Construction & Electrical Utility Network News banner

IHSA monthly news & updates

July 2026

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.

Access construction reports

2026–2027 compliance campaigns underway

The 2026–2027 MLITSD compliance campaigns are now underway. IHSA has a variety of tools that provide member firms with relevant resources.

Construction

Inspectors will review all activities at single-family and multi-family residential projects. They will give particular attention to high-risk issues, such as:

They will also check to ensure that these projects are providing adequate information, instruction, and supervision.

Mining

Energy isolation: Lock out/tag out

Specialized professional services (hygiene)

Noise

Legislative updates and alerts

Read recent court bulletins related to health and safety

The MLITSD regularly releases court bulletins about health and safety issues, injuries, and fatalities. Visit its website to read the bulletins and find other news and information.

Read the latest MLITSD court bulletins

MLITSD consultation: Proposed rope access regulation

The MLITSD is consulting on a proposed province-wide regulation for rope access work under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). It aims to introduce consistent safety rules for work at heights, enable its use in construction, and align Ontario with national and international standards.

The proposal would require certification, formal safety planning, strict equipment standards, and qualified supervision, along with advance notice to the MLITSD. Feedback is open until Friday, August 21, 2026.

Learn more about the proposal

Ontario driver's licensing update

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is introducing updates to driver licensing requirements that aim to improve road safety, strengthen program integrity, and reduce fraud.

Effective Wednesday, July 1, 2026, new rules limit recognized foreign driving experience from non-reciprocal jurisdictions and require additional testing and waiting periods for Class G applicants. Further changes coming on Friday, January 1, 2027, will require new Class A drivers to hold a full Ontario Class G licence for at least six months before completing their road test.

Download the stakeholder letter

Featured IHSA resources and events

Sarnia committee releases new safety resource documents

The Sarnia Regional Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee has put together three new resource documents that provide companies with links to provincial and regional safety information. The bulletins provide general information and include helpful links and QR codes that users can access on most mobile devices. The information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

Check out the new resources:

IHSA safety talk: Adequate lighting on construction projects

Section 45 of the Regulation for Construction Projects (O. Reg. 213/91) says that any workplace where a worker’s presence is not explicitly prohibited must be adequately lit. “Adequately” means sufficient for its intended and actual use and sufficient to protect a worker from illness or injury (O. Reg. 213/91, s. 1). This safety talk reviews the importance of adequate lighting, responsibilities, and the need for lighting assessments on jobsites.

Download the safety talk

An IHSA Health and Safety Expert talks about the importance of stretching to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.

New videos highlight key safety topics

IHSA's latest YouTube videos cover some interesting safety topics and provide great information to use in safety talks, tailboards, and other meetings.

Check out IHSA's latest videos:

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 episodes now:

Episode 136: Health and Safety Research in Action: Practical Insights for Safer Workplaces in Ontario

IHSA conducted training with 25,747 in-class participants and 3,020 instructor-led courses from January to May 2026. 16,611 participants took an eLearning course.

IHSA trains more than 25,000 so far in 2026

From January to May 2026, IHSA trained 25,747 people in 3,020 instructor-led courses held at our facilities and at workplaces across Ontario. Industry staff with hands-on experience teach these sessions. They understand the realities of high-risk work because they’ve done it themselves.

Access IHSA's training course list

Occupational health/ergonomics/mental health news

Supporting mental health and suicide prevention

IHSA is raising awareness about mental health in Ontario's construction industry by highlighting that suicide rates are significantly higher than traumatic workplace fatalities.

The #STANDUPCanada campaign encourages workplaces to take action by supporting

mental well-being and committing to suicide prevention. Sign the pledge to help create safer, more supportive work environments.

This effort is in partnership with the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the Ontario Construction Suicide Prevention Roundtable.

Sign the #STANDUPCanada pledge now

Industry news and events

MTO Public Outreach and Education Office Summer Update

The Public Outreach and Education Office’s Summer Update highlights key 2026 events, awareness campaigns, and safety initiatives taking place across Ontario. It also shares important reminders on issues like distracted driving and child passenger safety, along with resources to help educate communities and promote safer behaviours. Explore the update to stay informed and support ongoing road safety awareness efforts.

Access the Summer Update