During the winter months in Canada, the weather can get extremely cold, and workers in industries such as construction, transportation, and electrical utilities oftentimes endure frigid temperatures and face the risk of experiencing cold stress.

On this 100th episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Jasmine Kalsi, IHSA's Occupational Hygienist, revisits the topic of cold stress, a highly important topic that was discussed in depth on Episode 76 of the IHSA Safety Podcast. Cold stress occurs when the human body's core temperature drops below 37 degrees Celsius, which can result in cold-related illnesses, tissue damage, and even death.

We invite you to listen to this relaunched episode of Episode 76, which provides additional resources on cold stress as well as guidance for Ontario employers on how to manage the risks of working outside in the winter to ensure worker safety.

IHSA offers a range of free resources on cold stress such as safety talks, advisories, articles, and a dedicated topic page on winter hazards.

Free Resources

Winter Weather is Upon Us

Safety Talk on Cold Stress

Winter Hazards Topic Page

Episode 76: Working Outside in the Canadian Winter

The Four Ps of Safe Winter Driving

Give Cold Stress the Cold Shoulder

Best Practices for Building and Working Safely on Ice Covers in Ontario

OHCOW Cold Stress Calculator

CCOHS Cold Environments – ACGIH Wind Chill Temperature Index

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On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Michele Beckstead-Jackson from Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development discusses the importance of asbestos awareness and training in Ontario workplaces to ensure workers are well-equipped to recognize the dangers of asbestos and know how to safely control the hazard.

Michele states that, although asbestos was mostly halted in construction projects by 1990, some products containing asbestos, such as cement pipes, stormwater drains, and other construction materials, continued to be imported and used significantly in new construction until 2014.

There are three different types of asbestos operations in Ontario: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. Each operation has its own criteria to determine what type of removal would be necessary to apply. Michele emphasizes the importance of general awareness asbestos training for workers in various industries who may come in contact with asbestos, including electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, gas fitters, painters, demolition workers, heating and ventilation workers, and computer installers performing work in type 1, type 2, and type 3 operations.

It is essential to train workers to understand how to recognize asbestos-containing materials (ACM). The training should cover topics such as hazard assessments, personal hygiene, and the importance of always having a record of training on hand for ministry inspections. Employers must understand the training requirements specific to the type of operations their workers work in and ensure their workers continue to be properly trained.

Free Resources

Asbestos on Construction Projects: Reporting and Notification Responsibilities (Ep. 82)

Health and Safety Advisory: Asbestos in Elevator Components

Health & Safety Advisory: Heat Stress and Type 3 Asbestos Operations

Health and Safety Advisory: Gaskets, Boilers and Asbestos

The leading causes of occupational illness in Ontario

Asbestos Work in Construction Hazard Awareness

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On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, IHSA’s Jennifer McKenzie discusses the 'See Something, Say Something' initiative and the importance of speaking up about unsafe conditions at work. Safety is everyone's responsibility, and speaking up protects not only oneself and their co-workers but also their loved ones from preventable heartbreak.

The 'See Something, Say Something' initiative originated from the Bruin, Gerrard, and Maguire Coroner's Inquest, which highlighted a significant gap in workplace culture and communication. Jennifer discusses the interactions she had with the families of workers whose unfortunate workplace fatalities were part of the inquest. Their advocacy became a driving force behind the 'See Something, Say Something' campaign, motivating Jennifer to take their vision and use it to promote a culture of safety where workers feel empowered to speak up and help prevent future tragedies.

The SSSS campaign aligns with IHSA's ‘Keep Your Promise’ campaign, which encourages workers to keep their promise to their families to return home safe. The SSSS campaign also encourages workers to keep their promise to report hazards and concerns to ensure everyone at the workplace returns home safe.

Jennifer emphasizes the need for employers and workers to accept a shared responsibility for safety. Employers should create a workplace culture where workers feel confident and supported in reporting hazards without fear of reprisal. Workers should remain alert and speak up when they notice unsafe conditions, as their actions could prevent near misses or save lives.

A desired outcome for the 'See Something Say Something' campaign would be a cultural shift where speaking up about workplace safety becomes second nature for every worker, supervisor, and employer.

Free Resources

Employers Guideline

Workers Guideline

Keep Your Promise campaign page

A culture of care: Why speaking up matters

Preventing complacency on the job

See Something, Say Something videos

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