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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2025–2026 compliance campaigns
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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.
Inspectors are looking at all activities of residential projects, with a particular emphasis on issues that have been leading to more events and injuries, such as:
IHSA is working closely with the MLITSD to provide resources and expert advice throughout the campaign.
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Mining
From April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, MLITSD mining inspectors are focusing on identifying 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.
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Slips and Falls – Getting In and Out of Vehicles and Equipment
Slips and falls often happen when getting in and out of vehicles and equipment like dump trucks—usually due to rushing, carrying items, wet or icy steps, or not using the proper handles.
To learn more, review IHSA’s safety talk on 3-Point Contact. Taking a few extra seconds every time can prevent serious injuries.
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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.
To help stakeholders achieve compliance during the year-long campaigns, IHSA is highlighting the following resources:
| | | Legislative updates and alerts | |
Read recent court bulletins related to health and safety
The MLITSD regularly releases court bulletins relating to health and safety issues, injuries, and fatalities. Visit the MLITSD website to read these bulletins, along with other news and information.
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Expanding the Slow Down, Move Over law under the Highway Traffic Act
Section 159 of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) currently requires motorists to slow down when approaching a stopped emergency response vehicle (e.g., police, fire, or ambulance) displaying red or red and blue emergency flashing lights or a tow truck with flashing amber lights. The law also requires drivers to move over and leave one lane between their vehicle and the parked emergency vehicle if the highway has more than one lane and it is safe to do so.
There is a growing concern from roadside workers about their safety. Evidence shows that there is an inherent risk in working at the roadside near vehicles travelling at high speeds.
Bill 229, the Working for Workers Six Act, received Royal Assent on December 19, 2024. It included an amendment to section 159 of the HTA aimed at enhancing protection for roadside workers. This amendment would require drivers to slow down and, if safe to do so, move over for any prescribed "work-related vehicle" stopped at the roadside with flashing amber lights. This requirement will not apply within designated construction zones where reduced speed limits are already in effect.
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is now seeking comments on the vehicle types that should be included in the new definition of "work-related vehicles" under Ontario's Slow Down, Move Over (SDMO) law. The objective is to expand protections to identifiable vehicles used by roadside workers that are currently excluded from the safeguards provided under the existing SDMO law. These include vehicles that do not operate primarily in designated construction zones with reduced speed limits and are often used by workers performing duties at the roadside for extended periods without adequate protection.
IHSA will compile a single, coordinated submission on behalf of our network. To make sure that we have time to prepare and submit our response by September 8, 2025, please provide your feedback to IHSA by September 7, 2025, by clicking on the button below.
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Blueprint for Change: Building Community, Changing the Narrative to Save
Join IHSA at noon on September 10 in a national industry roundtable focused on suicide prevention. This event, coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day, will bring together leaders from the construction industry, safety organizations, and mental health advocates. The goal is to drive coordinated, evidence-based action across the sector.
Join us for several key learning experiences:
- Listen to speakers from Mates in Construction (North America), the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), Multiplex, and IHSA.
- Learn more about the history of Mates in Construction and the program's plans for North America.
- Discover data based on research from IWH.
- Participate in the launch of an industry-wide pledge to prioritize mental health and suicide prevention.
For more information on this event or the industry roundtable, contact Michelle Roberts.
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Registration open for IHSA Annual General Meeting, awards and social
Join the IHSA on Wednesday October 8th, 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Airport West, 5444 Dixie Rd., Mississauga. for an engaging Annual General Meeting. This year’s Meeting will feature a standing-style environment that encourages mingling and conversation.
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Hamilton committee hosts Health and Safety Day
The Hamilton Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee is hosting its first ever Health and Safety Day on September 11 at the C Hotel in Hamilton.
Join us for a half-day session featuring a dynamic lineup of speakers focused on the latest innovations in personal protective equipment, mental health, and updates from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development.
Seats are limited! Register now to secure your spot.
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Save the date: NCSO®/NHSA™ annual Educational Conference on November 20
Join IHSA on November 20 for the fourth annual NCSO®/NHSA™ Educational Conference.
This half-day virtual event will provide attendees with an opportunity to increase their knowledge of essential health and safety topics and learn more about key areas important to maintaining their NCSO®/NHSA™ status.
Watch for more details about this exciting online event in future issues of Network News.
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IHSA releases 2024 Annual Report
Learn more about the ways IHSA works to better serve our members and achieve our strategic goals.
Our 2024 Annual report highlights our key prevention initiatives, published health and safety resources, training programs, and progress promoting health and safety across Ontario workplaces over the previous year.
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Health and Safety Advisory: Inspecting fall protection equipment before each use (W258)
Worn or damaged fall protection equipment is both dangerous and ineffective. To prevent hazards, workers must inspect all parts of their fall protection equipment before each use.
This advisory outlines appropriate procedures for regular inspection of fall protection equipment as well as the importance of documenting the inspection.
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New videos from IHSA
IHSA has released several new videos to help liven up safety meetings and provide helpful health and safety information. Topics include:
Browse our video library and gain insight into how to improve the safety of your business and workers.
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Health and Safety Advisory: Safe set up and use of self-retracting lifelines
When a worker moves or installs materials while working at heights, they need to be protected from falls without sacrificing their freedom of mobility. In these scenarios, if guardrails, travel restraint, and fall restraint systems are not feasible options, workers can protect themselves from fall hazards by using a self-retracting lifeline (SRL).
In order to avoid hazards, it is critical that workers follow the setup instructions in the equipment manufacturer’s operating manual.
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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 episode now:
Podcast spotlight
Episode 115: Practical Tips for Homeowners When Hiring a Contractor
Choosing the right contractor for your home renovation is about more than cost—it’s also about safety.
In this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, we discuss contractor safety standards when it comes to home renovations. This episode takes a different approach as it plays out real-world scenarios and conversations between a homeowner and potential contractors.
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Type II hard hats increase protection against head injuries for construction workers
A recent article from the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance, in collaboration with ConstructConnect™ and distributed by the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations, looks at a timely topic. Top Canadian construction employers are switching to Type II hard hats—and they’re seeing results.
Type II hard hats include a four-point chin strap that keeps the helmet in place and provides a more secure fit.
While Type I hard hats protect the top of the worker’s head from impact, Type II helmets protect their head from all angles—even if they slip, trip, or fall. The extra level of protection helps to prevent serious head injuries on worksites.
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CSA Group seeks industry experts to develop standard on hydrogen for emergency responders
CSA Group is creating a new Technical Subcommittee (TSC) under the S728 Technical Committee (TC) on Safety of Emergency Responders to develop a new standard (Z1670) on the competency and training needs of hydrogen emergency responders.
This committee is responsible for developing a standard on competency and training requirements of emergency responders (first and second) addressing incidents caused by hydrogen. First responders include but are not limited to firefighters, police, and paramedics. Second responders include but are not limited to tow truck operators and emergency support services. The alternative fuel in focus for this new standard is hydrogen.
CSA Group is seeking additional experts to serve on this Technical Subcommittee, who will actively participate and contribute to the development of this important standard through CSA’s accredited Standards Development Process(es).
If you are interested in participating as a new Member of the CSA Technical Subcommittee, please email Ankita Shah, Project Manager.
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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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