Supervisors have extra responsibilities in the workplace. This added responsibility means that supervisors require additional training, in addition to the training that all workers in Ontario require.
The Concept of Competency
It is a requirement under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act) that employers appoint competent supervisors. The Act defines competence as:
“a person who,
Is qualified because of knowledge training and experience to organize the work and its performance,
Is familiar with this Act and the regulations that apply to the work, and
Has knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health and safety in the workplace;”
In order to be competent as defined by the Act, supervisors must successfully complete specific training, including mandatory training, job-specific training, hazard awareness training, and specific supervisor awareness training.
Mandatory Training
Supervisors must take the same mandatory training as every other worker in Ontario that is under the jurisdiction of the Act, including:
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS)
- Workplace Violence and Harassment Training
- General Safety Awareness Training
Supervisors require these courses in order to develop a basic foundation for health and safety knowledge, and to be considered competent under the Act.
Job-specific Training
In addition to basic health and safety training, supervisors require job-specific training. For example, a supervisor who is in charge of a warehouse where lifts trucks are used frequently, must have training in the safe operation of lift trucks in order to competently supervise worker and the work area. Competent supervisors should be extremely familiar with the job and associated hazards they’re tasked with overseeing.
Hazard Awareness Training
Competent supervisors absolutely must be aware of the hazards associated with the work. Hazard recognition, hazard assessment, and hazard control are an essential component of workplace safety. Supervisors must be competent and confident when it comes to identifying and controlling hazards. As well, because supervisors are also responsible to communicate with workers regarding hazards, and in some cases even provide training aimed at protecting workers from hazards, it’s essential that supervisors complete hazard awareness training that covers both general knowledge, and information that is workplace specific.
Supervisor Awareness Training
Because supervisor competency is so important, the Act makes supervisor awareness training mandatory. Supervisor awareness training covers:
- How to make a difference in the workplace
- Duties and responsibilities of workplace parties
- Worker rights and how to protect them
- The role of the JHSC
- What makes a good safety leader
- The external support resources available, and how to access them
- Hazard recognition, assessment and control
- How to improve and support a positive workplace safety culture
- How to handle health and safety concerns
- Safety motivation
- Accessing external training providers for support and training solutions
Best Safety Training Can Help
Best Safety Training offers Supervisor Awareness Training. Let the Best Safety Training company take care of your training needs.