While it’s hard to admit, it often takes a devastating event for people to gain a new perspective about the importance of health and safety. Two recent examples are the COVID-19 pandemic and the Surfside condominium collapse in Florida. Not only did these events affect traditional households but also businesses stretching across multiple industries.
Regarding businesses, health and safety consultants in Ontario work hard to keep up with the increasing demand for an excellent program. For one thing, experts can customize a plan based on a company’s specific needs. For another, they can help unravel the 2018 Alberta OHS Act that has a lot of people confused.
Updating a Current Health and Safety Program
To start with, any company with 20 employees or more must implement a program for workplace health and safety in Ontario. Before the laws changed, the Canadian government didn’t require such a program. Having a workplace health and safety program brings many benefits. It ensures that everyone associated with a company has the same information and guidelines to follow pertaining to health and safety.
A health and safety program serves to protect workers and is also a cost-effective tool for the company. With fewer accidents, insurance premiums decrease. It also helps with productivity. By preventing employees from becoming sick or sustaining an injury, operations remain stable and continuous.
Requirements for the New Health and Safety Program
As part of the change, the government requires the implementation of the following:
- Emergency Response Plan
- Hazard Assessment
- Health and Safety Policy
- Incident Investigations
- Multiple Employer Procedures
- Program Reviews
- Safety Training
- Statement of Responsibilities
- Worker Participation
- Workplace Site Inspection Procedures
All of that might seem daunting, but this is where professional health and safety consultants in Ontario can assist. Business owners don’t need to figure everything out by themselves. Rather, they can hire a reputable firm that puts its experience and extensive knowledge to work.
Especially for the industrial industry, the risk of accidents is high. That only increases for companies that deal with hazardous or combustible materials. Even if the Canadian government didn’t require businesses to have a program in place for workplace health and safety in Ontario, businesses should implement one anyway. In other words, even if a company has fewer than 20 employees, it makes sense to have this type of program.
All-inclusive Program for Workplace Health and Safety in Ontario
With the new requirements and the assistance of professional consultants, companies can cover just about everything. For instance, the information in the program goes beyond traditional employees. It would also cover part-time workers, contractors, and even visitors. The goal is to keep everyone healthy and safe.
At S.A.F.E. Engineering Inc., we take pride in providing our customers with the assistance they need to create a safe and healthy work environment. For information about our services, contact us today.
