Help Improve Occupational Disease Prevention in Ontario
We invite you to participate in year two of a unique health and safety research project that has the potential to positively impact the prevention of occupational disease in the province of Ontario. The project is being undertaken by Workplace Safety North (WSN) and is supported by their research partner, the Institute for Work and Health (IWH). This project is funded by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
In year two of this research, WSN is looking for organizations and individuals to participate in a tiered learning intervention approach, with each level aimed at increasing knowledge and a learner’s ability to recognize, assess, and control occupational health hazards. Through this graduated approach, WSN and the IWH are looking to prove the effectiveness of training programs designed to make individuals proficient in the identification, assessment and monitoring of occupational health hazards.
This is a research project that requires data and information. At each phase, certain information will be collected from learners through pre- and post-training surveys. In addition, interviews will be conducted where learners will be able to provide meaningful feedback to IWH researchers. No individual or firm information will be shared outside of WSN and the IWH. Firms are grouped by industry sector, firm size, and geographic location.
Your participation and engagement are important, and we look forward to your contributions.
What the journey will look like
Everyone is eligible to participate in a series of free e-learning modules. The four-hour Industrial Hygiene Fundamentals course is a core module which serves as a pre-requisite to one-hour hazard-specific modules, covering topics including:
- Diesel particulate matter
- Occupational noise
- Respirable crystalline silica
- Wood dusts
- Available Fall 2026: Airborne metals; Gases and vapours
Participants can choose to conclude their knowledge improvement journey at this stage or continue to the next stage (based on availability).
The next step in the journey involves attending a regional workshop.
Taking the Industrial Hygiene Fundamentals and at least one other hazard-specific e-learning course is required before attending a regional workshop. Registration is available through WSN’s training catalogue.
During the two-day workshop, learners focus on gaining deeper understanding of occupational health hazards with training and information on tools and equipment to help assess risk and build on the knowledge received in the e-learning courses. Workshops place more focus on hands-on skill development, application, and the ability to interact with equipment.
Note: The IWH will require participants to complete pre- and post-assessments, as well as to participate in interviews and follow-ups.
Participants can choose to conclude their knowledge improvement journey at this stage or continue to the next stage (based on availability).
For organizations that wish to continue the journey, Level 2 Qualitative Risk Assessment (hazard inventories) involve the identification of workplace-specific occupational hygiene hazards.
A selected number of organizations will participate in this one-day on-site intervention where they will develop occupational health hazard inventories. Working collaboratively with a WSN Specialist, learners will practice and apply what they learned from earlier interventions to identify occupational hygiene hazards. Methods include site observations, communicating with workers, reviewing safety data sheets (SDSs), and incident information, among other sources. The development of a site-specific occupational health hazard inventory forms the foundation for Level 3 guidance.
Note: The IWH will require participants to complete pre- and post-assessments, as well as to participate in interviews and follow-ups. Participants can choose to conclude their knowledge improvement journey at this stage or continue to the next stage (based on availability).
Selected firms who move to the next stage in the journey will explore quantitative risk assessment of occupational health hazards. Through coaching and mentorship, learners shadow a WSN Specialist and work with sampling tools, templates and equipment to further enhance their knowledge and understanding of hazard-specific worker exposure levels. Learners continue to build their knowledge and receive hands-on training all while obtaining practical experience in measuring exposure concentrations for previously-identified hazards. The monitoring results support a more accurate occupational exposure and risk management process. This leads to adopting sustainable control development processes.
Note: The IWH will require participants to complete pre- and post-assessments, as well as to participate in interviews and follow-ups.
Types of Intervention
E-learning
- Register and participate
- Complete e-learning
- Industrial Hygiene Fundamentals
- Diesel particulate matter
- Occupational noise
- Respirable crystalline silica
- Wood dusts
- Available Fall 2026: Airborne metals; Gases and vapours
- Complete IWH knowledge assessments and competency surveys
Regional workshop
(Level 1)
Complete IWH:
- Pre-assessment
- Post-assessment
- Interview
- Follow-up survey
Qualitative risk assessment (Level 2)
Selected firms will complete this assessment
Complete IWH:
- Post-interaction survey
- Interview
- Long-term follow-up survey
Quantitative risk assessment (Level 3)
Selected Firms complete on-site quantitative risk assessment
Complete IWH:
- Post-interaction survey
- Qualitative Interview
Long term follow-up survey
Application Form
Now accepting applications for Year Two of occupational health research initiative. Click on the button below to register to participate in the study.
Project Partners
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