Summer School 2022
July 22, 2022 at 5:00 PM EST
The Niagara Regional Labour Council and the Workers Health & Safety Center present…
Level 1 Occupational Health & Safety Training (30 hours) and a Six Course Bundle (18 hours). Please see the descriptions below. To register, click on the link here and submit. Email nrlc.clc@gmail.com for more information!
Summer School 2022Registration
| Level 1 Occupational Health and Safety Training | ||
| Current Version: E1-15 | Course length: 30.00 hours | |
| Course Description: | ||
| The WHSC Occupational Health and Safety Level I program is intended for use by unions to train new joint committee members and health and safety representatives. Through the Level I program, participants learn and practice skills needed to promote and achieve prevention in the workplace. Upon completion of the program, learners receive a Level I certificate. The Level I program trains worker representatives to identify and fight off behavioural-based management approaches and establish real prevention programs that identify, assess and control hazards. But workers do not have the power to simply institute these programs; employers hold the power in the workplace, workers must bargain. These negotiations are both similar and different than those typically carried out to establish a collective agreement. Like collective agreement bargaining, there is a profound need to get information, communicate with members, build proposals and apply leverage. However, when it comes to health and safety, there is no multi-year contract that defines the conditions of work. In all workplaces, hazards changes regularly—even daily—and these changes to the conditions of work usually take place without any consultation with workers. Because the employer can continuously and unilaterally change the hazards of work, worker representatives need to continuously bargain with employers for improved prevention. The WHSC Level program trains worker representatives to carry out this continuous bargaining mission. Over 20 modules have been developed by the WHSC at the introductory level for worker audiences—these are collectively referred to as Level I modules. Level I is a certificate program and the prerequisite for entering Level II programs and Instructor Training. To earn a Level I certificate a participant must complete seven core modules and three additional electives. The seven core modules are: 1. Staying Alive While Earning a Living 2. The Body In the Workplace 3. Toxic Substances 4. Principles of Control 5. It’s the Law 6. The Myth of Worker Carelessness 7. Making Work Fit the Worker | ||
Stress in the Workplace
Mounting evidence shows workplace stress is a serious hazard posing significant risk to workers’ health and well-being. This training program is designed to equip participants with information that will enable them to identify causes of workplace stress, recognize its health effects and assess and implement effective controls. They will learn that strategies necessary to find and implement solutions to workplace stress require collaboration of the workplace parties. This program includes several resources participants can use later in the workplace including the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) which is a tool for assessing psychosocial working conditions, health and wellbeing.
Duration: 3 hour(s)
Psychosocial Hazards and Workplace Mental Health
This three-hour program provides a basic understanding of psychosocial work hazards and how they may impact workers’ mental health. It outlines the health effects associated with psychosocial hazards and explores a range of workplace factors from job demands/job control and worker engagement to civility and respect. Equally important, participants will discuss a host of methods to identify and assess psychosocial hazards including policies and programs, physical and cognitive demands analysis and workplace surveys. The program concludes with a discussion on preventative and protective measures for a safer and healthier workplace. The use of video clips and case studies also engages learners and helps them identify and understand contributing and workplace factors and gain a basic understanding of the accommodation process.
Duration: 3 hour(s)
Chemical Hazards
In this three-hour program participants discuss the characteristics of chemical hazards, their various physical states, and review key terms like acute, chronic, latency and synergistic effects. To ensure learning is relevant participants create a list of chemicals in their workplaces for reference throughout the course, for example, when discussing health effects and control measures. Learners explore how WHMIS can be used to identify and assess chemical hazards and they will generate a list of questions to help determine if WHMIS is working. With practice using safety data sheets to find information about chemicals, participants will discuss what to do if information is lacking. Upon successful completion learners will be better equipped to make strong recommendations that will protect workers from exposure to chemical hazards.
Duration: 3 hour(s)
Workplace Violence and Harassment
This module is designed to help workplace parties address workplace violence hazards and comply with the legal requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to address violence and harassment in the workplace as outlined by Bill 168. Participants will review the definition of workplace violence and harassment and discuss risk factors associated with workplace violence. They will also evaluate tools necessary to identify and assess workplace violence hazards in order to implement effective control measures. Participants will develop the knowledge necessary to help them fulfill OHSA’s requirements
including developing and posting written policies with respect to workplace violence, conducting a risk assessment, developing a workplace violence and harassment program and training workers regarding the workplace policies and programs. They will also learn about the employer’s duty to observe for evidence of domestic violence and to provide information about “a person with a history of violent behaviour.”
Duration: 3 hour(s)
Safety Hazards
Industrial workers in machine shops or other small manufacturing plants are exposed to a multitude of safety hazards. These include hazards associated with noise, walking and working surfaces, electricity and energy systems, forklifts, manual material handling and machines. As well, new tools, equipment, products or work procedures can introduce new and unexpected hazards. This unique WHSC training program is designed for on-site delivery with an emphasis on assisting the process for identifying and reporting workplace-specific hazards. By the end of this training, participants will gain an awareness of safety hazards in their workplace. They will demonstrate the effective use of their workplace hazard reporting forms and learn that documenting and reporting hazards will lead to proper assessment and controls. Participants will also gain an understanding of the purpose of a health and safety policy and the components of an effective health and safety program. They will discuss the role of the workplace parties, including the joint health and safety committee or worker representative, in developing and maintaining said program.
Duration: 3 hour(s)
Ergonomics and MSDs
Poorly designed work and work environments can contribute to painful and life-altering musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These account for more than 40 per cent of all approved lost-time injury claims in Ontario. This program provides joint health and safety committees with the knowledge and skills to recognize, assess and control, if not eliminate, factors that contribute to MSDs. Participants will review types of MSDs, their symptoms and health effects, explore how job demands and workplace components can contribute to MSDs, and learn how to identify and assess tasks that increase the risk of injury. Participants will also learn how ergonomics can be used to reduce job demands allowing workers to complete tasks more comfortably and safely.
Duration: 3 hour(s