JOINT HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE CERTIFICATION TRAINING |
Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions (WHSS) is the only Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) approved Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Certification training provider located in Kingston.
As most workplaces with twenty (20) or more workers must have a JHSC established, we regularly hold training sessions. At least one (1) worker and one (1) management representative of this committee must be certified by completing the prescribed training standards set by the MOL.
Part One Basic Certification Training
Part One Basic Certification training provides an overall knowledge of the Health and Safety Legislation that applies to most workplaces.
Part Two Workplace Specific Training
Part Two Workplace Specific Certification training focuses on the significant hazards in your workplace and how to assess, control and/or eliminate them.
Refresher Certification Training
This course is designed to include all sectors and reviews the essentials of the Part 1 and 2 Certification training as well as highlight any legislative changes that have occurred within the last three years.
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How to ensure success with a wellbeing program.
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John Dujay – They're going to gravitate to the programs and the offerings at the time that they need them,' says HR head.
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BC employee wrongfully dismissed over 'strongly worded' email.
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Dexter Tilo – BC Supreme Court says employee termination 'not a proportionate response'.
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Welcome back! We look forward to helping you this year. |
The team at Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions hopes you had a great holiday season. We are looking forward to assisting and helping you with your health and safely and human resources needs in 2024! Our team brings an impressive, diverse and complete skillset to help ensure our client’s knowledge and ability to provide compliant workplaces across various sectors. We offer:
- In-person courses at the Little Cataraqui Conservation Centre.
- In-person, private, on-site courses for 6 or more participants at your location in customized training sessions.
- The Health and Safety Excellence program.
- A variety of online courses and training modules.
- Health and Safety and Human Resources fact sheets and workplace-specific resources.
- Dedicated Standard and Emergency First-Aid Training (on demand.)
Get in touch and learn more about the ways we can assist you!
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On January 24th: Let's talk about mental health. |
Talking about mental health challenges is a crucial step in helping individuals affected know they're never alone in their struggles. Bell Let's Talk Day, coming up on January 24th, gives a stronger voice to those important discussions surrounding mental health, helping reduce the stigma around mental illness.
For every #BellLetsTalk hashtag used on social media platforms, phone calls, or text, Bell will donate 5 cents in support of mental health programs. In 2023, the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund, allocated $2 million in grants to various community-centered mental health groups.
It's a perfect opportunity to introduce mental health initiatives in your workplace. We will be sharing some more resources for this day on our social channels during the month of January!
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Make 2024 the year of Health and Safety Excellence |
Are you a small business? Perhaps you’re not sure where to start this year with your health and safety program? We invite you to join the Health and Safety Excellence program through the WSIB and Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions – the approved provider for the program in Eastern Ontario! We're currently inviting new members into the program and previous participants back this year. As of September 2023, just within that calendar year, the clients we serve shared in rebates of $880,000!
Through this WSIB incentive program, companies receive financial and non-financial rewards. Best of all, the special Small Business Incentive portion of HESp has been extended to continue through to December 31, 2024!
If you would like more information on the program, we encourage you to call us at 613-546-9814 or visit whss.ca.
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January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month |
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Canada. It is encouraged that during this month, organizations and individuals across Canada learn more about dementia and its stark impact on Canadians. Awareness allows us to fight stigma, reinforce human rights and push for policy change, amongst other important outcomes for those living with dementia.
“First Link®” is there year’s theme. First Link® is an Alzheimer Society program offering approved services and information to those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and to caregivers, providing support, community, knowledge and expertise.
Learn more about Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and First Link® at www.alzheimer.ca. Understanding what people living with dementia experience in their day-to-day-lives can help us to better understand the condition and help raise awareness of dementia throughout Canada.
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Read Up on These New Ontario Laws and Regulations
Several new provincial changes – affecting the child-care sector, tow-truck industry and construction – have come into effect as of January 1, 2024. They include:
● Childcare pick-up and drop-off policies: As of January 1, 2024, the province will require all child-care operators to develop a policy outlining what steps they will take to closely monitor when a child does not arrive or is not picked up as expected. Previously, safe arrival systems have not stringently been in place in child-care settings, where children are younger and more vulnerable.
● Patient health information rules: Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner is now able to fine individuals or organizations who inappropriately access or share a patient's personal health information.
● Tow-truck industry changes: Several changes to the tow-truck industry have come into force, which includes new customer rights. Customer rights include the right to provide consent to tow a car, selecting where it will be towed, access to the vehicle following the tow, and other rights related to invoices and payments. Additionally, the province will take over the tow-truck licensing regime from municipalities, requiring certification of all towing operators and vehicle storage companies.
● Changes in construction, alcohol purchasing and invasive species: Updates to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) are now in effect to increase safety for crane operators on construction sites, which include two new regulations that will help ensure cranes are installed properly and inspected and maintained regularly. The province is also extending the rules governing the purchase of alcohol across provincial borders and consumers will be allowed to buy alcohol directly from businesses in other provinces until Jan. 1, 2026. Lastly, the province has updated the invasive species list in 2024 to include killer shrimp, most crayfish and several plants such as the tree of heaven.
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January 13 to 21, 2024 is International Snowmobile Safety Week! |
Start your engines! International Snowmobile Safety Safe is coming up from January 13 to 21, 2024. During this week, a variety of events and activities are scheduled across Canada and the US to promote safe recreational snowmobile use. They include snowmobile safety courses, clinics and seminars. International Snowmobile Safety Week promotes best practices and aims to demonstrate how operating your snowmobile safely can prevent mishaps. Here are the 12 key practices of Safe Snowmobiling from snowmobile.org
- Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during snowmobiling.
- Become familiar with the snowmobile you ride.
- Operate at safe and reasonable speeds.
- Stay on trails and areas where snowmobiling is permitted.
- Avoid travelling on unfamiliar frozen bodies of water.
- Use extra caution at night.
- Keep your snowmobile properly maintained.
- Become familiar with the terrain you will travel on.
- Listen to the weather forecast before you leave.
- Always wear a helmet and proper clothing.
- Never ride alone and let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Carry emergency supplies and learn survival skills.
For more information or to access resources to spread awareness in your community, please visit snowmobile.org.
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Triple-Demic Season: Protecting Yourself Against Respiratory Viruses |
With illnesses such as RSV, COVID-19, Influenza and colds making their way around at a rapid pace, it’s crucial your workplace has a respiratory virus protection plan in effect. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers and supervisors must take every reasonable precaution protect the health and safety of workers, safeguarding them from hazards posed by infectious diseases. It’s the responsibility of the employer to determine what kind of information is appropriate with respect to protecting workers from exposure to viral respiratory illnesses at work. This should include, at a minimum, information about:
- Viral respiratory illness in general.
- The importance of staying home if unwell.
- Basics of infection control, such as hand hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette.
- Signs and symptoms typical of viral respiratory illnesses, such as COVID‑19.
- The most recent advice from public health authorities.
Based on an assessment, working with the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative in a workplace, an employer may choose to put additional measures in place to protect workers from exposure to viral respiratory illnesses.
Do you need assistance getting a respiratory virus protection plan in place? Please don’t hesitate to contact the team at Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions! We’re here to help make sure your workplace is a safe, healthy and happy place to be, every day.
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Upcoming WHSS Courses
Register Your Employees Today!
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All courses scheduled are offered following safe distancing protocols, as well as all other mandated safety protocols - this means fewer people being allowed to register for each course - allowing for safe participation.
Private on-site courses can also be arranged for groups of six (6) or more. Please contact
Rebecca Sousa at 613.546.9814 ext. 2224 for more details.
WHSS continues to be a training partner for Working at Heights with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA). Contact us today to arrange your full or refresher course. Courses are scheduled on an as needed basis and can be held at your site or at a suitable training location.
For a complete listing of upcoming courses, click here or contact Rebecca Sousa at rsousa@whss.ca by email or 613.546.9814 ext. 2224 for more details.
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