Your Complete Guide to Health and Safety in the Workplace

February 2026

Shining a Light on Heart Health This February

Please check our website for our 2026 course dates!

Training Programs For 2026

At Wilkens Health & Safety Solutions, we help Ontario workplaces stay compliant, confident, and protected through professional training and hands-on support.

JHSC Certification (Part I, Part II – Industrial & Healthcare, and Refresher)
Standard & Emergency First Aid + CPR/AED (Red Cross certified)
WSIB Health & Safety Excellence Program support (from topic selection to validation)
Service levels to match your business needs, from guidance to full document creation

Whether you’re certifying your committee, refreshing credentials, training staff in First Aid, or working toward WSIB excellence, our experienced team is here to support you every step of the way.

Contact Rebecca Sousa at rsousa@whss.ca for 2026 course availability and program details.

Steps For Life 2026 - Walk With Us May 2nd, 2026

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, our community will come together for Steps for Life, the annual 5-km walk in support of families affected by workplace tragedy.

Every year in Canada, close to 1,000 workers are killed on the job or die from work-related injuries or illnesses. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a story that deserves to be heard.

Steps for Life is the premier national fundraising event for Threads of Life, raising awareness and critical support for families who have lost a loved one or whose lives have been forever changed by a workplace tragedy. This meaningful event is proudly hosted in Kingston by Wilkens Health & Safety Solutions at the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area.

We are currently seeking walkers, teams, volunteers, and donations to help make this event possible. By participating, you’re helping ensure these families know they are not alone and that their loved ones are never forgotten.

If you’re interested in registering yourself or a team, volunteering, or learning more about the Kingston walk, please contact Rebecca Sousa at rsousa@whss.ca.

Together, we walk to remember. Together, we walk to support.

February is Psychology Month

February is Psychology Month in Canada, a time dedicated to recognizing the important role psychology plays in supporting mental well-being across our workplaces, communities, and institutions.

Psychology contributes to healthier environments by helping organizations address stress, burnout, and mental health challenges, informing policies that support psychological and social well-being, and strengthening communities through research and evidence-based practice.

As a science-driven field, psychology works to better understand how we think, feel, and behave—providing tools that help individuals and workplaces build safer, healthier, and more supportive cultures.

To learn more about Psychology Month initiatives and the impact of psychology in Canada, visit: https://cpa.ca/psychologymonth/

New Ontario AED Requirements

As of January 1, 2026, new Ontario regulations require certain construction projects to have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on site. Any project expected to run longer than three months and employ 20 or more workers must now be equipped with an AED.

To support employers with this new requirement, the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), in partnership with Smart Safety Solutions, has released a practical implementation guide designed to help constructors build effective, site-specific AED programs.

What the new guide covers

Understand legal duties and responsibilities
Conduct jobsite hazard assessments
Select appropriate AED equipment
Determine proper placement on site
Establish emergency response procedures
Implement training and maintenance programs

The goal is to help employers move beyond compliance and create AED programs that reflect the unique risks and conditions of each construction site.

WSIB rebate now available

To support the transition, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has launched a rebate program to help offset the cost of AED purchases. Employers can receive up to $2,500 per AED for qualifying projects. Purchases made between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027 are eligible, with applications open until July 3, 2027.

Why this matters

Sudden cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities, with construction workers facing a significantly higher risk due to physically demanding and high-stress environments. When used quickly alongside CPR, AEDs can increase survival rates by more than 50%.

This new regulation marks a major step forward in construction health and safety — and having a clear plan in place can save lives.

How to Stay Compliant as Longer Job-related Leaves Expand

Several provinces, including B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, have introduced or expanded long-term, job-protected illness leaves, with employees now entitled to up to 27 weeks within a 52-week period. These changes mean many workplace policies are no longer aligned with current legislation.

Employment lawyers warn that employers should review and update time-off and disability policies, ensure payroll and HR systems can properly track extended leaves, and clearly communicate benefit options such as sick pay, short-term disability, long-term disability, and EI sickness benefits.

Key compliance areas include managing intermittent leaves, respecting new limits on medical notes, protecting employee privacy, and carefully navigating accommodation and return-to-work planning. Employers should also be cautious around terminations connected to long-term medical leaves, which are considered high-risk and closely scrutinized.

The takeaway: expanded leave entitlements require proactive policy reviews, manager training, and careful documentation to reduce legal and human-rights exposure.

Wear Red on February 13th, 2026

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women worldwide and the leading cause of premature death in Canada—yet it remains under-studied, under-diagnosed, and under-treated.

The Her Heart Matters initiative by Wear Red Canada highlights five critical facts:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women globally.
More than 50% of women don’t recognize heart attack symptoms.
Heart disease can present differently in women than in men.
Women can be at higher risk than men.
Prevention is key—many risk factors are manageable.

Let’s raise awareness and take action. Wear red on February 13th to support Women’s Heart Health Awareness.

Visit Wear Red Canada for more information.

Shoveling Safety

Shovelling snow isn't just a winter chore—it’s a full-body workout that can strain your heart and back if not done safely. Stay injury-free with these tips:

Shovel Early & Often: Fresh, dry snow is easier to manage.
Warm Up First: Loosen up with stretches before lifting.
Use the Right Shovel: Lightweight, ergonomic tools reduce strain.
Push, Don’t Lift: If lifting, use your legs, not your back.
Dress for the Cold: Layer up, wear grippy boots, and protect your hands.

Take breaks, stay hydrated, and listen to your body! Stay safe out there.

RELEVANT UPDATES

AI 'fatigue' exposes weaknesses of training programs

January 21, 2026 – Stacy Thomas: Recent labour market analysis shows that generative AI (genAI) is technically capable of automating key tasks in about half of Canadian jobs over the next five years – but that doesn’t mean workers are ready to embrace it.