Our Health and Safety Manager series focuses on the key areas that will make safety managers successful. We help you level the playing field so your team has the best access to health and safety resources. Join our Zero Ontario initiative in making Ontario a zero incident province. Contact the experts at ACUTE today to learn more about safe work practices for your entire team!

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Health and Safety Authorities Define a Safety Manager’s Role and a Company’s Safety Requirements

Health and safety authorities determine and enforce labour and safety regulations. Understanding who’s who in the industry will be helpful when a manager needs to look up info or prepare an incident report. The main role of a safety manager is to understand the regulations, create plans to meet those regulations, manage incidents, and report issues. In the exceptional cases, a safety manager will also need to handle audits by safety authors. Knowing what steps to take and the specific role a safety manager plays can help you understand the measures your company will be held responsible for keeping and also enable you to better respond to inquiries from government or watchdog authorities, should the need arise.

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD)

Established in 1919 to develop and enforce labour legislation, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s mission is to advance safe, fair, and harmonious workplace practices that are essential to the social and economic well-being of the people of Ontario.

Through the ministry’s key areas of occupational health and safety, employment rights and responsibilities, and labour relations, the ministry’s mandate is to set, communicate, and enforce workplace standards while encouraging greater workplace self-reliance. The Ministry also develops, coordinates, and implements strategies to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses and can set standards for health and safety training.

A range of specialized associations, agencies, boards, and commissions assist the ministry in its work (source).

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and its agencies are responsible for employment equity and rights, occupational health and safety, and labour relations. The ministry’s three program responsibilities are delivered from a head office in Toronto and 19 offices organized around four regions, centred in Ottawa, Hamilton, Sudbury, and Toronto. The ministry also oversees the work of eight specialized agencies (source).

Safety Managers Need to Report to Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD)

Here are some select resources and information that is required to be submitted to the MLITSD. From this list, we can see that MLITSD is the focus of information distribution and retrieval for any company in Ontario. Information that will be requested by MLITSD or information provided by safety managers will vary between industries. Safety managers are encouraged to get well acquainted with this resource.

• MLITSD requires mandatory health and safety awareness training for managers and staff employees to be completed upon hire
• Safety managers will need to know the Occupational Health and Safety Laws from the MLITSD site
• Mandatory safety signs that must be posted
• Report incidents of critical injuries or fatalities to MLITSD
• Toolkit for starting your company’s Joint Health and Safety Committee
• Mandatory submission of forms in Mining and Construction industries
• Single source reference for collective agreements

Office of the Employer Advisor (OEA)

The OEA provides Ontario employers with expert, free, and confidential advice, representation, and education on all workers’ compensation issues under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, and on unjust reprisal issues under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (source).

OEA Offers Advice to Employers and Safety Managers

During a time of dispute between employees and employers regarding injury or loss of time due to incidents, OEA is a resource to receive feedback and direction. They can also help clarify laws and requirements.

These are the folks to reach out to when an employee continues to circumvent the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Office of the Worker Advisor (OWA)

OWA describes themselves as follows:

The OWA provides free and confidential services (advice, education, and representation) in workplace insurance matters (formerly called workers’ compensation) and on occupational health and safety reprisal issues. The OWA has provided assistance with workplace insurance matters since 1985 and health and safety reprisals since April 2012.

OWA Supports Employees in Safety Reprisals and WSIB Appeals

Employees may be referred to the OWA should they face compensation or health and safety dilemmas. This team is part of the MLITSD network that can support them with answering questions and provide legal advice to employees.

Prevention Council 

The Prevention Council is the primary advisory body that supports the Minister of Labour in analyzing and proposing health and safety policy. They are a team of advisors who are experts in the health and safety industry within Ontario and work together advising the Minister to steer Ontario’s workplace prevention legislation.

Prevention Council Minutes Help Safety Managers Stay Abreast

Council minutes often highlight key findings and direction taken from the latest in safety evidence. This is a great resource to help safety mangers understand the direction of the Prevention Council and how to work ahead. This allows safety managers to position their organization ahead of legislation or include the relevant discussion in their own safety talks.

Worker Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

WSIB describes itself as follows:

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is an independent trust agency that administers compensation and no-fault insurance for Ontario workplaces.

WSIB offers service to workers, large employers or small business owners.

• For employers, WSIB provides no-fault collective liability insurance and access to industry-specific health and safety information
• For workers, WSIB provides loss of earnings benefits and health care coverage
• Both workers and employers benefit from the WSIB’s help and support when it’s time to go back to work after an injury.

Safety Managers Need to Submit Claims and Report Incidents to WSIB

If an employer has elected or is required to use WSIB services, they will need to submit information every time an incident occurs. Further WSIB provides appeals processes in the event of disputes between employer and employees with regards to injuries and financial compensation. Safety Managers can expect documentation work to be required after incidents arise.

Worker Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal

The Appeals Tribunal provides information to the commission, which is the final level of authority regarding workplace insurance matters in Ontario. Established in 1985, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) is the final level of appeal to which workers and employers may bring disputes concerning workplace safety and insurance matters in Ontario. WSIAT has always been separate from and independent of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (source).

Safety Manager Should Utilize Appeals Tribunal as a Final Measure for Disputed Charges

Given that the scenarios that constitute an incident or charges to a company are varied, there may be times a company will be charged with payment which it may deem excessive or unfair. The appeals tribunal can provide a final check for any decisions or rulings made by WSIB.

ACUTE: Trusted Advisor to Safety Managers

ACUTE’s experienced team members have been serving safety professionals for over 20 years. They’ve done the work and become safety advisors. Trust ACUTE for hands-on, practical training and keep your employees safe in the workplace. ACUTE is dedicated to workplace safety and understands the importance of course and training provider approval. Why get workplace safety training with ACUTE? Here are just some of the benefits of working with ACUTE.

• Open Door Instructor-Student Partnership – ACUTE’s training services emphasize client participation. Staff foster relationships with clients and serve as a touchstone for advice anytime moving forward.
• Serving Your Team and Industry – With a vast array of clients in manufacturing, construction, health, academic, and government sectors, ACUTE brings the best safety practices from across the spectrum to your workplace.
• 100 Years Combined Experience – ACUTE provides comprehensive health and safety training, on-site safety services, and consulting services. With over 100 years of combined experience, our company staff offer more than theoretical or abstract ideas.  ACUTE offers solutions.
• Track Record of Success – ACUTE is rated 4.9/5 stars on Google reviews, demonstrating a commitment to our clients, quality, and passion for training.

“We have relied on ACUTE for years to train our staff and
keep them safe on the job site.”

– Bob, Millwrighting Company – Read More Testimonials Here!

Click here to see what training courses we have at ACUTE or contact us today for quality training in your workplace or on-site at ACUTE’s proven training facilities!

ACUTE is located in Waterloo, Ontario, and services customers from cities such as Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Milton, Kitchener, London, Guelph, and others across Ontario.