Province to provide free online health and safety training
The Government of Ontario announced on July 3 that it will invest $3 million to provide workers and those looking for work with free online health and safety training.
Ten courses will be delivered for free through Employment Ontario. The courses include such topics as infection control, conducting health and safety incident investigations, ladder safety, slips, trips and falls prevention, and preventing workplace violence and harassment. The virtual qualifications, says the province, will make it easier for job seekers and workers to get essential qualifications, while practising physical distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
"In this new environment, we need to look for new and innovative ways to deliver services, while keeping people safe and healthy," said Premier Doug Ford. "This virtual approach to safety training will ensure employers and employees have access to the latest information without the need to physically interact with others. In this way, we also reduce the risk of spreading this deadly virus."
The programming is available for up to 100,000 people who are unemployed, out of work due to the COVID pandemic or who are new to Canada.
"This is the first time this type of online safety training has been made available at no cost to people who have lost their jobs and I am confident it will be an effective way to prepare people to rejoin the workforce safely," said Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton. "The training is free and accessible from anywhere, so people can learn from their own homes."
In addition, worker and employer members of Joint Health and Safety Committees can now use video conferencing to take training in real-time with qualified instructors from training providers approved by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer (CPO). The training includes sessions on how to establish a Health and Safety Committee, resolving health and safety issues, workplace inspections, and accident investigations.
The CPO is extending the time for completion of refresher training for more than 8,000 certified committee members whose certification would have expired between February 28 and August 31, 2020. They have until November 30, 2020 to renew their training.
Over the last three years, an average of 37,000 people per year took Joint Health and Safety Committee certification training.