IHSA monthly news & updates | |
| Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development news and events | | |
Construction health and safety program report
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) puts together a report for the Provincial Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee every month with an overview of events, court bulletins, and statistics. This report is generally available the first week of the month and is posted on the IHSA website.
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2026–2027 compliance campaigns underway
The 2026–2027 MLITSD compliance campaigns are now underway. IHSA has a variety of tools that provide member firms with relevant resources.
Construction
Inspectors will review all activities at single-family and multi-family residential projects. They will give particular attention to high-risk issues, such as:
They will also check to ensure that these projects are providing adequate information, instruction, and supervision.
Mining
Specialized professional services (hygiene)
| | | Legislative updates and alerts | |
Read recent court bulletins related to health and safety
The MLITSD regularly releases court bulletins about health and safety issues, injuries, and fatalities. Visit its website to read the bulletins and find other news and information.
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Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner publishes the second annual report of the Construction Death Review
The Office of the Chief Coroner published the second annual report of the Construction Death Review (CDR). This report represents another important step in understanding the root causes of fatalities in Ontario’s construction sector.
The report covers the findings of the review, which looked at 44 workers whose deaths involved circumstances not related to working at heights. The fatalities largely occurred between 2015 and 2023, and involved factors including heavy material and equipment hazards, trench collapses, and electrical exposure.
From its review of these tragedies, the CDR identified systemic challenges related to health and safety culture in the construction sector, including two areas of significant concern: workplace experience and inexperience and the use (or lack thereof) of manufacturer’s instructions for operating vehicles, machinery, and equipment.
These concerns helped inform the CDR’s 14 recommendations for strengthening health and safety in construction, which were put forward to the MLITSD, IHSA, and other provincial health and safety system partners.
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Consultation on reducing regulatory burden in Ontario's Building Code
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, on behalf of the Building Code Short-Term Advisory Body, is seeking public input as part of a review of Ontario’s Building Code to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden, improve clarity, support housing construction, and reduce barriers to innovation and interprovincial trade.
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MLITSD consultation: Proposed rope access regulation
The MLITSD is consulting on a proposed province-wide regulation for rope access work under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It aims to introduce consistent safety rules for work at heights, enable its use in construction, and align Ontario with national and international standards.
The proposal would require certification, formal safety planning, strict equipment standards, and qualified supervision, along with advance notice to the MLITSD. Feedback is open until Friday, August 21, 2026.
| | | Featured IHSA resources and events | | |
IHSA hosts free heat stress webinar this month
IHSA and the Toronto Regional Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee are hosting a free webinar to help you keep cool. Join us for "Heat Stress on the Job: What Every Workplace Needs to Know" on Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
This online event will cover several key topics, including:
- How to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress
- Ways to assess workplace heat-related risks and make informed decisions
- Practical strategies for hydration (i.e., shade, rest breaks, acclimatization, and supervision)
- How to use heat stress tools and resources to support prevention planning
- Emergency planning
- Real-world approaches from industry professionals managing hot working conditions
Participants will hear from the following expert speakers:
- André Gauvin, MHK, CCPE, CIH Occupational Hygienist, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc.
- Adrian Malaryk, NCSO®, Sr. Safety Manager, Kiewit
- Scott Laing, P. Eng., CRSP, Coordinator, Research and Stakeholder & Public Relations, IHSA
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New issue of IHSA Health and Safety Magazine available now
IHSA Health and Safety Magazine is produced regularly throughout the year. In each issue, you'll find valuable information such as injury prevention tips, enforcement blitz
announcements, regulatory updates, and more. Volume 26, issue 1 is now available to read online or to download as a PDF.
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IHSA safety talk: asbestos—cleaning tools and PPE
Asbestos is a fibre that was used in many building materials up until the 1980s. Some products that are installed today still contain asbestos. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause the following health conditions:
- Asbestosis (i.e., scarring of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe)
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma (i.e., cancer in the lining of the chest and/or abdomen)
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New videos highlight key safety topics
IHSA's latest YouTube videos cover some interesting safety topics and provide great information to use in safety talks, tailboard talks, and other meetings.
Check out IHSA's latest videos:
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Latest podcast episodes available
The IHSA Safety Podcast is a free podcast that seeks to improve the lives of workers in Ontario. Listen to the latest episodes now:
Episode 138: Tiny Ticks, Big Risks: How to Prevent Lyme Disease and Protect Ontario Outdoor Workers
Episode 139: Improving Heavy Equipment Safety in Aggregate Operations
| | | Occupational health/ergonomics/mental health news | |
Mental health activities and initiatives in the construction industry
World Suicide Prevention Day
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. This day raises global awareness that suicide is preventable. Organizations and individuals can choose to mark this day in many ways, including:
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STAND UP pledge: There are approximately three jobsite fatalities in construction every day and an estimated 10 to 12 suicides among construction workers. In the construction industry, mental health awareness and suicide prevention are just as important as job safety issues. Now is the time for the industry to STAND UP for suicide prevention and address it as a health and safety priority by creating safe cultures, providing training to identify and help those at risk, raising awareness about the suicide crisis in construction, normalizing conversations around suicide and mental health, and ultimately decreasing the risks associated with suicide in construction. Learn more about the pledge through the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) or visit IHSA's Workplace Mental Health and Related Topics webpage.
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Virtual 5K: September is National Suicide Prevention Month. CIASP has announced the Miles That Matter Virtual 5K, a month long event that turns awareness into action, one mile at a time. You can run, walk, bike, swim, or choose another way to complete your virtual 5K any time in September.
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National Substance Use Health Week of Action: CAPSA is excited to launch the 2nd annual National Substance Use Health Week of Action from September 7 to 11, 2026. This national campaign promotes equitable access to substance use health care in Canada. It represents an important movement to demonstrate the need for equitable access to information and supports across the entire spectrum of substance use health. Visit CAPSA's website for more information.
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Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addictions hosts workshop
The Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addictions has opened registration and announced new dates for the Managing Substance Use and Workplace Workshop. IHSA helped shape this training by acting as an advisory organization.
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Safety news from here and abroad
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What's new
Stay updated on current news from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development.
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Fleet Safety Council and transportation-related news
Access monthly updates, news, and events from the Fleet Safety Council and the transportation industry that IHSA supports.
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WSIB@WORK newsletter
Access the WSIB's quarterly email newsletter to get the latest information, or visit the archive page to read past issues.
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