Projects and Partnerships

CCOHS has an established history of collaborating with Canadian and international partners. Projects with leading workplace health and safety organizations in Canada have expanded the quality and quantity of resources and programs available to workers and employers across the country.

Working with international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union, has helped to advance health and safety in the workplace on a global level. These partnerships, in addition to being a Collaborating Centre of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)-World Health Organization (WHO), allow CCOHS to provide Canadians with a broader range of information from international sources and to share our own knowledge and expertise in return.

Through collaborations and in partnership, we've served as a central repository for research and resources; created and hosted websites; developed e-courses and apps; and managed projects. Drawing on the collective expertise and knowledge of our partners, we are able to work together to realize a shared vision of safe work for everyone.

Listed below are just some of the many projects and agencies that CCOHS has been involved with to help advance the health and safety of workers in our country and beyond.

Apps

CCOHS Safe Work App

The free CCOHS Safe Work app includes guidance and resources on respiratory infectious diseases, travel health and safety, and zoonotic diseases, developed in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada. It also includes guidance and resources for firefighters, developed in partnership with Health Canada, to raise awareness of exposures linked to occupational cancer. In addition, the app provides access to fact sheets, tip sheets, infographics, videos, and other practical guidance on a wide range of topics to help workplaces protect workers and the public. Once downloaded, the app can run without an internet connection. More about CCOHS Safe Work App

Partner: Public Health Agency of Canada

Measure Workplace Stress

This app allows users to complete the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) of questions related to work demands, organizational factors, relationships, workplace values, health and safety concerns, stress symptoms and offensive behaviours. The scores and results are provided along with ideas and an action plan to help make positive changes. This app was developed by combining the technological knowledge and communication skills of CCOHS with the clinical expertise and ergonomic content of the Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW). More about Measure Workplace Stress

Partner: Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)

PainPoint – Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) at Work

This app delivers a basic ergonomic assessment by stepping the user through a series of diagrams and questions to pinpoint musculoskeletal pain, identify possible sources, and discover practical solutions. The results are presented on a body map, with recommendations to address work-related MSD hazards that could be contributing to their discomfort. This app is the result of collaboration, combining the technological knowledge and communication skills of CCOHS with the clinical expertise and ergonomic content of the Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW). More about PainPoint – Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) at Work

Partner: Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)

eCourses

Orientation on Health and Safety for New Agricultural Workers

This two-part course provides a general introduction to occupational health and safety for new agricultural workers. Participants gain knowledge of workers' rights that are protected by health and safety legislation, understand the role of health and safety programs within a workplace, and learn how to identify job-related hazards and how to work safely. More about Orientation on Health and Safety for New Agricultural Workers e-course

Partner: Canadian Agricultural Safety Association

Occupational and Environmental Cancer: Recognition and Prevention

Available in three languages (English, French and Spanish) this course teaches primary health care providers how to recognize occupational and environmental cancers and how to respond to this finding. Insights are provided into how the recognition of occupational and environmental cancer risks can lead to prevention. More about Occupational and Environmental Cancer: Recognition and Prevention e-course

Partners: National Committee on Environmental and Occupational Exposures (NCEOE), Primary Prevention Action Group (PP-AG) of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC)

Saskatchewan Workplace Safety

The WHMIS for Saskatchewan Workers, Saskatchewan Workplace Inspections, and Incident Investigations in Saskatchewan Workplaces e-courses are designed to enhance accessibility to health and safety learning opportunities for Saskatchewan workers.

Partner: Saskatchewan Labour Relations and Workplace Safety

Special Projects and Partnerships

COVID-19 Health and Safety Resources

CCOHS entered an agreement with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to deliver services for the development of sector specific COVID-19 workplace guidance materials; the development and maintenance of an online hub of COVID-19 workplace information and guidance for Canadian employment sectors; and expert advisory services in relation to some of PHAC's guidance materials. More about COVID-19 Health and Safety Resources

Partners: Public Health Agency of Canada

Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations Roster of Investigators

The Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations Roster of Investigators was developed to support the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations and meet the requirements under subparagraph 27(1)(b)(ii) to provide a list of qualified persons to act as investigators. The tool was developed in consultation with a tripartite expert group of federally regulated employers and labour representatives. CCOHS maintains the roster on its website making it readily available to those who may need to investigate and address occurrences of workplace harassment and violence to be compliant with the regulations. More about Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations Roster of Investigators

Partner: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) (Labour Program)

Carer-Friendly Workplace Standard

The Carer-Inclusive and Accommodating Organizations Workplace Standard (CSA B701-17) helps employers create practical and effective workplace accommodations that address the stigma and challenges of workers who have caregiving responsibilities. CCOHS serves on the advisory and technical committees related to this standard and grant work and has also provided knowledge translation services to raise awareness of this workplace concern.

Partner: McMaster University

TDG Regulatory Sandbox on Electronic Shipping Documents

As part of Transport Canada’s efforts to find innovative ways that regulations can be updated, they launched a project to safely test the use of electronic shipping documents for dangerous goods shipments. Transport Canada partnered with CCOHS to launch the TDG Regulatory Sandbox on Electronic Shipping Documents to serve as an online repository for the sandbox communications in English and French languages, to facilitate informational updates and collection of user feedback. CCOHS also provided promotional support to reach stakeholders. More about TDG Regulatory Sandbox on Electronic Shipping Documents Program

Partner: Transport Canada

National Youth Video Contest

In this annual contest, youth from across Canada are encouraged to submit social media-friendly videos that illustrate the importance of workplace safety, with provincial and territorial winners moving onto the national stage to vie for cash prizes and recognition. CCOHS contributes to the prizes for contests run by the provinces and territories and hosts the national contest. CCOHS widely promotes the videos submitted on its social channels and website to share health and safety messages for youth, delivered by youth. More about Youth Video Contest

Partners: Provinces and Territories

Silica Control Tool Pilot Program

This tool helps workplaces develop an appropriate exposure control plan that can mitigate potentially hazardous exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust, based on the work that is being performed, such as sanding drywall or chipping concrete. By using predictive measurements, the tool can be calibrated to other jurisdictions and is now being used outside of BC for the first time through a one-year pilot program in Ontario.

Partners: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance (BCSSA)

CIHR Gender, Work and Health (GWH) Chair Program

CCOHS is the official Knowledge Translation (KT) Partner, responsible for advancing the program's objective of translating research into gender- and sex-sensitive policies, practices, commercialization and other areas of impact that can preserve and improve the health of working Canadians. More about CIHR Gender, Work and Health (GWH) Chair Program

Partner: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Websites

WHMIS.org

WHMIS.org is an online resource that allows users to stay current on the status of new and existing WHMIS requirements and to learn how the changes will affect them. CCOHS developed the website (and is site administrator) that provides information specific to each jurisdiction and audience along with access to helpful resources. More about WHMIS.org

Partners: Health Canada and all the federal, provincial, and territorial occupational health and safety regulatory jurisdictions across Canada

Prevent Occupational Disease

The Prevent Occupational Disease website serves as an online repository of current and credible occupational disease resources from Canada and around the world. CCOHS partnered with the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) to develop the database and website, aimed at reducing illness and fatalities associated with occupational sources, that is intended to help people increase their understanding of occupational diseases and how to prevent them. More about Prevent Occupational Disease

Partner: Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)

Occupational Disease Surveillance Statistics

CCOHS developed and hosts the Occupational Disease Surveillance Statistics website that houses a database of research and statistics, provided by the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC), related to occupational disease. CCOHS developed a tool that allows users to interact with the data and enables this important information to be shared with stakeholders in Ontario as well as nationally disseminated. More about Occupational Disease Surveillance Statistics

Partner: Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC)

Safety and Health Week

CCOHS has developed and managed the website for Safety and Health Week, formerly known as North American Occupational Health and Safety (NAOSH) Week, since its launch in 1997. This website provides resources and information to promote this week dedicated to highlighting the importance of preventing workplace accidents and illnesses. More about Safety and Health Week

Partners: Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), Threads of Life, American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)

Guarding Minds at Work

CCOHS collaborated with researchers and Workplace Strategies for Mental Health to develop the Guarding Minds at Work website, a comprehensive resource to help employers assess and address psychological health and safety in their workplace. CCOHS hosts the website and continues to provide data storage and user support for Guiding Minds at Work. More about Guarding Minds at Work

Partner: Canada Life, with additional support by Workplace Strategies for Mental Health

Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment

The Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment is a free resource to help workplace leaders evaluate their strategies related to psychological health and safety. More about Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment

Partners: Workplace Strategies for Mental Health (Canada Life), MyWorkplaceHealth