Type of Intervention: New Tool / Service / Body
Sectors Involved: Health, Private Sector and Businesses
Intervention Categories: Legal and policy; New initiatives
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Premier Doug Ford and Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development
Overview: The Ontario government has invested $3 million to provide free online workplace health and safety training for job seekers and workers. The aim of these courses is to make it easier to obtain essential qualifications while maintaining physical distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Up to 100,000 job seekers now have access to free online workplace health and safety training through Employment Ontario. In addition, worker and employer members of Joint Health and Safety Committees can now use video conferencing to take real-time online training with instructors provided by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer. The timeline for completion or refresher training has also been extended to November 30, 2020.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/07/ontario-launches-online-training-to-promote-safe-workplaces.html
Other links: 1 2
Type of Justification: Perception of an increased threat
Evidence/Justification: This investment in online training was justified for its role in maintaining physical distancing while still being able to achieve necessary qualifications for employees. By offering a virtual approach to health and safety training, this ensures that employers and employees will have access to information without the need to physically interact with others. This reduces risk of COVID-19 spread. No evidence is cited; these justifications come from statements by government officials introducing the initiative.