WSIB@WORK - Summer 2016

Do you #PracticeSafeWork?

We want to show young workers that it pays to work safe. That's why for the second year in a row, we're giving young Ontarians the opportunity to showcase their health and safety knowledge in a prize-filled social media contest! We're asking young workers to take a photo of how they practice safety on the job, and tag it with #PracticeSafeWork on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for a chance to win daily cash prizes! The contest runs until August 31. For more info visit www.practicesafework.ca a nd be sure to #PracticeSafeWork with us this summer by sharing this tweet !

National Day of Mourning

The National Day of Mourning, officially recognized in more than 80 countries worldwide on April 28, is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness on the job due to a work-related tragedy. On April 28 we commemorated this important day at a public ceremony which drew approximately 200 attendees to Simcoe Park in Toronto. In addition to WSIB Chair Elizabeth Witmer, President Thomas Teahen and the Honourable Kevin Flynn, Minister of Labour, Johanna LeRoux, a mother whose son, Micheal, was tragically killed in a workplace accident in 2006, delivered remarks. Ms. LeRoux's powerful and heart-breaking story gave everyone in the audience pause to reflect on, and honour, those workers who have died, been injured, or suffered illness in the workplace. As the ceremony closed with the sweet sounds of St. Michael's Choir School, everyone walked away with a renewed commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Watch our touching Day of Mourning video here .

Coming soon: Applications for 2017 WSIB safety groups program!

If you're an employer who wants to increase your productivity, gain access to health and safety resources, and even benefit from financial incentives, then consider joining a WSIB safety group. These are just some of the benefits of joining the program, which brings employers together to network and share best practices. It also recognizes employers who make it a priority to eliminate workplace injuries by making their workplaces safer. For more information about the program, click here .

Miss our last round of small business health and safety information sessions? Register for a summer session today!

Are you a small business owner who needs help understanding your basic occupational health & safety requirements? Do you want to reduce your WSIB costs? Due to overwhelming demand, we've extended our offerings of health and safety information sessions for small businesses into the summer! Our sessions are customized for small businesses to stay connected on up to date health and safety information. We'll cover our mandatory coverage / clearance certificates, our online services, return-to-work responsibilities, as well as the Ministry of Labour's training on Health and Safety Awareness, Working at Heights, and Standards for Joint Health & Safety Committee Certification. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to meet your regional small business health & safety consultant, and will leave with free health and safety resources that you can use in your business. For details on session dates and locations, and to register, click here !

Selfies at Skills Ontario

Over 67 contests, 2000 student competitors and 20,000 spectators filled the hallways of RIM Park in Waterloo at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC) - Canada's largest skilled trades competition from May 2 ^nd - 4 ^th . This year we were proud to have been a sponsor of Skills Ontario, the not-for-profit which organizes the annual event, which included having a WSIB booth on site. By hosting a fun Instagram contest where students could dress up in health and safety gear, we reminded them of the importance of working safely - a sentiment that especially resonated with the older students with summer jobs. Check out our Instagram - wsibontario - for pics of the event!

In case you missed It: First Responders and PTSD

On April 5, the Ontario government passed presumptive legislation dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), first responders and other certain occupations. What this means is that in the event that workers covered by the legislation are diagnosed with PTSD by a psychiatrist or a psychologist and make a claim for benefits, we must presume the condition is work-related, unless the contrary is shown. For more information about how we're implementing this legislation, click here .

By the Numbers: 2015 WSIB stats report

Did you know that in 2015, our return-to-work staff made more than 21,000 visits to Ontario workplaces? Or that the lost time injury rate for both Schedule 1 and 2 was 0.98, continuing a decade-long trend of being among the lowest of any jurisdiction in Canada? These statistics and other key trends in injury, illnesses, recovery and return to work in Ontario workplaces are available in our new By the Numbers: 2015 WSIB Statistical Report. Plus, this year we've added a 'Report Builder' feature to the site, allowing users to build their own reports with the information that they need. Be sure to check out our flagship publication today!

Follow us - wsibontario - on Instagram!

That's right: we're on Instagram! Follow us - wsibontario - to check out our pics from the Ontario Technical Skills Competition hosted by Skills Ontario this past May. Plus, be sure to look out for all of the #PracticeSafeWork posts, where youth across Ontario show us how they #PracticeSafeWork at their jobs as part of our second annual youth health and safety social media contest!

Open What? The lowdown on Open Data

Heard of "Open Data" but not sure what it means?

Here's what you need to know.

"Open by Default." That's what the Ontario government wants its data to be. That means they want to make all data that government creates, collects, or manages public, unless it can't be for legal, privacy, security or commercially sensitive reasons.

Why? The idea is that by sharing government data online, app developers, non-profit organizations, researchers and others can help solve problems that affect Ontarians every day. For example, a tool called Map Your Property was created using Ontario data to provide analytics and mapping for urban planners and developers.

As an agency of the Ontario government, we're required to follow Ontario's Open Data Directive to consult with you - our stakeholders - in identifying what information from our inventory you'd like to see on our website. We're fully committed to doing so and in fact have already been publishing open data in our annual statistical report, By the Numbers. The Open Data initiative will allow us to build on our current efforts.

Be sure to keep an eye out on our website in the coming months for information about our plans around open data. Until then, you can read all about the government's Open Data initiative here.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

To injured workers, we're the agency that provides wage-loss benefits, health care coverage, and return to work and transition programs. To employers, we're the agency that provides no-fault collective liability insurance and access to industry-specific health and safety information. But to our employees, we're simply the agency that believes in getting injured workers across Ontario back to what matters.