. Brennan’s Ontario submission scored second place in the entire country.
Congratulations to Brennan and to runners up Carson Olesch from Assumption College School in Brantford and David Moraru, Emily Gordon and Amanda Ding from John McCrae Secondary School in Nepean.
Thanks to the Ontario Ministry of Labour for partnering with us on the “It’s Your Job” student video contest.
By the Numbers: 2017 Statistical Report
Our By the Numbers: 2017 Statistical Report is out. The report highlights health and safety trends in Ontario, including injuries, fatalities and return-to-work results. You can also use our innovative report builder to customize reports for areas of interest. Read more
Health and Safety Index
Have you seen the 2018 Health and Safety Index? This is the second year of the index and the news is good – health and safety in Ontario improved by 1.6%. Our index combines multiple performance indicators of health and safety into a single, evidence-based measure. You can explore the index to find out what’s happening in your industry and focus your health and safety efforts. Learn more!
Even model employees can get hurt at work
Our annual workplace safety campaign for students is back. The wooden stars of the #PracticeSafeWork videos find themselves at the center of unforeseen workplace injuries leaning on the campaign’s theme that “Even Model Employees Can Get Hurt At Work.” If you have a child entering the workforce this summer, be sure to visit www.practicesafework.ca for great tips and workplace safety conversation starters. For an added resource, use Compass to search the safety record of their workplace.
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter to learn more.
Changes to services for foreign agricultural workers
Our goal is to always get the best recovery and return-to-work outcomes for the people we’re here to help. That’s why we’ve made some changes to better meet the needs of foreign agricultural workers.
For more information, visit http://www.wsib.on.ca/faw
Bringing our results to you
We believe it is important to be transparent and let you know how we are performing.
We’ve launched a new corporate results webpage to make it easier for you to access the WSIB’s quarterly and annual results.
We have also launched a subscription feature where you can sign up to be notified when we post our quarterly and annual results.
Drug Advisory Committee members announced
Our new Drug Advisory Committee has been formed, bringing together people with expertise from different disciplines in medicine, pharmacy, epidemiology, and pharmacoeconomics.
The Drug Advisory Committee was established in 2007 to provide us with advice on drug use and safety, and the medical conditions/criteria for coverage. The Drug Advisory Committee also provides evidence-based recommendations to help us decide what drugs will be included in our Drug Benefit Plan. Members were selected following an open application process.
You can see the list of Drug Advisory Committee members and learn more about our Drug Benefit Program by visiting our website.
In case you missed it – Day of Mourning 2018
On April 27, approximately 200 guests gathered at the WSIB-hosted Day of Mourning ceremony at Simcoe Park, honouring the lives affected by workplace incidents and injuries. The ceremony included guest speakers, a performance by St. Michael’s Choir School and a special viewing of the WSIB’s Day of Mourning video.
“What’s New” – a newsletter by the Ministry of Labour:
Stay updated on current news from the Ministry of Labour by subscribing to What’s New. Delivered monthly to your inbox, this newsletter features the latest on occupational health and safety, employment standards and labour relations that could affect you and your workplace.
Check out the newsletter here.