New Online Training to Help Job Seekers

Monday, 6 July 2020 09:07

The Provincial government will be investing $3 million to provide free online health and safety training as Ontario safely and gradually reopens.

ONTARIO - As Ontario safely and gradually reopens, the provincial government is investing $3 million to provide free online health and safety training for the first time. These virtual courses will make it easier for people looking for jobs and workers to get essential qualifications, while practicing physical distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton made the announcement on Friday. Premier Ford says this approach is safe and limits the spread of the virus. "In this new environment, we need to look for new and innovative ways to deliver services, while keeping people safe and healthy.

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." Up to 100,000 job seekers can take free online workplace health and safety training through Employment Ontario.

There are ten courses including topics like infection control, conducting health and safety incident investigations, ladder safety, and more. Job seekers are encouraged to contact an Employment Ontario service provider in their area to enroll. Minister McNaughton says the training is free and can be accessed from anywhere. "This is the first time this type of online safety training has been made available at no cost to people who have lost their jobs and I am confident it will be an effective way to prepare people to rejoin the workforce safely.

The training is free and accessible from anywhere, so people can learn from their own homes." Worker and employer members of Joint Health and Safety Committees can also use video conferencing to take training in real-time with qualified instructors from training providers approved by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer.

The training includes sessions on how to establish a Health and Safety Committee, resolving health and safety issues, workplace inspections, and accident investigations. The time to complete refresher training for over 8,000 certified committee members being extending Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer.

This is for people whose certification would have expired between February 28th and August 31st, 2020. They have until November 30th, 2020 to renew their training, and thanks to online options, will be easier.