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OGWA’s The Source: Ontario safety-program changes

Hello, OGWA members! It’s been a busy time at the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and Ministry of Labour over the past few months.

The WSIB has now rolled out its new Health and Safety Excellence program. It replaces the WSIB Safety Groups, WorkWell and the Small Business programs. What are the key differences? You can select one to five topics to work on each year: you no longer have to complete a full five (as was mandatory in the Safety Groups Program). In addition to this, the WSIB is upping the ante for rebates, offering a minimum of $1,000 per completed topic, to a maximum of 75 per cent of your annual premiums (2019’s). Now for some of you, that may mean you could receive less than $1,000 per topic, as WSIB is applying that cap of 75 per cent of annual premiums! There is a fee to join. The WSIB is also offering non-digital badges under the Compass portion of the WSIB website. I am an Approved Provider, so I will fill you in on the details at the regionals. I will be providing the WSIB presentation at the regionals: something for you to look forward to!

The Ministry of Labour will soon be announcing its support of not only the WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program but also accreditation. Provincial announcements of both should have happened by the time that you read this! I will be pleased to discuss accreditation with you too!

Ellaline Davies is a facilitator, trainer and the president of Safety Works Consulting Inc.