Your Complete Guide to Health and Safety in the Workplace

December 2025

We appreciate your continued partnership and support. Warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a safe and healthy new year.

Please check our website for our 2025 course dates!

First-aid Certification in 2026

Start 2026 Safely with First-Aid Training! ⛑️🩼

A new year brings new opportunities to strengthen workplace safety. Now is the perfect time to reassess the training your team needs to maintain a safe and prepared work environment in 2026. First-aid training is one of the most valuable investments an employer can make—equipping staff with the skills to respond confidently in emergencies.

Benefits for Employers:

Faster Emergency Response: Trained employees can act quickly and effectively, reducing recovery time and minimizing lost work hours.
Fewer Workplace Accidents: Proper training increases safety awareness and helps prevent avoidable incidents.
A Stronger Safety Culture: Offering first-aid training shows commitment to employee well-being, boosting morale and teamwork.

Benefits for Employees:

Increased Workplace Safety: Staff gain the confidence and skills to prevent, manage, and respond to accidents.
Safety Beyond Work: First-aid knowledge benefits families and communities in home emergencies.
Support for Lone Workers: Employees working alone receive essential skills to stay safe until help arrives.

Contact Wilkens Health & Safety Solutions to schedule your Emergency or Standard First-Aid Training today.

National Safe Driving Week (Dec 1-7, 2025)

This year’s National Safe Driving Week, led by the Canada Safety Council and the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada, reminds us how quickly a single distraction can take everything away. Freedom, independence, and mobility can all be gone in a flash when attention slips behind the wheel.

Distracted driving continues to be one of Canada’s deadliest behaviours, contributing to 22.5% of fatal collisions and 25.5% of serious injuries. Whether it’s a quick text, adjusting your GPS, or a moment of mind-wandering, the consequences can be life-altering.

The message is simple:

Eyes on the road. Hands on the wheel. Focus on what matters.

Your safety, your future, and the people you share the road with depend on it.

Because everything you value can be Gone In A Flash.

Safety Should Never Take a Back Seat to Deadlines

A recent report reveals that 45% of construction supervisors feel pressured to prioritize project timelines over safety. Many also report feeling unequipped to address onsite risks, mental health concerns, and communication barriers. Building a strong safety culture begins with the right training, support systems, and leadership practices.

Key steps to strengthen safety on construction sites include:

Empowering supervisors with updated training
Encouraging open and proactive reporting
Supporting mental health and well-being
Strengthening communication across diverse teams

As we look ahead to 2026, reinforcing safety leadership and workplace well-being remains essential to keeping workers protected and projects successful.

Surge in Fake Training Certificates Raises Safety Concerns

Across Ontario, safety professionals are reporting a rise in fraudulent OHS training certificates, with dozens uncovered in recent weeks.

Experts warn that employers who accept credentials at face value may be exposing workers to increased risk and facing potential legal consequences. New trends include AI-generated online training completion, adding another layer of concern for verification and compliance.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development has confirmed that providing false training records is an offence under the OHSA. Workers and supervisors are liable with penalties reaching up to $500,000 or 12 months imprisonment.

As the industry calls for stronger verification systems, employers are urged to review and validate all safety certifications to ensure workers are properly trained and protected.

Constant Stress & Financial Insecurity Threaten Worker Safety

New findings from TELUS Health’s Mental Health Index and Mental Health Barometer reveal a clear link between psychological wellbeing and workplace safety. One-third of Canadian workers report anxiety, 30 percent feel isolated, and nearly three-quarters lack confidence in their financial future. These stressors increase distraction, reduce focus, and heighten the risk of workplace accidents—particularly among labourers and workers in physically demanding roles.

The research highlights that organizations with high trust, supportive leadership, and practical mental health resources see lower stress levels, stronger engagement, and better safety outcomes. As workplaces continue to navigate economic pressure and rapid change, prioritizing mental health has become an essential component of preventing injuries and maintaining productivity.

Reminder to Review Training Practices as We Enter 2026

The LCBO has been fined $80,000 after a worker was critically injured during a powered pallet lift truck training session at a London warehouse.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development found that the individual conducting the training was a seasonal worker who had experience operating the equipment but was not certified or qualified to train others, and the instruction provided was incomplete. As a result, the LCBO failed to meet its obligation to ensure workers received proper information, instruction, and supervision under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

This incident reinforces the importance of verifying that trainers are competent, properly instructed, and up to date on equipment-specific requirements — especially when new or seasonal workers are involved. As we move into 2026, employers are encouraged to review their training programs, confirm qualifications, and clearly communicate expectations to reduce risk and strengthen safety compliance.

Supporting Employee Well-Being During the Holiday Season

The holiday period can be challenging for many workers, with over 52% of Canadians reporting feelings of anxiety, depression, or isolation at this time of year. Employers play an important role in recognizing these pressures and creating a supportive environment that helps reduce stress and promotes psychological safety in the workplace.

Common factors affecting employees during the season include:

Social pressure and expectations: Not all employees feel festive. Encourage a culture where participation in seasonal activities is optional and free from judgment.
Grief and loss: The holidays can intensify emotions for those coping with bereavement or trauma. Provide space, flexibility, and understanding, and remind employees of available supports.
Financial strain and gift-giving stress: Many workers are managing tight budgets. Avoid workplace gift expectations and consider inclusive, low-cost alternatives.
Seasonal Affective Disorder and reduced daylight: Reduced sunlight can impact mood, focus, and energy. Promote breaks, natural light exposure, and access to wellness resources.

As employers look toward the new year, fostering empathy, flexibility, and open communication can strengthen morale and reduce the risk of burnout. Encouraging employees to seek support when needed helps build a healthier and safer workplace for everyone.

Plan Ahead for 2026 With the Health & Safety Excellence program

As an approved provider of the Health & Safety Excellence program in Eastern Ontario, Wilkens works directly with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to help businesses strengthen their health and safety systems while accessing valuable WSIB benefits.

What sets us apart is our personalized approach. We guide you through the system step by step, beginning with a one-to-one meeting, either in person or virtually, to review your current health and safety program, select the right topics, and determine what will genuinely benefit your organization.

Yes, participating organizations, that pay less than $50,000 per year in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board premiums, can earn $2,000 per completed topic (up to five topics at a time), but for us, it’s about more than rebates. It’s about building workplaces where employees start and end their day both physically and psychologically well.

With the year wrapping up and 2026 fast approaching, now is the ideal time to plan ahead. By partnering with Wilkens Health & Safety Solutions, you can create a safe, compliant workplace that truly works for your business.

Interested in exploring how the program can support your organization?

Call us at 613-546-9814 or visit whss.ca to learn more!

We’re here to help you get started.

RELEVANT UPDATES

9-year-old operate ride when patron fell and broke bones

November 14, 2025 – Shane Mercer: A nine-year-old child was assisting with operations on a travelling amusement ride when a patron fell several feet to the ground and was seriously injured earlier this year, according to a newly released investigation report from Technical Safety BC.