Basic Workplace Hazard Awareness:

Workplace safety is a paramount concern for employers and employees in Canada. Despite increased awareness and improved safety measures, workplace injuries and fatalities continue to occur at an alarming rate. According to the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), there were 1,081 workplace fatalities recorded in Canada in 2021, with 1,009 male workers and 72 female workers among the reported deaths. Tragically, among these fatalities were 18 young workers aged 15-24 (Source: Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, URL: https://awcbc.org/en/statistics/).

These statistics emphasize the ongoing need for concerted efforts to enhance workplace safety, with a particular focus on Workplace Hazard Awareness.

WORKPLACE HAZARD DEFINITION

What are workplace hazards?

Workplace hazards refer to conditions, situations, or factors within a work environment that have the potential to cause harm, injury, illness, or damage to employees, visitors, and the surrounding environment. Identifying and mitigating workplace hazards is a critical aspect of occupational health and safety to ensure the well-being of workers and prevent accidents. Hazards can exist in various forms and may differ based on the type of work, industry, and specific workplace.

Which are the main hazards?

Physical Hazards

Physical hazards are those that arise from the physical environment in which work is conducted. They can include:

• Fire Hazards - Fire hazards can include anything that can ignite or fuel a fire, such as flammable liquids, gases, or materials. They can also include electrical hazards that can cause fires or explosions.
• Noise Hazards - Exposure to high levels of noise can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and other hearing-related problems. This can be especially common in industries such as construction and manufacturing.
• Vibration Hazards - Vibration hazards can occur from the use of tools or equipment that vibrates, such as jackhammers or power tools. Over time, this can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome, which can result in pain, numbness, and decreased hand function.
• Radiation Hazards - Radiation hazards can be caused by exposure to ionizing radiation, such as X-rays or gamma rays, or non-ionizing radiation, such as UV radiation. These hazards can cause a range of health problems, including cancer and genetic mutations.
• Temperature Hazards - Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can cause a range of health problems, including heat stroke, hypothermia, and frostbite. This can be especially common in industries such as construction or mining.
• Ergonomic Hazards - Ergonomic hazards refer to the physical strain and stress that can result from work-related activities, such as lifting, carrying, or repetitive motion. This can lead to a range of musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or back pain.

Chemical Hazards

Chemical hazards can arise from exposure to any chemicals, including gases, liquids, or solids, that can cause harm to human health. They can include:

• Asbestos Hazards - Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in building materials until the 1980s. Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory diseases.
• Biological Hazards - Biological hazards can include exposure to infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi. These hazards can be especially common in healthcare or laboratory settings.
• Toxic Chemical Hazards - Toxic chemical hazards can include exposure to substances such as lead, mercury, or pesticides. These hazards can cause a range of health problems, including neurological damage, cancer, and reproductive problems.
• Flammable and Explosive Hazards - Flammable and explosive hazards can include exposure to substances such as gasoline, propane, or compressed gases. These hazards can cause fires, explosions, and other serious accidents.

Psychosocial Hazards

Psychosocial hazards refer to any workplace hazards that affect employees' mental health and well-being. They can include:

• Workplace Violence - Workplace violence can include physical assault, verbal abuse, or other forms of harassment or intimidation. This can be especially common in industries such as healthcare or retail.
• Workload Hazards - Workload hazards can refer to the physical or mental strain that can result from excessive work demands or unrealistic deadlines. This can lead to stress, burnout, and other mental health problems.
• Bullying and Harassment - Bullying and harassment can refer to any behavior that is intimidating, offensive, or abusive. This can include verbal abuse, threats, or physical intimidation, and can have a significant impact on employees' mental health and well-being.

What is a Workplace Hazard Assessment?

A workplace hazard assessment is a process of identifying and evaluating potential hazards in a workplace. Paragraph 125(1)(z.03) of the Canada Labour Code requires employers under federal jurisdiction "to develop, implement, and monitor (…) a prescribed program for the prevention of hazards in the workplace…" (Source: Government of Canada, Canada Labour Code, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-2/page-1.html).

This can involve a range of strategies, including:

• Hazard Identification - The first step in managing workplace hazards is to identify them. This can involve conducting regular workplace inspections, consulting with employees, and reviewing incident reports.
• Risk Assessment - Once hazards have been identified, employers need to assess the level of risk that they pose to employees. This can involve considering factors such as the severity of the hazard, likelihood of exposure, and potential consequences of an incident.
• Hazard Control - Once hazards have been identified and assessed, employers need to implement strategies to control or eliminate them. This can include implementing engineering controls, such as ventilation systems or safety barriers, as well as administrative controls, such as training programs or safety protocols.
• Employee Training - Effective hazard management also requires that employees be trained in hazard awareness and safety procedures. This can include training on how to identify hazards, how to report incidents, and how to use personal protective equipment.

(Source: Government of Alberta, Hazard assessment and control, URL: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/9781460146835)

A workplace hazard assessment is an important tool for identifying and eliminating hazards in the workplace. It is also a legal requirement in Canada under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

WORKPLACE HAZARD LEGISLATION

What is the federal legislation?

Under the Canada Labour Code, employers have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees while on the job. This includes taking steps to identify and eliminate or control workplace hazards, providing appropriate training and protective equipment, and ensuring that employees have the right to refuse work that they believe is unsafe (Source: Government of Canada, Canada Labour Code, Part II, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-2/page-1.html).

In addition to the Canada Labour Code, there are various other federal laws and regulations that relate to workplace safety, including:

• The Canadian Environmental Protection Act: which regulates hazardous substances in the workplace and their disposal.(Source: Government of Canada, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Part II, URL: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-15.31/)
• The Hazardous Products Act: which regulates the labeling, sale, and use of hazardous products in the workplace.
• The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act: which regulates the transportation of hazardous materials and goods in Canada.

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a non-profit organization that develops and maintains standards related to workplace hazards and safety. The CSA has developed a number of standards that are designed to help employers identify and control workplace hazards, and to protect workers from the potential effects of these hazards.

Some of the CSA standards related to workplace hazards include:

• CSA Z1000 Occupational Health and Safety Management: This standard provides guidelines for the development, implementation, and maintenance of an occupational health and safety management system. It includes requirements for hazard identification, risk assessment, and hazard control, as well as requirements for employee training and involvement in the management system.
• CSA Z460 Control of Hazardous Energy - Lockout and Other Methods: This standard provides guidelines for the control of hazardous energy in the workplace, including the use of lockout/tagout procedures to prevent the accidental release of energy.
• CSA Z94.4 Selection, Use and Care of Respirators: This standard provides guidance on the selection, use, and maintenance of respirators to protect workers from airborne hazards.
• CSA Z317.2 Special requirements for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in health care facilities: This standard provides guidelines for the design, installation, and maintenance of HVAC systems in health care facilities to ensure the safety and comfort of patients and staff.
• CSA Z1002 Occupational health and safety - Hazard identification and elimination and risk assessment and control: This standard provides guidelines for hazard identification, risk assessment, and control, including the selection of appropriate controls and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

Employers and employees are required to comply with these laws and regulations to ensure that workplaces are safe and healthy for everyone. Failure to comply can result in fines, legal action, or even criminal charges in serious cases where someone has been injured or killed as a result of a workplace hazard.

What is the provincial and territorial legislation?

In addition to federal workplace hazard legislation, each province and territory in Canada has its own laws and regulations governing workplace safety. Provincial and territorial workplace hazard legislation typically covers the same areas as federal legislation, including the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, hazard identification and control, training and education, and the right to refuse unsafe work.

For example, in Ontario, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) sets out the rights and duties of employers, supervisors, and workers in the workplace. The OHSA requires employers to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker and to provide information, instruction and supervision to protect the health and safety of workers. The OHSA also provides for the establishment of joint health and safety committees, which are required to meet regularly to discuss workplace hazards and make recommendations for their control.

In British Columbia, the Workers Compensation Act establishes a system for the compensation of workers who are injured or become ill as a result of their work. Employers are required to register with WorkSafeBC, and to take steps to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. WorkSafeBC also provides resources and training to help employers and workers identify and control workplace hazards.

Other provinces and territories have similar legislation and regulations in place to protect workers from workplace hazards. It is important for employers and workers to be aware of these laws and regulations, and to take steps to ensure that they are complying with them to create safe and healthy workplaces.

WORKPLACE HAZARD AWARENESS TRAINING

What is Workplace Hazard Awareness training?

Workplace Hazard Awareness training is a type of training designed to help employees identify and control hazards in the workplace. The purpose of this training is to provide employees with the knowledge and skills they need to recognize workplace hazards, understand the risks associated with those hazards, and take appropriate steps to control or eliminate them.

Who is responsible for Workplace Hazard Awareness training?

In all Canadian jurisdictions, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that employees have the necessary information, training, and supervision to perform their jobs safely.(Source: Justice Laws, Government of Canada, “Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304)”. Available at: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-86-304/index.html, March 1986) Additional areas of employer obligations and responsibilities under the Code include investigations, inspections, accident reporting, and the Hazard Prevention Program. As an employee, you also have a key role to play in preventing work-related injuries and diseases by reporting any hazard. First, you have to be careful and take the necessary precautions to ensure your own health and safety and that of any colleagues who may be affected by your work or activities. Second, you enjoy rights under the Code: the right to know, the right to participate, and the right to refuse dangerous work. In addition, employees looking to improve their CVs prior to an interview can also acquire and complete this training program independently.

Who needs Workplace Hazard Awareness training?

In general, anyone who works in an environment where hazards are present should receive Workplace Hazard Awareness training. This includes employees in a wide range of industries, such as:

• Construction - Construction workers are often exposed to hazards such as falls, electrocution, and exposure to hazardous materials. Workers in this industry should receive comprehensive training to help them identify and control these hazards.

• Manufacturing - Workers in manufacturing facilities may be exposed to a variety of hazards, including noise, chemicals, and machinery. Proper training is essential to help these workers protect themselves and their coworkers from injury.

• Healthcare - Healthcare workers may be exposed to hazards such as infectious diseases, chemical exposure, and physical violence. Workplace Hazard Awareness training can help these workers understand the risks associated with their jobs and how to protect themselves.

• Agriculture - Agricultural workers may be exposed to hazards such as machinery, chemicals, and animal attacks. Training in hazard identification and control is essential to help these workers stay safe on the job.

• Transportation - Workers in the transportation industry, including truck drivers and delivery drivers, may be exposed to hazards such as traffic accidents, musculoskeletal injuries, and exposure to hazardous materials. Proper training can help these workers identify and control these hazards, reducing the risk of injury or illness.

In addition to these industries, Workplace Hazard Awareness training may be required in other industries as well, depending on the specific hazards present in the workplace. Employers should consult with their provincial or territorial occupational health and safety regulator to determine the specific training requirements for their industry.

Can you do Workplace Hazard Awareness training online?

This course requires only theoretical training and evaluation, making it suitable for both classroom and online formats. Online training adheres to the same standards as classroom training, ensuring that it is recognized and accepted. In fact, online training can be more convenient and efficient, as it eliminates the need for in-person attendance and allows for flexible scheduling.

Moreover, classroom trainings often have certain requirements imposed by the Ministry of Labour, such as a minimum duration of 8 hours, which may not always be necessary for the content being covered. Online training can be more efficient in this regard, as a well-designed 2-hour course can cover all the necessary material effectively.

Additionally, online training can be a more cost-effective option for employers compared to organizing in-person classroom sessions.

However, keep in mind that employers are responsible for selecting the appropriate level of training for their workplace, so it's essential to check with your employer to ensure they accept online training for this purpose.   

Is there a free Workplace Hazard Awareness training?

The short answer is: No, not really. 

The long answer:  Workplace Hazard Awareness courses can be developed either by the employer themselves, in which case they can be provided to you for free but have a cost of development for the employer; Alternatively, they can be developed by a private company such as ours. 

When a private company develops such a program, many costs are associated with the process (human resources, programs licenses, host and servers, content research, voice-overs, software development, marketing, learning machine system development etc.); therefore, it cannot be free. 

Depending on the website that sells it, its commitment to user experience, and its user panel investments, developing a course will cost upwards of $10,000. 

Websites that claim to offer free training usually do so at the expense of users’ privacy or security as they have to recover their investments somehow. Your data will be sold to other third parties or used to promote related services (such as other programs or systems advertised as needed). 

In more extreme situations, such websites may offer you the content for free but charge you for the certificate or unlocking the testing section, in most cases a price that is 2 or 3 times higher than what other private companies are selling the program for because at that point you have already invested time in completing the program with them. 

Stay away from such websites because when you're not paying for the product, you are the product.

Where can you purchase Workplace Hazard Awareness online training?

In today’s fast-paced society, online courses have become the cheapest and most convenient solution to get your safety training done. There are many methods and providers of Workplace Hazard Awareness. With any training, it is essential to select a high-quality education provider and one that will provide the most value (best information retention in employees) for the time and money.

Ensuring your program materials are always up to date is also extremely important as the amount of health and safety regulations and enforcement is steadily increasing and constantly updating.

WORKPLACE HAZARD AWARENESS CERTIFICATE

What do you need to learn?

Workplace Hazard Awareness training typically covers a range of topics, including:

• The types of hazards that may be present in the workplace, such as chemical hazards, physical hazards, and biological hazards.
• The risks associated with these hazards, including the potential for injury or illness.
• The ways in which hazards can be controlled or eliminated, such as through the use of personal protective equipment, engineering controls, or administrative controls.
• The importance of reporting hazards and unsafe conditions to a supervisor or safety representative.
• The roles and responsibilities of employers and employees in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

How long is the certificate valid?

Employees who work in high-risk industries should re-take this course every 3 years. Being aware of how to properly identify and report a hazard can save your life and/or that of a colleague in an emergency.

How will I receive my training certificate?

The certificate will be automatically available for printing once you complete the course and pass the quiz with a score of 80% or higher.

All our courses will come with a PDF certificate at the end of the program.

This PDF file will have two pages: a standard certificate and a wallet-size training record.

The employer should store certificates, while the employee should carry their wallet cards at all times during work.

Students who prefer to receive wallet cards in a physical format can request and purchase a physical wallet card from eSafetyFirst. This optional item is not included in the course price and will cost an additional $10 for printing and shipping.

If you do not have the time to make your laminated wallet card, you may find it rather convenient to order this card directly from us.

How can I find my certificate if I lost it?

In most cases, this question is addressed to us by individuals who took their training with a different company. As a private company, we can only store and access our customers’ data. Therefore, if you did your training with another company, you need to contact them to receive a copy of your certificate.

If you are a customer of eSafetyFirst.com, then all you have to do is to Login to your account, and you can, at any time, download a copy of the certificate you received from us.

CONCLUSION

Workplace Hazard Awareness is a crucial aspect of workplace safety in Canada. It involves identifying and assessing potential hazards in the workplace, and taking steps to eliminate or control those hazards. This includes providing training to employees and complying with federal and provincial regulations. By prioritizing Workplace Hazard Awareness, employers can create a safer and healthier work environment for their employees, reduce workplace injuries and illnesses, and improve overall productivity and success.