Work with international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union, has helped to advance health and safety in the workplace on a global level. These partnerships, in addition to its position as one of the Collaborating Centres of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and WHO, allow CCOHS to provide Canadians with information from international sources and to share our own knowledge and expertise in return.
In partnership, we've created websites, developed e-courses, managed projects, written publications and conducted research. Together, we can work to prevent injuries and illnesses, and ultimately make all workplaces healthy and safe for everyone.
Here are just some of the many projects and agencies that we've been involved with:
Websites
CanOSH
The CanOSH website makes it easy for anyone to locate Canadian workplace health and safety information, by bringing together federal, provincial and territorial resources all in one place. Information is used to ensure legal compliance, improve workplace health and safety practices, and reduce workplace injuries and illnesses.
Partners: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) – Labour Program, Government of Alberta, Manitoba Labour and Immigration, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario Ministry of Labour, Yukon Workers' Compensation Health & Safety Board, WorkSafeBC, WorkSafeNB, Nova Scotia Labour & Workforce Development, Government of Saskatchewan
North American Occupational Health and Safety (NAOSH) Week
Canada, the United States and Mexico agreed that together, they would organize NAOSH Week to make their respective populations aware of the importance of preventing workplace accidents and illnesses. First launched in 1997, CCOHS developed the NAOSH Week website since its inception as part of its promotional support efforts.
Partners: Canadian Society of Safety Engineers (CSSE), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Partners in Mexico
Guarding Minds @ Work
Mental health disorders place a heavy burden on the health and productivity in Canadian workplaces, and there is an enormous potential for using the workplace to address mental health problems, to promote psychological health and to provide solutions for referral and rehabilitation. The Guarding Minds @ Work website helps employers promote psychological safety and health in their workplace.
Partner: Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA)
Canada-EU Collaboration
This website promotes information sharing between Canadian and European organizations. It provides international coverage of current health and safety topics including health promotion and disease prevention.
Partner: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
e-Courses
Occupational and Environmental Cancer: Recognition and Prevention
This course teaches primary health care providers how to recognize occupational and environmental cancers and how to respond to this finding. Insights are provided into how the recognition of occupational and environmental cancer risks can lead to prevention.
Partners: National Committee on Environmental and Occupational Exposures (NCEOE), Primary Prevention Action Group (PP-AG) of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC)
WHMIS After GHS
In these two free e-courses, participants are introduced to the expected changes to WHMIS after the anticipated implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Suppliers and employers will learn how they can start preparing now to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
Partner: National Office of WHMIS (NOW), Health Canada
Small Business Health and Safety Certificate Program
This program provides small and medium-sized businesses training on how to keep workplaces safe from potential workplace hazards and undesirable work environments.
Partners: E-Learning for Business Coalition, which includes The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), Scotiabank, Society of Management Accountants of Canada (CMA), and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA)
Saskatchewan Workplace Safety
The WHMIS for Saskatchewan Workers, Saskatchewan Workplace Inspections, and Incident Investigations in Saskatchewan Workplaces e-courses are designed to enhance accessibility to health and safety learning opportunities for Saskatchewan workers.
Partner: Saskatchewan Labour Relations and Workplace Safety
Orientation on Health and Safety for New Agricultural Workers
This two-part course provides a general introduction to occupational health and safety for new agricultural workers. Participants gain knowledge of workers' rights that are protected by health and safety legislation, understand the role of health and safety programs within a workplace, and learn how to identify job-related hazards and how to work safely.
Partner: Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
Webinars
Work-Related Asthma: Breathe Easier
To help reduce the high financial and human health costs of work-related asthma, this three-hour webinar series provides workers, employers and primary care healthcare providers with up-to-date guideline-based education on work-related asthma.
Partners: Ontario Lung Association in collaboration with Ontario Thoracic Society Provider Education Program, McMaster University, the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, and Health & Safety Ontario
Radiation Safety in the Workplace
Viewers of this on-demand webinar gain a better understanding of what radiation is, the health effects of exposure, and some of the principles and practical methods of radiation protection, so that they can make informed decisions and opinions about radiation safety related issues in any industry.
Partner: Radiation Safety Institute of Canada
Special Projects & Partnerships
Public Policy Investigation in Chongqing, China
Chongqing is a city in the southwestern interior part of China with approximately 6 million migrant workers. Their health and safety is frequently at risk. Key legal and governmental organizations in Chongqing have teamed up with CCOHS in a Policy Options Project to learn about Canada's experience of workplace health and safety and insurance of new and migrant workers in order to help develop local legislation.
Partners: Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Chongqing Bureau of Labor and Social Security (CQBLSS), the Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL), the Office of Arbitration of the Labor and Social Security Bureau of Chongqing
Enhancement of Occupational Health and Safety in Brazilian Industry (EOHSBI)
The goal of the EOHSBI project was to contribute to the achievement of greater equity for Brazilian industrial workers employed throughout the country. CCOHS led the development of an OSH information portal appropriate for workplace participants in Brazilian industry, and facilitated workshops, training programs, and other knowledge transfer initiatives.
Partners: Brazilian National Social Service of Industry (SESI), Canadian OSH Consortium (including Ryerson University, Ontario Service Safety Alliance, IAPA), CIDA-ABC Transfer of Technology Fund for Brazil
Marine Inspectors' Bookshelf
The Marine Inspectors' Bookshelf CD-ROM illustrates CCOHS' commitment to working with its Marine Safety partners. Now in its 21st release, the Bookshelf provides hundreds of Transport Canada marine inspectors with a convenient means of accessing accurate information aboard ships, even when in remote areas without Internet access.
Partner: Transport Canada
OSH Works Manitoba
CCOHS developed a version of its OSH Works online health and safety management system for use by Manitoba companies. OSH Works Manitoba helps them understand and meet the 11 core elements of a workplace safety and health program that are required for compliance with the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act.
Partner: Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health
Canadian Health Network (CHN)
As the CHN workplace health affiliate from 1999-2008, CCOHS provided leadership in the field of workplace health, working with Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and other leading health organizations to provide the most reliable and current information, such as articles, content and resources, to Canadian workers and their families. CHN was a network of health information providers that served Canadians with a wide variety of information on health promotion and disease prevention.
Publications
Best Practice - Working Safely in the Heat and Cold
This publication aimed to help workers understand the health risks associated with working in extreme heat and cold situations, and to suggest reasonable solutions for the workplace.
Partners: Work Safe Alberta, Alberta Employment and Immigration
Indoor Air Quality Tool Kit
This took kit was developed as a practical resource for Alberta office and other workers. The publication provides an introduction to indoor air quality (IAQ), identifies key workplace problems, provides survey tools and a primer on HVAC systems, helps in assessing and resolving a wide range of IAQ issues, and gives current standards and guidelines that are of Canadian interest.
Partner: Alberta Employment and Immigration
WHMIS Quick Facts Posters
CCOHS developed a series of WHMIS Quick Facts posters for Health Canada, in English and French, with information on labels, hazard classes/symbols, MSDSs, education and training requirements, and more.
Partner: National WHMIS Office (NOW), Health Canada
Research
WHMIS Classification Discrepancy
When any party raises concerns about WHMIS classifications, the issues can be discussed and resolved through the collaborative efforts of this group – providing an authoritative resource for all Canadians. Through its efforts to harmonize WHMIS classifications and to respond to classification questions submitted by stakeholders, CCOHS' involvement is vital to supporting Canadian WHMIS activities and harmonization.
Partners: Quebec Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST), National WHMIS Office (NOW) of Health Canada
MSDS Evaluation Study
This study evaluated the accuracy of hazard information disclosed on MSDSs for products containing lead compounds that are intended for use in Canadian workplaces. The study provided results that support WHMIS enforcement at the federal, provincial and territorial levels.
Partner: National WHMIS Office (NOW), Health Canada
Alberta Healthcare Best Practices Inventory
CCOHS researched and developed an inventory of best practices for healthcare work settings. These best practices include governmental advisory reports and guidelines, industry recommended practices, case studies, research interventions and systematic reviews.
Partner: Alberta Employment and Immigration
