February 15, 2013
Congress is great start to 2013
By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP
Manager Education and Labour Development
Congress 2013 was a fantastic, all-round success! Weather was co-operative, participation was strong and networking and sharing of ideas, stories and products surpassed all past Congress events that I can recall.
The positive attitude that was evident is sure to inspire a very successful year ahead. Congress is intended to set the stage for the winter when many of us plan for the next business year and embark on knowledge and skill development. Our winter seminars are sure to support you towards that goal. To find out more go to www.horttrades.com/seminars. If you have an idea for an instructor, presenter or topic for a Congress conference or seminar, please don’t hesitate to contact me at my email address listed at the end of this column.
We are pleased to announce that Landscape Ontario has partnered with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) to release a new tool to support the landscape and horticulture industry. It’s entitled, Landscaping and Growers Closing the Loop: Setting up a Health and Safety System in Your Small Business. The guide has been produced to support small business owners through a six-step common sense approach that helps to identify gaps and provide tools to establish systems that will help to keep your workplace healthy, safe and successful. To see the guide, go to http://bit.ly/safetyloop.
The blitz was held to raise awareness of key hazards, encourage employers to identify and control hazards, address and remedy non-compliance with the OHSA and its regulations, deter non-compliant employers, enhance health and safety partnerships and promote compliance and improved health and safety in construction trades.
The final report revealed that workers are at risk due to unsafe use of equipment, slips, trips and falls and inadequate education, training and supervision of workers, especially of new and young workers.
The MOL will continue to focus on prevention and enforcement in regards to construction activities. For notice of upcoming blitzes, go to http://bit.ly/VbSkLM. Use the schedule to ensure that your employees are aware and prepared for a possible visit by an MOL inspector.
Download the toolkit and customize it to fit your firm’s needs. Go to www.horttrades.com/HRtoolkit.
In closing, the professional development team looks forward to supporting the industry in developing their businesses to ensure continued and future success.
Contact Sally Harvey at sharvey@landscapeontario.com
Manager Education and Labour Development
Congress 2013 was a fantastic, all-round success! Weather was co-operative, participation was strong and networking and sharing of ideas, stories and products surpassed all past Congress events that I can recall.The positive attitude that was evident is sure to inspire a very successful year ahead. Congress is intended to set the stage for the winter when many of us plan for the next business year and embark on knowledge and skill development. Our winter seminars are sure to support you towards that goal. To find out more go to www.horttrades.com/seminars. If you have an idea for an instructor, presenter or topic for a Congress conference or seminar, please don’t hesitate to contact me at my email address listed at the end of this column.
Landscape Industry Certification
How professional are you? You might have heard about this fantastic video that was launched at Congress at the Awards of Excellence and the AGM. You have to see it – I smile every time with pride! Thanks go to Jason Wilton CLT and Clintar, who generously produced and sponsored the masterpiece for Landscape Ontario’s Landscape Industry Certification program. Check it out at: www.horttrades.com/landscape-industry-certified.New safety tools and resources
Last month I wrote about a new suite of training that all employers are obligated to deliver to all workers. For more information, go to www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/worker_awareness.php.We are pleased to announce that Landscape Ontario has partnered with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) to release a new tool to support the landscape and horticulture industry. It’s entitled, Landscaping and Growers Closing the Loop: Setting up a Health and Safety System in Your Small Business. The guide has been produced to support small business owners through a six-step common sense approach that helps to identify gaps and provide tools to establish systems that will help to keep your workplace healthy, safe and successful. To see the guide, go to http://bit.ly/safetyloop.
Tailgate Talks
Another resource provided to you by WSPS, in partnership with LO, is the Landscape Ontario Workplace Safety Tailgate Talks. This revised resource promotes workplace and classroom safety. This simple tool allows trainers and staff to include safety on the job, in the classroom, shop, or in the truck. Made available to you in a convenient size, the topics are organized alphabetically and provide important reminders on hazards and PPE. This tool should be in the hands of every worker, student and trainer. To order your copies, go to http://bit.ly/safetytailgate.MOL blitz results
From Mar. 1 to 31, 2012, Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors conducted a blitz of construction projects, focusing on health and safety based on compliance requirements with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations. Yes indeed, many of us in the landscape industry fall under the construction regulation when we install pools, erect wood structures, irrigation and lighting, etc.The blitz was held to raise awareness of key hazards, encourage employers to identify and control hazards, address and remedy non-compliance with the OHSA and its regulations, deter non-compliant employers, enhance health and safety partnerships and promote compliance and improved health and safety in construction trades.
The final report revealed that workers are at risk due to unsafe use of equipment, slips, trips and falls and inadequate education, training and supervision of workers, especially of new and young workers.
The MOL will continue to focus on prevention and enforcement in regards to construction activities. For notice of upcoming blitzes, go to http://bit.ly/VbSkLM. Use the schedule to ensure that your employees are aware and prepared for a possible visit by an MOL inspector.
HR Toolkit and seminars
Last month we updated the Growing People resource, also known as the HR Toolkit, funded by Employment Ontario and written for the industry by HR consultant Vicky Smith.Download the toolkit and customize it to fit your firm’s needs. Go to www.horttrades.com/HRtoolkit.
Save the date
Back by popular demand, we are pleased to announce the return of the annual pre-apprenticeship and student job fairs. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet students, who are eager to gain experience and work for progressive employers in the GTA, starting this April. For more information, watch the Landscape Ontario weekly e-news, or contact Terrie Greco, terrie.greco@humber.ca, Sally Harvey, sharvey@landscapeontario.com. To subscribe to the weekly e-news, contact alindsay@landscapeontario.com.In closing, the professional development team looks forward to supporting the industry in developing their businesses to ensure continued and future success.
Contact Sally Harvey at sharvey@landscapeontario.com