Administration of Accreditation

The WSIB, the MOL and the HSAs will need to work together on this initiative due to the nature of accreditation.

The role of the MOL should be as follows:

- provide information to the Board regarding orders written, prosecutions, ticketing penalties, critical injuries and fatalities at all workplaces;

- provide the Board copies of the OLRB health and safety decisions, i.e. orders, reprisals, etc.

The role of the WSIB should be as follows: 

- develop the comprehensive audit materials and the process to be used for the audits, reviews and reassessments;

- administrate and review the audit materials submitted and conduct spot checks;

- develop workplace profiles based on the information obtained from the MOL and WSIB;

- provide completed profiles to the individuals conducting the audit;

- oversee the development of accreditation education programs for certified members and the worker and management representatives who will be participating in the audits.

The role of the HSAs should be as follows: 

- provide training to certified committee members, health and safety representatives, employers to provide meaningful involvement in accreditation audits, reviews and reassessments;

- act as an information resource to these people, provide information and training for the development of proper health and safety practices and procedures;

- provide health and safety training to workers and supervisors to allow workplaces to meet accreditation requirements.

The WSIB has a system called “Workwell”.  This system will be redundant once the accreditation system is in place. 

The Accreditation Paper asked whether the MOL should inspect accredited employers less frequently or differently than non-accredited employers.  The labour movement does not feel that accredited employers should be given any special status or that the MOL Inspectorate should take a “hands off” approach.

Conclusion

The WSIB has an opportunity to create an accreditation process that can be a positive step forward in advancing occupational health and safety; enhancing the Internal Responsibility System and supporting the proper functioning of joint health and safety committees.  All of which will work to reduce the true toll of deaths, injuries and illnesses in Ontario workplaces, not just reduce the number of claims.

Respectfully submitted,

ONTARIO FEDERATION OF LABOUR

VE/jm
cope343

ENDNOTES


1. Justice K. Peter Richard, Commissioner, The Westray Story: A Predictable Path to Disaster, November 1997.
2. Justice Archie Campbell, Commissioner, Spring of Fear, January 2007.
3. Marlea Clarke et. al. “This just isn’t sustainable,” Precarious Employment, Stress and Workers’ Health, April 2007.