OHS and workers’ compensation regimes across Canada govern the safety of workers, and their financial well-being in case of workplace injury or disease. The issues and investigations are complicated. The penalties for getting it wrong are severe and the costs are significant.
Fasken LEHR lawyers and safety professionals can help improve your business’ health and safety management program by providing training, auditing systems, preparing risk assessments, and recommending changes, among other things. A better safety program can help prevent accidents and injuries at work. That means avoiding the significant direct and indirect costs of accidents and injuries. Working with us is an investment that makes sense.
When accidents and injuries happen, our LEHR lawyers and safety professionals can help you respond in real-time, navigate a complex web of laws and obligations, and start mitigating your risk at an early stage. We regularly represent employers, directors and officers, supervisors, and others in regulatory or criminal prosecutions, investigations, inquests, and appeals related to workplace safety. We can also represent you in appeal of workers’ compensation claims, and work with your team to manage claims and reduce costs.
Contact one of our LEHR lawyers to discuss how we can help your business, or browse below a selection of our ongoing courses and seminars. We can also design a course specific to your needs.
For more details on OHS training or consulting services, please email Kassey Gonzales.
Courses and Seminars
- Fasken is an approved provider of Joint Health and Safety Committee certification training in Ontario:
- Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification – Part 1
- This three-day course is the first of two steps in becoming a fully certified Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) member. In Ontario, JHSCs are required, by law, to have at least two (2) certified members.
- Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification – Part 2
- This two-day course is the final step in becoming a fully certified Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) member. In Ontario, JHSCs are required, by law, to have at least two (2) certified members. JHSC members who successfully complete Part One training are required to receive further training on the "significant hazards" specific to their workplace.
- Joint Health and Safety Committee Refresher Training
- JHSC Refresher Training is required to maintain JHSC certification for anyone who became certified after March 1, 2016. The course will also provide an opportunity for certified members to share and discuss best practices and challenges.
- Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification – Part 1
- Understanding Health and Safety Due Diligence
- This half-day course explores the principles of occupational health and safety due diligence for managers and supervisors. It is intended to provide managers and supervisors with both legal and practical knowledge to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety legislation and to implement their organization's OHS management system.
- Workers’ Compensation Claims Management
- The workers’ compensation system and workers’ compensation claims can be time-consuming and, at times, frustrating. This half-day seminar will give participants an overview of the workers’ compensation system in Ontario and provide practical tips for reporting, managing and appealing claims.
- Preparing for a Workers’ Compensation Appeal
- Appeals at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) can be complex. Effective preparation is key to a successful appeal. This half-day seminar will provide participants with an overview of the appeal systems at the WSIB Appeals Services Branch and the WSIAT. The seminar will review relevant forms, timelines for appeals, and will provide practical tips on how to manage an appeal and respond to worker appeals from the time of initial notification to the time of the hearing.
- Dealing with a Health and Safety Inspector
- Whether an OHS Inspector arrives for a routine inspection, or in response to a complaint, work refusal or an accident investigation, employers need to know their rights and responsibilities.
- Conducting Effective Workplace Harassment Investigations
- Conducting effective workplace harassment investigations is critical to ensure compliance with statutory obligations and to promote a healthy and safe workplace. Effective investigations also allow employers to identify issues and resolve problems at an early stage. This can reduce the chance of successful litigation against the employer and avoid statutory penalties, adverse cost awards, damage awards, or other negative impacts to an employer’s credibility. This half-day course will provide a general review of the critical steps that should be taken when conducting a workplace harassment investigation.
- Developing an Occupational Health and Safety Program
- Occupational Health and Safety (“OHS”) legislation imposes duties on employers to implement certain policies and programs. It may be difficult to know “where to start” when it comes to developing your organization’s OHS program. In this session, you will learn about the key elements of an OHS program in order to adapt them to your organization and its regulatory environment. This two-hour course will provide a legal overview and practical guidance on the development and implementation of an effective OHS program for your workplace.
- Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training for Workers
- All workers in Ontario must complete a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program. This is required by Ontario Regulation 297/13 “Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training” made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”). This 1-hour training session fulfills that requirement.
- Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training for Supervisors
- All supervisors in Ontario must complete a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program within one week of performing work as a supervisor. This is required by Ontario Regulation 297/13 “Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training” made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”). This 1-hour training session fulfills that requirement.
