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.
| | |
2025–2026 compliance campaigns
| | | |
Construction
From April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, MLITSD construction inspectors are focusing on health and safety hazards related to residential construction. This encompasses single-family residential construction (including residential re-roofing) and multi-family residential construction.
Inspectors are looking at all activities on residential projects, with a particular emphasis on issues that have been leading to more events and injuries (e.g., falls from heights, struck-bys, and same-level slips, trips, and falls).
IHSA is working closely with the MLITSD to provide resources and expert advice throughout the campaign. Please visit our consulting page to connect with a consultant in your area.
| | | |
Mining
From April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, MLITSD mining inspectors are focusing on health and safety hazards associated with slips, trips, and falls. To support this initiative, IHSA, Workplace Safety North (WSN), and the MLITSD collaborated to produce a webinar outlining the campaign’s industry focus and key areas of inspection. Additionally, IHSA and WSN highlighted available resources to assist employers in achieving compliance.
| | | |
Specialized professional service
The MLITSD also has two specialized professional service campaigns in 2025–2026: worker exposure to chemical agents in the workplace and WHMIS training based on the amended Hazardous Products Regulations. Both the education, outreach, and awareness efforts and the focused inspections are ongoing from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
IHSA is highlighting the following resources to help stakeholders achieve compliance during the year-long campaigns:
| | | 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.
| | |
Regulations and Statutes changes in 2026
Several pieces of provincial legislation, regulation and fee changes, have taken effect as of January 1, 2026. The Ontario Government website contains a list of updates by ministry.
Read the 2026 updates.
| | |
WSIB provides details on Automated External Defibrillator for construction projects reimbursement program
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has released additional information on the reimbursement program dealing with the requirements of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) on construction sites to help clarify what construction firms need to know.
Download the slide deck.
| | |
Comment on apprentices on government-funded infrastructure projects
The MLITSD is exploring approaches to increase apprenticeship training and job opportunities on government-funded infrastructure projects.
Comments are due January 19, 2026.
| | |
Comment on protecting workers from the underground economy in the construction industry
The MLITSD is seeking input from stakeholders in the construction industry regarding liability for contractors should a subcontractor fail to pay their employee.
Comments are due February 2, 2026.
| | |
Consultation period open on Ontario Free Trade Mobility Act
The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT) has launched a 45-day consultation on a proposed draft regulation that, if approved, would enable mutual recognition for goods and services in Ontario under the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act, 2025 (OFTMA).
The consultation period is open until January 28, 2026.
| | | |
IHSA's risk assessment and root cause workshop resources
IHSA has published new resources based on our risk assessment and root cause analysis workshops, designed by and for the industries we serve. These comprehensive resources help high-risk sectors identify potential hazards, evaluate risks, and develop effective solutions to prevent future incidents.
Resources include full workshop results and technical reports on critical topics such as yard safety and driver fatigue (general trucking), slips, trips, and falls (surface mining and aggregates), underground strikes (electrical utilities), and working at heights (residential roofing).
| | | |
Preventing exposures to occupational health hazards (M077)
This manual provides guidance for assessing and controlling exposures to biological and chemical agents, including air monitoring, the hierarchy of controls, and the use of personal protective equipment.
This manual was developed, reviewed, and endorsed by the Occupational Disease and Research Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee, in association with IHSA.
| | |
Latest YouTube episodes available
IHSA's video safety talks are a FREE resource to improve the lives of workers in Ontario. Watch the latest episodes now:
| | | Occupational health/ergonomics news | |
CRE-MSD launches new vibration hazard resources to boost MSD prevention
The Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD), in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH), has new resources to help workplaces address vibration hazards. These posters and tools support awareness, assessment, and control measures under the MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario.
| | |
Trucking organizations issue joint letter on speed cameras
The Fleet Safety Council (FSC) and the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) have issued a joint letter to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and the Office of the Premier.
Based on a motion at the FSC Annual General Meeting, held on October 23, 2025, the letter strongly urges Ontario's provincial government to reconsider the recent ban on automated speed enforcement (ASE) programs.
| | |
CADC on harmonization of standards for the commercial diving sector
The Canadian Association of Diving Contractors (CADC) is proposing the national adoption of the CSA Diving Standards.
|
Managing substance use in the workplace workshops in Ottawa and Toronto
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is hosting a series of workshops on preventing and reducing substance use in the workplace.
| | |
Safety news from here and abroad
| | |
What's new
Stay updated on current news from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development.
| | | |
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.
| | | |
WSIB@WORK newsletter
Access the WSIB's quarterly email newsletter to get the latest information, or visit the archive page to read past issues.
| | | | | | |
