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.

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.

Justin shares the challenges of construction at a busy hospital and addresses the importance of requiring contractors to have certified occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), such as COR®, to ensure safety during construction. This requirement comes from the need to manage risks effectively in a live hospital setting, where even minor incidents can have serious consequences for patients and staff.

Justin further discusses the benefits of hiring COR®-certified contractors and shares the long-term vision for the project. For him, success at the end of the project means building a redeveloped hospital that serves the community without any incidents or health and safety issues for patients, staff, or contractors.

Free resources

The Benefits of COR®

COR® - Getting Started

28% safer workplaces with COR®

Implementing an occupational health and safety management system

Debunking seven myths about the COR® program

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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.

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.

Deb Moskal highlights how crucial it is for new construction businesses in Ontario to have basic health and safety guidance. The number of requirements and responsibilities they face can feel daunting; however, with the right guidance and tools, they don’t have to be. As these businesses face initial start-up challenges, keeping their workers safe is critical, so it's essential that they create strong health and safety practices from the beginning.

Dave explains that the series covers a plethora of health and safety topics for construction workers, such as mandatory training, legislation, hazard assessments, incident response plans, and competent supervision. The episodes are free and available on IHSA's website and YouTube, as well as on a dedicated landing page designed for easy access to additional resources.

Free resources

Ask a Construction Health and Safety Expert landing page

IHSA’s free health and safety resources

Safety talks

IHSA’s 5-episode series on construction health and safety (YouTube)

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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.

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.

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 company would submit a MAP proposal to IHSA that outlines five objectives for continuous improvement. Once IHSA approves, the company has nine to 10 months to address the outlined objectives and provide evidence to IHSA 60 days before their certification anniversary date. Once IHSA signs off, the MAP effectively replaces the internal maintenance audit for that recertification year, and a letter of good standing is issued to the company.

Margaret discusses her team’s experience with MAP, and she and Peter offer tips on the MAP process for companies that may be considering taking the MAP approach.

Free resources

What is COR®?

COR® – Getting Started

The Benefits of COR®

Debunking Seven Myths about the COR® Program

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