Prevention Council and Prevention Office – Update August 2013

1. Prevention Council and Prevention Office – UpdateAugust 2013

2. Overview • Context • New Mandate • Prevention Council & Prevention Office • An Integrated Approach • Integrated Occupational Health and Safety Strategy Development • Training Standard Development • OHS Research • Other Key Activities Underway • Future

3. Context 2010 • Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) Report – comprising health and safety experts from labour groups, employers and academic institutes, and led by Tony Dean • Government accepts all 46 recommendations 2011 • ‘Bill 160’ – creates legislative framework • Appointment of Ontario’s first Chief Prevention Officer (CPO)

4. New Mandate Minister of Labour Prevention Mandate Transfer Prevention Council WSIB Prevention Office OHS Research Community Health & Safety Associations Other Service Partners

5. Prevention Council • Prevention Council has met five times since our first meeting in September 2012 • The Prevention Council is advising the Chief Prevention Officer on key strategic issues, including: • Priorities for integrated occupational health and safety (OHS) strategy • Development of first ever annual report on the Ontario occupational health and safety (OHS) system • Key performance indicators and standards • Any significant proposed changes to the prevention system (including design, funding and delivery models)

6. MOL’s Prevention Office • Led by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer (CPO), responsibilities of the Prevention Office include: • Establishment of an integrated OHS strategy for Ontario • Funding health and safety research • Working with Ontario's Health and Safety Associations (HSAs) to establish effective delivery of prevention programs and services • Development of province-wide training standards • First CPO annual report is to be published in Fall 2013 • The integrated strategy and annual report are to be provided to the Minister by the CPO • Significant progress towards implementing EAP recommendations: • 8 of the 11 priority recommendations now implemented or significantly on the way to being completed • 12 of the 35 remaining recommendations now implemented or significantly on the way to being completed

7. An Integrated Approach • Aligning prevention activity among all OHS Partners • More collaboration, greater consistency and less duplication • Ontario’s first integrated, system-wide, OHS strategy • Develop a province-wide strategy that will lead to safer and healthier workplaces • Unified objectives, coordinated service delivery • Single integrated stakeholder engagement strategy • Expand existing relationships, develop a broader partnership base, and build strong network of interconnected relationships

8. Integrated OHS Strategy Development • Strategy will communicate vision, goals and priorities for Ontario’s OHS system – driving future operational plans and activities for the ministry and system partners. • Over 60 consultations conducted with wide range of stakeholders, including over 1,100 participants and over 217 written submissions • Recurring themes from consultations included: • support for small business and vulnerable workers; • high hazard work; • integrated planning and partnerships; and • occupational disease • Final Strategy Framework currently being drafted – Prevention Council is advising • Strategy is on track for release in Fall 2013

9. Awareness Training Programs • EAP recommended mandatory programs and supports for workers and supervisors explaining rights and responsibilities under OHSA • A regulation to make such training mandatory is being proposed • A number of products are available/will be made available to support implementation of mandatory training: • Worker and Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness Training program workbooks and accompanying employer guides became available for free online and through ServiceOntario Summer 2013 • E-learning awareness modules for both workers and supervisors being pilot tested • Posting of ‘Health & Safety at Work – Prevention Starts Here’ poster became mandatory October 1, 2012 • Prevention Council has provided advice throughout this process

10. Training Standards Development • In response to EAP recommendations # 16 and 17, the Prevention Office has been working on the implementation of training program standards • Initial focus is on mandatory entry-level training for construction workers, training for workers who work at heights, and a training provider standard • Working at Heights (WAH) Training Program Standard • The Training Program Standard and Training Provider Standard will set out requirements that must be met by training programs and training providers in order to be approved to deliver working at heights training programs in Ontario • Development Group has generated content for learning outcomes and delivery requirements for working at heights training program standard • Focused discussions took place in June/July 2013 to obtain feedback • Feedback is being taken into consideration during development of standard

11. Training Standards Development • Mandatory Entry Level for Construction (MELC) Training Program Standard: • MELC standard will set out requirements that must be met by training programs to be approved for delivery • Development of draft standard to take place over the fall • Development Group (representing receivers/buyers of training) is providing advice and recommending content • Public consultations on draft standard are planned for early 2014 • Training Provider Standard • Will set requirements for training organizations and trainers to be approved for delivering approved training programs • Working Group established in 2012 to build on WSIB draft “Training Provider and Instructor Standard” and ensure alignment with prevention mandate, OHSA and training program standards • Focused discussions took place in June/July 2013 • Public consultations are anticipated for Fall 2013 • Feedback is being considered during development of standard

12. Training Standards Development • Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) “Certified Member” Training Program Standard • Under the OHSA, workplaces with 20 or more workers are required to have a JHSC with one certified worker member and one certified employer member, who have completed JHSC Part 1 Basic and Part 2 Workplace-Specific Hazard Training • From 2009 to 2011, the WSIB undertook a review of the JHSC Certification Training Program Standard and consulted extensively with stakeholders (labour, employers and training providers) • Given the transfer of prevention responsibilities, the Prevention Office is examining the new program standard to assess its alignment with the Prevention Office mandate and responsibilities under the OHSA, as well as consistency with the training provider standard under development

13. Prevention Program Review • A Prevention Program Review Group (PPRG) has met several times since the spring of 2013 to review the WSIB prevention programs (Safe Communities, Safety Groups and Workwell) • The PPRG includes representatives from labour, management, small business and community organizations • Prevention Council provided advice on the Terms of Reference for the review and provided nominations for PPRG membership consideration • The PPRG is in the midst of drafting a strategic framework paper for future prevention programming that is expected to come to Prevention Council this fall along with a plan for consultation

14. OHS Research • Responsibility for OHS research funding transferred to MOL • In 2012-13, WSIB and MOL jointly administered the “Bridging The Gap” public call for research • Employer, labour and academic stakeholder input received through Prevention Office’s Research Day (held in February 2013) • Occupational Health and Safety Research Advisory Panel (OHSRAP) has been established to guide research program • OHSRAP is a volunteer panel comprised of representatives from the MOL and the worker, employer, and research communities • Prevention Council has provided advice throughout this process • The 2013-14 call for research proposals is expected to be launched in mid- to late September 2013

15. Other Key Activities Underway • Better Business Analytics • EAP endorsed improved data management and performance metrics • Developing robust set of performance metrics for OHS system to evaluate success of prevention efforts – this work will support the implementation of the strategy and annual reporting process • Improving information sharing and accessibility while ensuring confidentiality is maintained • Enhancing data and information management with a focus on data standards, quality assurance processes, and leading indicators • Establishing a business centre to standardize, manage and disseminate OHS data, provide analytical expertise, and manage public access

16. Other Key Activities Underway • Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation • EAP confirmed need for more open, transparent engagement by MOL • Developing a Stakeholder Engagement Strategy to guide future activity across all MOL program areas – improving coordination and alignment • June 2013: Consultation with employer & worker/labour representatives • Follow-up consultation on development of MOL engagement strategy planned for October 2013

17. Future • Prevention Council will continue to assist the Chief Prevention Officer by engaging with stakeholders to build on the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Panel Report • Strategic focus on: • Broader, deeper, innovative engagement • Better methods for gathering and sharing data • Greater accountability and transparency (annual report) • Improved performance measurement (more comprehensive data, more relevant metrics) • Anticipating the future needs of the system, and proactively building solutions • Enhanced service delivery