Health and Safety Excellence Program

HSEp is a performance-based rebate program developed by the WSIB and supported by WSN. Participating firms can create safer workplaces and earn both financial and non-financial recognition.

The Excellence program provides Ontario businesses with a clear roadmap on how to improve workplace health and safety. Whether you’re just getting started or want to improve the systems and processes you already have in place, the Excellence program can help you reach your goals.

Firms can choose to complete up to five health and safety topics over a 12-month period. Successfully completed topics, as determined by a WSIB validation, typically receive a minimum rebate per topic of $1,000 and up to a maximum of $50,000. The total rebate per action plan will be equal to the amount of your WSIB premiums reported the previous year.

As an approved program provider, WSN facilitates two options for employers, depending on your firm size at the time of registration:

1. Large Business HSEp (firms with 100 or more employees)
2. Small Business HSEp (firms with 1-99 employees) 

WSN has Health and Safety Specialists with sector-specific experience and backgrounds to effectively support both small and large businesses in advancing their health and safety program development.

WSN provides your organization with access to one of the most effective workplace health and safety resources in Ontario. The Excellence program is based on the idea that a well-integrated workplace health and safety program is good for business, and good for your workplace safety culture.

Keeping people safe and healthy at work is good for business. As an Excellence program member, you can expect to work through the following steps:

1. Join: Complete an assessment and select one to five topics to work on for 12 months.
2. Develop: Learn and implement safety topic(s) with the support of a dedicated WSN Health and Safety Specialist.
3. Demonstrate: Submit evidence of implementation for review by WSN first, then by a WSIB validator.
4. Achieve: Gain an improved health and safety program and receive rebates and recognition.

“In the past, we did not have a strong health and safety program. We had very few standardized policies and just kind of a general nonchalance about health and safety. The WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program has really allowed us to focus and develop policies and procedures that we either didn’t have in place, or discovered may be needed, or thought would be beneficial.

It’s been very helpful in keeping us on track—identifying deficiencies and gaps in our program and helping us fill those deficiencies and gaps in a meaningful way. Because of that, it’s strengthened our focus on health and safety promotion in the workplace and that has led to an overall safer-feeling work environment.”

Ryan Mackett
Communications Manager 
Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, Thunder Bay

WSN Excellence program members benefit from an all-inclusive and proven approach — one that sets you apart from the competition and gives you the most value for your safety dollar.

1. Safer and healthier workplace: Improve your health and safety experience for workers and clients.
2. Shared knowledge and networking: Gain access to a team of leading health and safety experts and network with peers to help you meet common health and safety challenges.
3. Online information and resources: Get exclusive access to sample policies, procedures, and checklists, that you can customize to your workplace.
4. Expert advice and individual attention: Skilled specialists work with you to select health and safety topics for your workplace needs and develop an action plan. Your specialist will also check your progress and provide advice on further improvements throughout the program.
5. Save money and time: Earn rebates while improving morale and productivity.
6. Leading edge: Participate in a health and safety culture survey to help you build health and safety practices that move you to an advanced standard of excellence.
7. Access to services: There are more than 20 health and safety specialists located across the province available to provide you with industry-specific support in training and specialized services including ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and psychological safety.

Peace of mind: Build a well-crafted and functional health and safety program.

Interested firms can register at any time and have one year to complete the program upon approval of selected topics and submission of an action plan. Invoicing for the registration fee occurs at the time of registration submission.

WSN encourages new firms to begin with two topics, but up to five can be selected. No matter the number of topics you choose, your firm will be supported throughout the Excellent program journey.

Fees for the WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program are based on the number of active employees you employ in your workplace at the time of registration. This price structure allows firms to select between one to five topics every 12 months, depending on capacity and available resources. Invoicing for the registration fee occurs at the time of submission.

Program registration fee for HSEp 2025 (plus applicable tax):

• 1 to 19 employees     $700
• 20 to 99 employees  $1,500
• 100 + employees      $2,500

Fees include support from a dedicated WSN Health and Safety Specialist, and access to member-only resources, and webinars, and validation guidance and follow-up.

Large business rebate incentives (100 plus employees)

Rebate floor (minimum) of $1,000 per successfully completed topic and a cap (maximum) of $50,000 per completed topic.  Note, however, that the most you'll receive in rebates, regardless of how many topics you complete, is equal to the amount of your WSIB premiums the previous year. For example, if a business completes five topics but their premiums were $40,000 last year, they will earn a maximum rebate of $40,000.

Small business rebate incentives (1 to 99 employees) 

Rebate floor (minimum) of $1,000 per successfully completed topic and can be up to 100 per cent of WSIB annual premiums. Upon completion of an approved action plan, small businesses also receive an additional $1,000 to help cover the provider services and registration fee.

To learn more, contact Rose Bédard, Health and Safety Excellence Program Assistant by email or telephone 705-482-9628.

Nous offrons le programme Excellence en santé et sécurité en anglais et certains services en français. Pour trouver un prestataire qui offre tout le programme en français, veuillez communiquer avec la WSIB à excellenceensanteetsecurite@wsib.on.ca et elle vous recommandera le ou les prestataires qui correspondent le plus à vos besoins.

HSEp members will have exclusive access to a dedicated portal that includes resource documents and templates designed to support program progress.

VIDEO: Watch the 1.5-minute explainer video WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program

Digital platform and how-to-videos

The WSIB has created some short videos (3 minutes or so) to assist employers with the digital platform. Employers can access the resources page on the digital platform before creating a login. Explainer videos available: 

• Registration
• Updating your account information
• Understanding your dashboard
• Assessment/Action Plan creation
• Evidence story/Upload
• Achievement Reports/Reconsideration
• Employer Representation
• Additional Evidence
• Scoping / Multi-Organization

In addition to these videos, WSN hosts program events to support member firms throughout the year. More content, information, and resources will always be made available to you by your WSN Health and Safety Specialist.