IHSA Safety Podcast
The IHSA Safety Podcast is a free podcast from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association that seeks to improve the lives of workers in Ontario; one thought-provoking discussion at a time.We engage with professionals and industry influencers to help them implement and improve health and safety solutions for workers and the workplace. Each episode explores best practices, resources, and training to control and eliminate safety hazards in work environments involving high-risk activities in the industries that IHSA serves: construction, transportation, and electric utilities
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Managing Construction Risks: COR®-Driven Health and Safety Excellence at SickKids Hospital
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses construction safety at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and features Justin Da Silva, Safety Program Manager at SickKids.</p><p>Justin discusses SickKids hospital’s long-term plan called Project Horizon, which aims to improve pediatric care with new facilities designed for individual care. The project, funded by donations, will unfold over the next 10 to 20 years and involve demolishing some existing structures and building new ones, all while ensuring patient safety and minimizing disruptions.</p><p>Justin shares the challenges of construction at a busy hospital and addresses the importance of re...
IHSA’s 5-Part Series on Best Practices for Construction Health and Safety
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses IHSA’s 5-part video series "Ask a Construction Health and Safety Expert" and features series host Ken Rayner and industry experts Deb Moskal and Dave Dametto.</p><p>Ken states that the series is designed to support small business owners, especially those in their first year, by providing easy, accessible health and safety resources and helping them achieve compliance. With over 10,000 new construction businesses joining IHSA each year, the series addresses common questions and misconceptions about health and safety compliance.</p><p>Deb Moskal highlights how crucial it is for new co...
Closing the Loop: Using the COR® Maintenance Action Plan to Drive Continuous Improvement
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses COR®’s Maintenance Action Plan (MAP) and features Peter Smith, Lead COR® Auditor at IHSA, and Margaret Hart, health and safety program administrator at Hart-Well Electrical.</p><p>The MAP, which was introduced in Alberta in 2016 to improve health and safety standards, is a new option for mature COR®-certified organizations in Ontario to enhance health and safety without the burden of repetitive internal audits.</p><p>Peter explains that following a recertification audit a company has the option to participate in a MAP instead of completing an internal maintenance audit. The c...
Enhancing Efficiency with the COR® Combined Audit
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the new COR® Combined Audit program and features Peter Smith, Lead COR® Auditor at IHSA.</p><p>Peter states that the COR® Combined Audit allows organizations with many accounts to undergo one comprehensive COR® audit rather than multiple audits throughout the year. The key benefit of the program is to enhance efficiency during the COR® certification process, so that instead ofreviewing the same health and safety management system with various accounts multiple times, the review can be completed in a single audit of all accounts. </p><p>The combined audit program isn’t mandatory but rather optional, and...
Understanding the Hierarchy of Controls in Workplace Health & Safety
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the hierarchy of controls as a fundamental tool in workplace health and safety and features Scott Laing.</p><p>Scott explains that the hierarchy of controls is a framework that helps to reduce or eliminate hazards, starting with the most effective methods such as elimination and substitution and moving down to less effective measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE).</p><p>The hierarchy of controls helps manage workplace risks effectively, particularly on construction sites. Because construction sites are dynamic with conditions changing frequently, it’s always critical to identify hazards be...
A Day in the Life of a Construction Supervisor Part 2 – Self-care
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses mental health and self-care within the construction industry and features construction supervisor Andy Fournier. </p><p>Andy discusses areas of supervising that can lead to stress, such as tight schedules and deadlines. One way he manages stress is to set realistic expectations and understand that deadlines can change due to unforeseen factors. It’s better if a project is delayed than to cut corners and put lives at risk. It's also important to be open and honest with clients about deadlines and adjusting their expectations.</p><p>Andy states that prioritizing sel...
A Day in the Life of a Construction Supervisor Part 1 – Taking Care of Business
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the legal responsibilities, safety standards, and regulatory framework that every construction supervisor needs to know and features construction supervisor Andy Fournier.</p><p>Andy discusses the most important supervisory responsibilities on a construction project, one of which is prioritizing safety above all else. He speaks against a culture that puts schedule and deadlines over safety, stating that while no one may remember how quickly a project is completed, everyone will always remember the impact of safety oversights, such as incidents that result in serious injuries or fatalities. Jobsites should promote a c...
The Role of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Workplace Safety
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses personal protective equipment (PPE) and features Ryan Smith, health and safety consultant at IHSA.</p><p>Ryan highlights the necessity of having the appropriate PPE fit and proper training on how to use them. The right fit, the right gear, and the right training could mean the difference between going home safe and not going home at all.</p><p>Ryan identifies common PPE mistakes on construction sites, such as not wearing hard hats at all times when on site, not wearing appropriate eye protection where there's a risk to the...
Opening the Door to Support: A Mental Health Resource
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the importance of mental health training in the workplace and features Enzo Garritano, IHSA’s President and CEO.</p><p>Enzo highlights the necessity of understanding mental health and its impact in the workplace. Everyone in the workplace plays a part in mental health, and it should be treated like any other workplace risk, with a focus on raising awareness and understanding the support roles and resources available.</p><p>Enzo discusses ‘Opening the Door to Support,’ one of IHSA’s eLearning programs designed to equip learners with essential skills and tools to...
Supporting Safer Workplaces with IHSA’s Associate COR® Consulting Program
<p>This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses IHSA’s Associate COR® Consulting Program and features IHSA’s Chris McKean along with health and safety consultants Mike Russo, Abe Khalil, and Chris Ring.</p><p>Chris McKean explains that the Associate COR® Consulting Program was developed to help Ontario workplaces achieve COR® certification and to promote collaboration and continuous improvement in health and safety practices among IHSA members. He states that COR®-certified companies are statistically safer than non-certified ones, and the program aims to extend that strong safety culture across more workplaces.</p><p>Mike, Abe, and Chris Ring sha...
