In this issue:

 Changing Seasons &
 Changing Legislation 
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 B asic 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.
Visit our website   to register for the Part 1 or Part 2 Certification Course.

IN THE NEWS
Worker's Fatal Fall Results in $400,000 Fine for Mississauga Company with Record of Convictions

 


September 20, 2019


While giving a tour of the facility to contractors, a worker fell from a walkway that had corroded and could not support the worker's weight. The worker later died in hospital. Following guilty pleas, a fine of $400,000 was imposed upon Lafarge Canada Inc. The court also imposed a 25 per-cent surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
Worker Fatality in Scarborough Work Yard Results in $265,000 Fine for TTC



September 6, 2019

A worker was crushed between a work car and a pick-up truck when the work car was being moved. Following a guilty plea, TTC was fined $265,000. The court also imposed a 25 per-cent surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
Managing Cannabis in the Workplace
Cannabis in the Workplace- What you need to know.

Edible or ingestible Cannabis products are set to be legalized on October 17th, 2019. Just like with inhaling cannabis, when it comes to health and safety, your drug and alcohol policy stays the same - an employee
cannot be impaired while at work. Using cannabis at work without a prescription for medicinal use is still illegal. If you have a current policy on impairment and the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace, make sure to update it to include cannabis.

Don't have a policy? Not sure where to start? We can help! Contact us today.

Learn more by clicking here.

Health and Safety Excellence program
Information Session

Have you been part of a WSIB Rebate Program in the past and would like to join again? The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is launching their new Health and Safety Excellence program in January 2020!

Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions sponsors the local Kingston group and will be hosting an
information session on Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am. Whether you are new to a rebate program or part of a current one, come and hear about the changes that will be taking place in 2020 with the new program.

For more information and to register, please contact Ciara Keech, Administrative Assistant at 613.546.9814 ext. 225 or by email.

Steps for Life

Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy

Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions is proud to be partnering with Steps for Life to host the 2020 annual walk for families of workplace tragedy. Steps for Life is a walk that happens in communities across Canada
each spring. The 2019 event saw 5,500+ people
complete the walk, including 246 community teams. Over $770,000 was raised, which included $270,000+ in sponsorship money.

If you or your workplace would like to join the steering committee for the 2020 Steps for Life, please contact Holly Jacques at 613.546.9814 ext. 224 or by email, as we begin planning this wonderful event.

New Course Offerings!
Joint Health and Safety Committee Refresher Training

Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Refresher Training is a one-day review of Part One and Part Two JHSC Training. All JHSC certified members, certified under the new standard which came into effect on March 1, 2016, are required to take refresher training every three (3) years to maintain their certification. Any certification that was obtained prior to that date does not expire and members of a JHSC are grandfathered into the previous standard and are not required to take refresher training. However, at Wilkens Health & Safety Solutions, we strongly encourage employers to have all of their certified members take the refresher training to ensure that they are up-to-date with current health and safety legislation and requirements.

Wiebke Wilkens, Owner and Principal Consultant of Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions is the primary trainer for JHSC Part One, JHSC Part Two, and now JHSC Refresher Training.

Mental Health First Aid

"Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a mental health crisis, or a worsening of their mental health." (MHCC, 2019). This course is an educational program to increase awareness, increase confidence and decrease the stigma about mental health problems.

Our in-house instructor, Sarah Salisbury has completed her instructor training and Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions now proudly offers the Mental Health First Aid - Basic Certification course to individuals and businesses in the Kingston and surrounding communities. Consult our website for upcoming course dates and fees or contact Ciara Keech, at 613.546.9814 ext.225 or at [email protected] for more information.

Safe Food Handlers Certification Training

Wilkens Health and Safety Solutions is now offering Safe Food Handlers Certification Training, with our in-house trainer Holly Jacques.

Under Regulation 493/17 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, every food service premise (any place where meals or meal portions are prepared and/or served for consumption on premise) must have at least one certified food handler, on site during operating hours of the premise, at all times.

Successful participants will earn a Full Food Handler Certificate which is valid for five (5) years and accepted by all public health units in Ontario.

If you or your workplace is interested in taking any of our courses, click here to see course dates, fees and to register. You can also register by contacting Ciara Keech, Administrative Assistant, directly at 613.546.9814 ext. 225 or by email

Employment Standards
  
Next Public Holiday

October 14 is Thanksgiving Monday and is a Public
Holiday in Ontario. Remember that all employees need to work their scheduled shifts before and after the public holiday to qualify for Public Holiday Pay.

If you have any questions about Public Holiday entitlements, please contact Sarah Salisbury, Assistant Consultant - Human Resources by email or at 613.546.9814 ext. 222.

For more information and to calculate public holiday pay, check out the Public Holiday Pay calculator, by clicking here.
 
 Ministry of Labour Program   Initiatives
Upcoming Provincial / Eastern Ontario Inspection Initiatives

Program
Focus
Sector / Business
 Date
Health & Safety
Musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards
All Sectors
September 1 - December 27, 2019


View the full schedule  here .

For help preparing for an upcoming inspection,  contact us  today. 


Upcoming WHSS Courses
Register your employees today!

Course
Date
Time
JHSC Refresher Certification
October 17, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
JHSC Certification Part 1 - Basic
October 21-23, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
JHSC Certification Part 2 - Healthcare
October 28-29, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Safe Food Handling
November 8, 2019
9:00am - 4:00pm
JHSC Refresher Certification
November 15, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
JHSC Certification Part 2 - Office, Retail and Light Industrial
November 18-19, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Mental Health First Aid
November 28- 29, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
JHSC Certification Part 1 - Basic
December 4-6, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
JHSC Refresher Certification
December 13, 2019
8:30 am - 4:00 pm



Private on-site courses can also be arranged for groups of six (6) or more. Please contact Ciara Keech for 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 the Kingston Construction Association (KCA)

For a complete listing of upcoming courses, click here or contact Ciara Keech by email or at 613.546.9814 ext. 225 for more details.

Contact Us

t:   613-546-9814
      www.whss.ca

"Specializing in incident prevention and mitigation strategies."

- Wiebke Wilkens