The Ontario government has announced an investment of $3 million to provide free online health and safety training for job seekers, a first for the province. The courses will help workers obtain essential qualifications while practising physical distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

“In this new environment, we need to look for new and innovative ways to deliver services, while keeping people safe and healthy,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in today’s announcement. “This virtual approach to safety training will ensure employers and employees have access to the latest information without the need to physically interact with others. In this way, we also reduce the risk of spreading this deadly virus.”

Ten free online workplace health and safety courses are now available through Employment Ontario, for up to 100,000 job seekers. Topics covered include infection control; conducting health and safety incident investigations; ladder safety; slips, trips, and falls prevention; and preventing workplace violence and harassment. Workers seeking employment who wish to enroll in the health and safety training can contact an Employment Ontario service provider in their area.

Worker and employer members of Joint Health and Safety Committees can also now use video conferencing to take training in real-time with qualified instructors from training providers approved by Ontario’s chief prevention officer.

Ontario’s chief prevention officer has extended the time for completion of refresher training for more than 8,000 certified committee members whose certification would have expired between February 28 and August 31, 2020. The new deadline to renew is November 30, 2020.