Executive Summary

The role of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is to offer Canadians objective information on work place hazards and on methods of preventing illnesses, injuries and death at work. At the heart of this mission is the firm belief that information facilitates responsible decision-making, promotes improvements in the workplace, increases awareness of the need for a healthy and safe working environment, and supports occupational health and safety education and training.

Our role continues to evolve through participation with Canadian governments and workers compensation boards to develop initiatives for reducing injuries and illnesses based on good evidence and incorporating concepts of holistic health and safety.

CCOHS is governed by a tripartite Council of Governors with representatives from governments (federal, provincial and territorial), employers and labour from across Canada. The support of the stakeholders is evidenced by the many collaborative agreements and projects that are initiated each year nationally and internationally.

CCOHS continues to expand the dissemination of important health and safety information to Canadians. During this fiscal year, the reach of service was improved via the website delivery, development of an e-newsletter, and participation in workplace wellness initiatives. As a high-risk group, youth has been a significant focus for targeted information and service development.

The delivery of information via the Internet continues to play an important role. CCOHS is able to effectively assist Canadians to access information through many useful web portals for occupational health and safety information from around the globe. These web portals allow Canadians easy access to a reliable source of data world wide and improve their knowledge in preventing occupational diseases and injuries.

CCOHS is proud of its 25 years of service in providing Canadians with unbiased, relevant information that supports responsible decision-making and promotes safe and healthy working environments.

Section I: The Message

The role of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is to provide Canadians with information about occupational health and safety that is trustworthy, comprehensive and intelligible. At the heart of this mission is the firm belief that information facilitates responsible decision-making, promotes improvements in the workplace, increases awareness of the need for a healthy and safe working environment, and supports occupational health and safety education and training.

The act to create the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) was based upon the expectation that all Canadians had “…a fundamental right to a healthy and safe working environment”. To meet its objectives, CCOHS maintains a portfolio of both free and priced products and services, based on the Centre’s core knowledge base and collection of occupational safety and health information and the application of information management technologies.

CCOHS receives invaluable support from its key stakeholders in labour, business, and federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as the support from clients. The support of these stakeholders is evidenced through the many collaborative agreements and projects initiated each year nationally and internationally. The tripartite Council of Governors with representatives from governments (federal, provincial and territorial), employers, and labour from across Canada assists in ensuring that CCOHS maintains an impartial approach to information dissemination, health and safety issues and CCOHS activities. Canadians rely on CCOHS for unbiased and reliable information.

CCOHS continues to participate in and develop new initiatives to provide Canadians with more access to relevant and useful occupational health and safety information. Our objective is to assist Canadians to easily acquire and then apply workplace health and safety information to solve occupational health and safety problems. The Young Worker and Spanish language websites are examples of two new projects that CCOHS was involved in which expanded services to young and new workers and Spanish speaking people. CCOHS continues to leverage its technology, products and services for other potential partnerships, information exchanges and revenue generation.

Occupational health and safety issues are continually changing. Each year new hazardous substances, equipment and changing social circumstance make workplaces more complex. Many of these changes pose new risks to workers. Therefore, CCOHS must expand or change its products and services to address safety and health concerns. The Centre’s ultimate goal is: To prevent work related injuries, illnesses and deaths throughout Canada.

We are committed to the belief that good, reliable knowledge is the most powerful tool in assisting workers and workplaces to prevent injuries, illnesses and improve workplace wellness.

S. Len Hong

President and CEO

CCOHS, Your Health and Safety Partner

Section II: Departmental Performance

This section identifies the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's:

A.Societal Context
B. Performance Results Expectations
C. Key Reviews
D. Modern Comptrollership

A.  Societal Context

CCOHS was created in 1978 by an act of Parliament in response to the needs of Canadians to have a national organization dedicated to supporting the fundamental rights of Canadians to a healthy and safe working environment.

The Centre was created to provide a common focus for and co-ordination of information in the area of occupational health and safety. Prior to 1978, Canada was the only major industrialized nation that did not have a central body for this task. Given the large, diverse and multi-jurisdictional aspects of Canada, such a service is essential.

CCOHS is governed by a tripartite Council comprised of representatives from labour, business and all levels of government. The primary goal of CCOHS is to provide Canadians with access to information on workplace hazards and conditions – a goal firmly entrenched in the CCOHS mandate. The tripartite governance structure helps to ensure that CCOHS remains independent and a trusted source of unbiased information for employers, workers and governments.

The strategic direction for CCOHS is to become the preferred occupational health and safety information resource centre for Canadians to easily acquire high quality information and services.

Further information about the strategic direction of CCOHS is located in Section V.

While linking workplace safety improvements to any particular occupational health and safety (OH&S) initiative is not possible, CCOHS is acknowledged as playing a major role in assisting Canadians, as stated by people interviewed for the 2001 CCOHS Program and Cost Recovery Review. http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports/n0451.pdf

The table below compares data on occupational injuries and fatalities for 1998 and 1970. There have been significant reductions in injuries and fatalities relative to numbers of workers but the numbers remain high. The reductions likely result from a variety of factors including changing technologies, better educated workers and industry initiatives together with occupational health and safety policies and programs, including the activities of all the stakeholders and their partners and CCOHS.

Source: Human Resources Development Canada, Occupational Injuries and their Cost in Canada, 1999. and Statistical Analysis: Occupational Injuries and Fatalities, Canada, 1994-1998, 2000.

http://info.load-otea.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/~oshweb/oicccurrent/Adobe_e/occupational_injuries_95_99.pdf

http://info.load-otea.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/~oshweb/naoshstats/naoshw2000.pdf

Small and achievable reductions in risk can generate large benefits to society. The cost to Canadian society of the risks resulting in injuries and fatalities in 1998 and their con-sequences were approximately $18 billion. Details of the cost of injuries and illness to society can be found in our evaluation study at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports/n0451.pdf.

Every day in Canada, three people die from a work accident or occupational disease. On average a worker is injured on the job every 9 seconds. To continually reduce these loses the focus has progressed to prevention of occupational diseases and illnesses.

As a national institute, CCOHS undertakes a wide range of activities to achieve its objectives. These activities include the following:

• The provision of technical documents, data and related safety information to the health and safety community, Canadian workplace communities and the education system. An important element of this activity is to improve the coordination of the flow of occupational health and safety information.
• The promotion and evaluation of research on occupational health and safety issues.
• The provision of expert advice and training in occupational health and safety.
• Participation in meetings and conferences to improve prevention of safety and health problems.
• Other activities consistent with the mandate of promoting improved health and safety in the workplace and the physical and mental health of Canadian workers.

CCOHS contributes to Canada’s goal of promoting health awareness, disease prevention, and educational strategies to inform citizens of the implications for their health as it relates to the workplace and their work. CCOHS works closely with labour, business and all levels of government to establish high standards for occupational health and safety, to foster consultation and co-operation, and reduce or eliminate occupational hazards.

While the throne speech does not specifically mention occupational health, CCOHS contributes to the priorities of the government in the following way:

Canada and the World

• By contributing to solutions of global problems and reducing the growing global divide between rich and poor through collaborations and providing expertise in occupational health and safety to global organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health, International Labour Organization, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Details of various projects can be found in our annual report at: http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html

Putting in Place the Health Care System for the 21^st Century

• Occupational diseases and accidents are a serious health risk to Canadians. The government plans to address this through legislation and modern technology with an emphasis on prevention. CCOHS provides information on prevention to enable Canadians to identify risks in the workplace and how to address issues. Details of specific projects are noted throughout this report and our annual report.
• CCOHS also contributes to this priority through its work with the Canadian Health Network (a Health Canada initiative) as the workplace health partner. http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text59.html

The Challenge of Climate Change and The Environment

• CCOHS provides extensive information on chemicals and their impact on health and the environment. CCOHS is a major source of information for government regulators and the chemical industry, manufacturing and citizens

Competitive Cities and Healthy Communities

• CCOHS contributes to fostering Safe Communities via its information resources and participation in the Safe Communities programs throughout Canada

Risks and Challenges in Delivering Services

One of the challenges in reporting performance information in a program that primarily provides information is to measure the prevention of accidents and illnesses that did not occur. Also, there are numerous other factors that impact statistics on occupational health and safety.

Measuring the numerical delivery of information to clients is simply achieved. However, the contact point with CCOHS is counted as one, but the actual reach is far greater since the recipient of the information often shares the CCOHS service with numerous other people. Measuring the satisfaction with the service can also be achieved. However, the impact this information had on an individual or organization is much more difficult to measure as it may take some time for the information to be used for implementation of change.

Another challenge facing CCOHS is balancing the role between providing free of charge public services with our cost-recovery program. CCOHS funds 50% of its annual budget through cost recovery via sales of products and services. Sales are impacted by the general state of the economy, exchange rates and CCOHS’ ability to keep abreast of changing technologies, and global competition in OSH information.

Since most products and services are delivered electronically, it is a constant challenge to keep operating systems and software current to meet the continually changing needs of clients.

The Internet provides many challenges as well as opportunities. CCOHS is able to reach many more clients with the Internet to share many of its information resources. However, clients can also search the world for information and may go to other sources that may not have valid and trustworthy information. The large expansion of free information on the Internet also severely challenges the cost recovery of products and services.

CCOHS is continually addressing the challenges it faces. Details of planned changes can be found in Part D, Section II, Modern Comptrollership. The changes in technologies will also be outlined throughout the performance report.

B. Strategic Outcomes

Planned Versus Actual Spending Tables

Resource Requirements by Organization and Business Line

Comparison of Total Planned Spending to Actual Expenditures, 2002-3 by Organization and Business Line

Planned spending represents the amount authorized through the main estimates process. Authorities represents the total amounts authorized for the entire year, including the main estimates. In the fall of 2001, a report called, Program Evaluation and Cost Recovery Study, was completed. CCOHS had been operating for several years in a deficit position that had been funded through supplementary estimates and transfers from other departments. This report recommended stabilization through main estimates funding in the amount of $4 million per year. This change was not incorporated into the main estimates until the 2003/4 year. However, the funding was provided via supplementary estimates in 2002/3. Additional funding was also received for the Modern Comptrollership program.

Strategic Outcomes

Measuring the effectiveness and reach of programs, which provide information to effect social change continues to be a challenge. Statistical information concerning the number of contacts made with clients and the satisfaction with the service can be achieved. However, it is difficult to establish a direct correlation between the products and services and the reduction of accidents and illness. Statistics on Canadian injuries, illnesses and fatalities continue to show significant improvements.

It is not possible to establish the number of injuries, illnesses and deaths prevented as a result of CCOHS’ activities directly. Many factors influence these variables. The logical links relating CCOHS programs and activities to improve workplace outcomes are clear. According to the evaluation study, pg. 51, many individual workers use CCOHS to provide them with assistance on specific workplace health or safety issues. The information products which are sold have direct application in the workplace. The widespread use of CCOHS information implies that there will be important workplace impacts.

There are many factors that contribute to occupational illnesses and injuries. Our goal is to provide the tools necessary for everyone to be informed about the hazards and risks and to be knowledgeable about the actions to take to prevent injuries and illnesses. The needs of Canadians are identified so CCOHS can quickly respond with appropriate information.

CCOHS maintains a program to be in contact with clients and citizens to address their changing needs. Our latest independent program evaluation can be reviewed at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports/n0451.pdf

How are we working towards our strategic outcomes? Success can be demonstrated by the following:

Summary of Strategic Outcomes

Performance Indicator: Level of Satisfaction with Free Inquiries Service

The CCOHS’ Inquiries Officers are a team of specialists in occupational health and safety and information retrieval who can access all CCOHS publications, world wide databases, and an extensive in-house library to provide up to date and relevant answers. Over 3.4 million inquiries were answered through the Internet service “OSH Answers”. By directing routine questions through the self-serve web site, information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Canadians. Specialists in workplace health are available through a free of charge telephone service or e-mail to assist Canadians with more complex questions. This service is confidential and is promoted throughout Canada by the Centre and its stakeholders through various means, such as trade shows, the World Wide Web, the blue pages, and the Centre's literature. During 2002-3, this service provided responses to 15,107 inquiries through its direct service.

The Inquiries Service is available to answer Canadians through its telephone service, e-mail, fax and Internet. The Inquiries come from a variety of sources. Approximately 30% are from the service sector, 27% from goods producing industries and 7% from government. The information is requested by workers, management, government and professionals in the health and safety field. In order to prevent barriers to obtaining information that is essential for workers, this service is provided free of charge.

An independent focus group of CCOHS customers and prospects revealed that of primary importance is reliability, comprehensiveness, content, trustworthiness and usability for occupational health and safety information. Clients expect the organization to be bound by ethics and have no vested interest to ensure impartiality. The majority of respondents normally find occupational health and safety information by searching Canadian websites.

Information obtained from CCOHS is used for in a variety of ways, the most common are:

• improving health and safety programs
• developing best practices
• complying with occupational health and safety regulations
• information for education or training purposes
• personal use or information

Approximately 75% of users use of information relates to either current or future changes to the workplace that may result in improved workplace health and safety.

Respondents rated the CCOHS Inquiry service very highly for all performance indicators, such as timeliness, ability of staff, courtesy of staff, along with the overall satisfaction with the service. Ratings for CCOHS for overall satisfaction is 86%, a much higher rating compared to 56% for the sample of federal departments providing an information service.

The level of satisfaction with CCOHS products and services for this report appear in Citizens First 2000 (Erin Research)

CCOHS’ 2003 client feedback indicates an overall satisfaction rating of 4.6 on a scale of 5 for clarity, completeness, usefulness and timeliness. This is consistent with prior year results. One of the unique features of the Inquiries service is that calls are received directly by a highly skilled Inquiries Officer. The needs of the caller are more accurately assessed by this method so the most useful information can be provided. Callers are pleased they have direct access to assistance rather than redirected from one person to another person or to a lengthy voice mail system. The narrative comments on the feed back cards indicate the strong appreciation for this personal service.

Information obtained from CCOHS is shared with many people, so the reach is far greater than the usage statistics. For example in 2003, 85 requests were received for copyright publication. As a result, information was duplicated over 117,000 times and potentially shared with many more individuals. The organizations included government departments, companies, unions, health care organizations and educational institutions.

CCOHS continues to monitor emerging issues in the field of health and safety. Information is quickly made available for issues such as SARS and West Nile virus.

OSH Answers

OSH Answers is a web-based information service which covers over 600 topic areas in occupational health and safety. The information is presented in a Question-and-Answer format. The topics are based on the many questions that the Inquiries service has received. This website was developed in order to increase the level of service to more Canadians. This bilingual service is provided 365 days per year, 24 hours per day at a low cost. The effective use of the Internet brings the information to the people who need it the most, instantly.

CCOHS’ target audiences for this service are the end users of the information. This program has been extremely successful by serving approximately 1,000,000 inquirers and responding to over 3.4 million questions in 2002-2003.

The feedback received by website users indicate that the information is being shared with others, on average 10 other people in their organization.
Seventy two per cent of respondents indicated that the use of information from CCOHS related to either current or future changes to the workplace that may improve occupational health and safety. This suggests that the information available on CCOHS’ web site is being used to improve workplace health and safety and thus decrease the number of work-related injuries and deaths.

CCOHS has achieved its strategic goal to satisfy inquiries users and to share as much information as possible in order to affect change in Canadian workplaces.

Performance Indicator: Provision of databases in useable formats

CCOHS continues to provide information in many formats to satisfy the needs of the end user.

Information is available in paper copy, Internet, intranet, web, compact disc formats and DVD. Electronic delivery of information is presented in highly useable and searchable formats to serve the client. CCOHS provides over 60 databases within its product line. New and revised publications are developed each year to meet the needs of Canadian Workers. New editions ofseveral Health and Safety guides were published in 2002-2003. Several new guides were completed this year, Wellness in the Workplace, Library Workers Guide as well as the Indoor Air Quality Guide and Warehouse Workers Guide, both customized for the Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA). Several new guides are in development for release next year. Over 14,000 copies of various guides are sold throughout Canada every year. This is an inexpensive method of getting information into the hands of workers to be used at the workplace. Publications can now be purchased on-line. Purchasers of CCOHS Health and Safety Guides, - 92%, of them state that the guides are being used to improve health and safety.

Databases continue to be made available via the web to meet client needs. Six chemical health and safety databases from the CHEMpendium collection were released on the web. In a collaborative arrangement with the World Heath Organization, IPCS INCHEM is made available free of charge. The need for free chemical health and safety information is evidenced by the more than 262,000 hits per month on this website.

In order to make the information more readily available, CCOHS made several changes to its website. In addition to cosmetic enhancements of the CCOHS web site, the site search was significantly improved. The site search capabilities were expanded to incorporate additional information available from the “INCHEM” and the “Canadian enviroOSH Legislation plus Standards”. Site search capability changes are also in progress for the database collection delivered on the web – “CCINFOweb”.

A rationale for CCOHS development products and services is to promote changes, both current and future, in the workplace, improve occupational health and safety and resulting in fewer accidents and injuries. The most frequent use for CCOHS products and services was for employee reference and research. Other uses include verification of compliance with OSH regulations and answering technical inquiries from employees, their membership or the public. Information purchased from CCOHS is shared extensively.

Performance Indicator: Increase the availability of unbiased and reliable health and safety resources for Canadians

CCOHS maintains current information and provides unbiased information to Canadian workers and workplaces. The tripartite nature of its Council, comprised of representatives from labour, business and governments, directs the provision of unbiased CCOHS services. Council meets three times a year to review operational plans and provides input from its constituents. Canadians benefit for the high quality directions set by the governors that is reflected by the development of programs and unbiased information that can be used to improve occupational health and safety. Co-operative arrangements with international organizations help CCOHS to secure and up-to-date world-wide information on workplace related illness and injury prevention. The relevant international information is provided to Canadians. A summary of the products and services is available at: http://www.ccohs.ca/products/subject.html .

CCOHS works with international organizations to secure up to date information for the benefit of Canadians. For example CCOHS developed a web portal for the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health http://www.whoocchealthccs.org . This web portal that was recently developed is in addition to the CIS Centres Information Network http://www.ciscentres.org . CCOHS has also been involved with the development of a Canadian website, in collaboration with the European Union. This convenient web portal brings easy access to information on topics such as good practice, research, statistics and legislation from Canada and all over Europe. This site can be reached at http://www.eu-ccohs.org.

Performance Indicator: World wide recognition as a leading contributor to the advancement of occupational health and safety

As the national occupational health and safety informationrepository, CCOHS encourages and supports exchanges of information with leading international health and safety centres throughout the world. This includes our role as a National Centre of the International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centres, International Labour Organization. International databases are maintained and made available to Canadians. CCOHS developed and hosts a portal on the World Wide Web in which the “National Centers” and “Collaborating Centres” of the ILO’s Centre international d'informations de sécurité et de santé au travail (CIS) have their own pages, links to their institutional Websites and other reliable websites in their respective countries. To encourage international collaboration, a discussion group is also part of this service.

CCOHS creates information and distributes 60 databases. A summary of these products is shown on our website http://www.ccohs.ca/products/subject.html . Through arrangements with many international organizations, CCOHS obtains the latest global health and safety information to share with Canadians.

The recognition of CCOHS as a world leader in the advancement in occupational health and safety is demonstrated by partnerships with world organizations. For example, CCOHS is responsible for the production of IPCS Intox, which is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). More than 100 experts from 75 countries are involved in the project. The aim is to improve the ability of countries to deal with emergencies arising from toxic exposure. Another project is the INCHEM, also produced through co-operation with WHO. This information is essential for the sound management of chemicals affecting the environment and human health. As of June 2001, this information became free of charge on the Internet.

Performance Indicator: level of satisfaction/confidence by labour, business and all levels of government in the quality and impartiality of the Centre

The tripartite Council of Governors, comprised of representatives from labour, business and governments, assures the unbiased and relevant nature of CCOHS services. Council meets three times a year to review operational plans and provides input from its constituents. The satisfaction of the stakeholders can be demonstrated by the many collaborative projects completed throughout Canada. Details are available in our annual report http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html.

The quality of the Centre's products as measured in an independent study rates the over all satisfaction as follows for percentage very or fairly satisfied:

The support of various levels of government and industry can be demonstrated by various collaborative projects lead by CCOHS during the year. This included the following:

• Manitoba Worker’s Compensation Board and Manitoba Labour: developed a pilot training CD-ROM to distribute to 200 apprenticeship and training programs.



• Canadian Insurance Law Service: produces quarterly folio based CD-ROM for the Canadian Insurance Law Service



• OSH for Everyone: collection of concise OSH information resources; Ontario http://www.oshforeveryone.org/wsib/ , Saskatchewan http://www.worksafesask.ca/ and North West Territories http://www.oshforeveryone.org/ntnu/



• Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board: Best Practices Collection (2 year project)



• Canadian Health Network: Workplace Health Affiliate http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text59.html
  


• Health Canada: WHMIS classification discrepancy project
  


• Transport Canada: Marine Safety Inspectors bookshelf CD-ROM and TDG Inspector’s virtual bookshelf CD-ROM



• Ontario Service Safety Alliance: customized publications, specialized Inquiries Service



• Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC): CD-ROM that includes HRDC Labour Program databases, interpretative and guidance documents, legislation, Case Law, CSA and CGSB standards



• Customized courses for private companies and government organizations



• Presentations and representations at various conferences and events for labour, business and government throughout Canada.

Additional information about these projects is included in our annual report. The continued support of government, business, and all levels of government is a strong indicator of satisfaction with CCOHS.

Academic Support Package

In order to increase the knowledge of youth as future workers and future leaders in industry, the Academic Support Package was developed. For a very low cost, post secondary institutions can make a collection of CCOHS products available to their entire campus, students, faculty and staff through their internal intranet services.

Since youth are at a high risk of accidents in the workplace, this information will help to provide technical data and increase awareness of the wealth of resources available.

As a result of participation in a national conference on youth in 1999, CCOHS developed a specialized web site to promote safety amongst youth http://www.ccohs.ca/youngworkers to increase awareness of occupational health and safety issues. In addition, CCOHS collaborated with the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation (CAALL) and The Association of Workers Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC) to design and develop a young workers web portal, called Job Safe Canada http://www.jobsafecanada.ca .

CCOHS also established an occupational health and safety scholarship fund in the memory of Dick Martin, a pioneer of workplace health and safety in Canada. It is funded through private donations. This program is promoted to 26 post secondary schools across Canada, and provides monetary awards to students studying occupational health and safety.

C. Key Reviews

During the period of this report, there were no key reviews completed. However, the details of our latest evaluation report are noted below.

D. Modern Comptrollership

CCOHS completed its Modern Comptrollership Capacity Assessment. The complete report is available at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html. The modern comptrollership initiative is an opportunity to identify elements of comptrollership that could be improved at CCOHS. The ratings were reflective of CCOHS as a young organization (under 25 years) and one that has had limited ability to progress as an institution because of the serious financial difficulties experienced during the past decade. The additional funding received recently has resolved the past financial problems.

An action plan has been developed and is currently being implemented to address issues identified in the capacity assessment. In 2003-4, two key projects are planned. They include an independent Customer Satisfaction Survey and the development of a Results-based Management Accountability Framework.

Table 5

Contingent Liabilities

Business and Service Line and Organization Composition

Business Line: CCOHS is CanadaÌs national institute, which promotes the fundamental right of Canadians to a healthy, and safe working environment. The Centre is independent from other federal and provincial departments and maintains a tripartite (labour, business, and government) governing council to help ensure that intelligible, unbiased information, studies and analyses are delivered to Canadians and their workplaces. Information is provided to clients via a toll-free telephone-based inquiries service or on a fee-for-service basis using the latest print and electronic technology. Information is gathered from numerous Canadian and international health and safety institutions and thereby provides Canadians with the most comprehensive, current, and reliable information. This collection of information is analysed and reorganized as products, services and solutions for distribution across Canada and to more than 60 countries.

Organizational Structure: CCOHS reports to the federal Minister of Labour. The Council of Governors are non-paid positions and hold their respective offices throughout Canada. The Chair of the Council is a non-paid position, which is currently occupied by the federal Assistant Deputy Minister, Labour. The President and Chief Executive Officer operates CCOHS from Hamilton, Ontario. CCOHS links its objectives and strategic priorities through an array of service lines.

Governance: The Centre is governed by a tripartite Council of Governors consisting of a Chair and Governors representing employers, labour, and Canadian governments (federal, provincial, and territorial). Four Governors represent workers; four represent employers, and up to thirteen represent provincial and territorial governments. The Chair represents the federal government. All are appointed by the Governor General -in- Council.Ü The Council meets three times a year to discuss policy direction, priorities, review progress and approve guidelines.

Executive Management: The Centre is managed by its President and Chief Executive Officer who directs the work of CCOHS and ensures that occupational health and safety information products and services are provided to Canadians in a usable, widely accessible form and promoted to assist Canadians by informing them of their fundamental right to a healthy and safe working environment.

Service Lines: Corporate management provides the direction and management of operations at CCOHS. This includes finance, facilities, human resources and collaborative arrangements with partners.

The Inquiries Service is a free national service available to Canadians to provide responses to their questions on topics related to occupational health and safety.

Health and Safety Products and Services provide health and safety products and services to businesses, labour organizations, governments and health and safety professionals.

Computer Systems and Services provide the technical structure and support services for the production and promotion of the products developed.

Marketing, Sales and Communications provide the promotion, communications and customer service for the products and services available from CCOHS.

Section VI: Supplementary Information

A. Contacts for Further Information

For further information about this document or any of the products and services available from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety please contact:

CCOHS
135 Hunter Street East
Hamilton ON L8N 1M5
Tel: 905-572-2981
1-800-668-4284 Canada and US
Fax: 905-572-2206
www.ccohs.ca

• S Len Hong
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  905-572-2981, ext 4433
  hongl@ccohs.ca
  



• P K Abeytunga
  Vice-President and Director General
  905-572-2981, ext 4537
  abey@ccohs.ca
  



• Bonnie Easterbrook
  Controller
  905-572-2981, ext 4401
  bonniee@ccohs.ca
  



• Anne Gravereaux
  Manager, Health and Safety Products and Services
  905-572-2981, ext 4487
  anneg@ccohs.ca
  



• Roger Cockerline
  Manager, Inquiries Service
  905-572-2981, ext 4523
  rogerc@ccohs.ca
  



• Eleanor Irwin
  Manager, Sales, Marketing and Communications
  905-572-2981, ext 4408
  eleanori@ccohs.ca
  



• David Brophy
  Manager, Computer Systems and Services
  905-572-2981, ext 4498
  davidb@ccohs.ca
  



• Louise Henderson
  Manager, Human Resources
  905-572-2981, ext 4404
  louiseh@ccohs.ca
  

B.  Legislation Administered by Name of Department

The federal Minister of Labour has sole responsibility to Parliament for the following Acts

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Act R.S., 1985, c. C-13

C. Listing of Statutory and Departmental Reports

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Council of Governors Annual Report to Parliament 2002-03.
• Report on Plans and Priorities 2002-03

These items are available at http://www.ccohs.ca/ccohs/reports.html