Message From the President and CEO and Board Chair

At Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), our mission is simple but vital: to make Ontario’s workplaces safer, every day. As a trusted partner in the province’s occupational health and safety system, we are proud to support more than 172,000 businesses and 4.2 million workers across the agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors.

This past year has reinforced the critical role WSPS plays in helping businesses protect their people and strengthen their operations. Aligned with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s (MLITSD) Prevention Works strategy, our focus has been on supporting those most at risk: small businesses, young and new Ontarians entering the workforce, and organizations struggling to achieve and maintain compliance.

Through our dedicated team of safety professionals, WSPS delivers practical and accessible solutions - ranging from no- and low-cost training and consulting services, to free advisory reviews for small businesses, tailored guidance for organizations responding to MLITSD orders, and multilingual programs that introduce newcomers and students to the fundamentals of workplace safety.

At the same time, we continue to emphasize that safety is not just a compliance obligation - it’s an economic advantage – especially during these challenging times. We help employers recognize that dollars invested in safety can return substantial savings through prevention of injuries and illnesses, and reduction in costs from fines, disruptions, productivity losses, and reputational damage.

Working in close collaboration with MLITSD and WSIB, WSPS is proud to be part of a health and safety ecosystem that is delivering results. Between 2020 and 2024, lost-time injury and fatality rates in our focus sectors have stabilized or declined. From 2023 to 2024, average days lost per injury dropped by 31%, and average claim costs decreased by more than $3,000. These outcomes translate into healthier workers, stronger organizations, and safer communities across Ontario.

As we look ahead, WSPS remains committed to helping businesses navigate economic pressures, regulatory responsibilities, workforce challenges, and new technologies - always putting people first. Emerging sectors play a critical role in our province’s future prosperity. We will continue to support our members with consulting and training relating to complex, sector-specific hazards in areas such as electric vehicle battery manufacturing and industrial robotics.  

Together with our partners and stakeholders, we will continue building a culture of prevention that reduces risk, supports productivity, and creates a safer Ontario for all.

Table of Contents

• Reaching Businesses with Safety Expertise
• Impact of Services
• Partnerships Delivering Powerful Results
• Small Business. Big Impact.
• Helping Businesses Achieve Health and Safety Excellence
• Supporting High-Risk Businesses
• Building a Skilled Workforce: Young Workers
• Building a Skilled Workforce: New Ontarians
• 2024 Financial Report

Reaching Businesses with Safety Expertise

Health and Safety Support 

WSIB-registered businesses in the agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors receive a suite of free health and safety services from WSPS, including consulting, training, awareness sessions, and resources. Throughout 2024, WSPS assisted member firms with the following:

• Health and Safety Assessments to help businesses meet legislative requirements, with an on-site walk through and action plan tailored to business size.
• One Day of Consulting to help businesses get back in compliance if they have received an order from MLITSD.
• Specialized Consulting or Training for High-risk Businesses to reduce injuries and illnesses in selected high-risk industries. 

“WSPS has become a trusted partner in our safety journey. The scope of support they provide is truly exceptional—from expert assessments, easy document templates, and tailored training to access to knowledgeable advisors who understand the complexities of compliance and workplace realities.”

- Joanne Zaraliakos, JFE Shoji Power Canada

Getting Critical Information to Those Who Need It

WSPS develops essential health and safety resources and delivers them to its membership through digital channels. 2024 highlights include:

40 million digital health and safety messages sent to educate and inform. Connection to more businesses on WSPS.ca through 5.3 million page views of resources. ~100% of new agriculture, manufacturing and services businesses are contacted by WSPS about their health and safety responsibilities and supports available to them within 30 days of registering with the WSIB.

Impact of Services

WSPS is a trusted source of health and safety expertise. 

Between 2020 and 2024, organizations engaged with WSPS demonstrated stronger improvements in workplace safety outcomes (Lost Time Injury (LTI) rates) compared to non-engaged peers, with engaged organizations experiencing a statistically significant decrease in LTI rates.

The most substantial reductions in LTI rates occurred among small firms engaged with WSPS, suggesting that smaller businesses may benefit most from targeted support.

Organizations highly engaged with WSPS started with greater LTI rates and achieved the largest reduction by 2024. This suggests deeper engagement with WSPS may support greater improvement, even in higher-risk settings.

What customers and their employees say

Post-services surveys conducted with businesses and workers from April 2024 – March 2025 show: 

~100% agreed WSPS training increased their knowledge of accident and injury prevention, and they learned practical skills to apply to their job. ~80% said they changed their OHS practices within 3 months of completing WSPS training. ~80% adopted or improved a health & safety practice after receiving WSPS consulting services. ~100% were happy with the consulting services received and would recommend WSPS and likely to work with WSPS again.

"WSPS provided an outstanding training environment that encouraged participation and reinforced practical knowledge. We’ve already seen an increased level of awareness and proactive safety initiatives as a direct result of this training."

- Steve Katunas, Leggat Auto Group

Partnerships Delivering Powerful Results

The sectors served by WSPS drive Ontario's economy. Their influence is leveraged by WSPS to advance prevention priorities through a network of advisory, industry and community partners. 

Expanding Reach

Advisory Committees: Voice of the Sectors 

Over 120 business leaders sit on 9 WSPS sector-focused Advisory Committees. 

Sharing expertise and experience, Advisory Committees help WSPS: 

• understand the needs of worker and employers
• identify emerging trends and how the prevention system can respond
• collaborate on policy and program consultations
• advise on resources to address sector-specific health and safety challenges
• distribute information to their networks 

Sectors served through these committees are:

• Agriculture & Horticulture 
• Commercial Industrial Services 
• Durable Goods, Vehicle & Industrial Equipment Manufacturing 
• Food, Pharmaceutical & Personal Products 
• Restaurant & Food Services 
• Retail, Wholesale & Office 
• Television, Film & Live Performance 
• Tourism & Hospitality 
• Vehicle Sales & Service 

"We are proud to partner with WSPS. They have been an invaluable ally in our shared commitment to workplace safety. Their dedication and expertise have directly contributed to enhancing the health and well-being of employees across our industry."

- Adam Moffatt, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Dealers Association

Small Business. Big Impact.

Almost 90% of WSPS’ customers are small businesses.

Businesses with 20 or fewer employees can receive one-on-one support through WSPS’ Small Business Advisory Service. 

WSPS’ online Small Business Centre offers free templates, tips, and tools to help small businesses protect their people and stay in compliance. 

In collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT), WSPS shared health and safety resources with 36 Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBEC) and is actively involved with 25 Centres on an ongoing basis. 

“These free resources will support owners with compliance requirements while saving time searching for the right information.”

- The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound Inc.

In the Community

Improving Safety through the WSIB Health & Safety Excellence Program 

As a provider of the WSIB Health & Safety Excellence program (HSEP), WSPS enhances safety while helping businesses save money. WSPS had 424 active HSEP members in 2024, with 77% being small businesses. 

Membership in WSPS' program gets results. In 2024:  Over 779 injury/illness prevention topics were implemented by businesses. Over $2 million in premium rebates and incentives were earned by members.

Supporting High-Risk Businesses 

With its team of health and safety experts, situated around Ontario, WSPS assists businesses in building safer, healthier workplaces.

Highlights from 2024 include: 

Supporting over 210 high-risk and under-resourced businesses with free needs assessments, consultations and training. Services focused on areas of greatest need, such as material handling, health and safety program development, achieving compliance and managing sector-specific hazards. Conducting free designated substance assessment services to small businesses, with a focus on reducing occupational illnesses caused by silica exposure. Engaging workers and supervisors in risk assessment and root cause analysis initiatives to develop prevention solutions; to date, 6 high risk sectors have been engaged.

“I had the pleasure of participating in the WSPS-led Root Cause Analysis Workshop. The session was fantastic and exceeded my expectations. The collective sharing of knowledge, combined with leadership from the facilitators, contributed to the workshop's success in creating a tool that can be used across the industry."

- Brad Skanes, Coke Canada Bottling

Battery Electric Vehicles: Safety and Technology

Amid the strongest period of expansion in Ontario’s electric vehicle sector to date, WSPS maintained an active focus on the evolving health and safety needs connected to battery electric vehicle (BEV) technologies.

WSPS is privileged to showcase courses on the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network’s OVIN Learn LMS. The network supports current workers in the automotive and mobility sector needing upskilling or reskilling; new entrants to the industry, including students and job seekers; and employers aiming to modernize their workforce with micro-credentials and training in emerging technologies.

Resources developed in 2024-25 to support the sector in recognizing and addressing the complex safety risks that come with BEVs include: The ‘EV Battery Health and Safety Essentials’ eLearning course covers the fundamentals of EV battery technology, outlines common risks and provides practical guidance on safe handling, storage, emergency response and the use of PPE A new video resource, ‘Staying Safe: Working on or Around EV batteries, created with input from industry experts, highlights the key hazards of working with EV batteries The BEV checklist includes details about specific hazards, legal requirements, recommended prevention measures and is intended to be a starting point for workplaces to address identified risks

As the BEV sector evolves, WSPS continues to engage and collaborate with industry leaders and HSA partners to ensure that research, risk assessment and educational initiatives remain central priorities. 

Building a Skilled Workforce: Young Workers

To be successful in developing a safety mindset in young Ontarians, it’s critical to reach them before they enter the workforce. That’s why WSPS prioritizes the safety education of young workers in schools and workshops. It’s a testament to the difference that can be made in building a skilled workforce. 

WSPS’ free Health & Safety Awareness Presentation provides educators with an opportunity to prepare students for a safe start in the working world. Through games, videos, and discussions, participants learn crucial safety information, debunk job-related myths, and develop a safety-first mindset. In 2024, 284 presentations were delivered, reaching over 21,000 students across the province. "I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer with WSPS to present sessions in Windsor local schools on the importance of Health & Safety in the workplace. It was an enriching experience to engage with the students and educate them about their 3 Fundamental Rights under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)." -Neetu Rana, Health & Safety Awareness Presentation Facilitator

Face-to-face Engagement 

Since 2024, WSPS has engaged over 50,000 young people in conversations about health and safety at events such as Skilled Trades Ontario’s Level Up fairs; the 2025 Skills Ontario Competition, Young Women’s Conference and First Nations, Métis and Inuit Conference; an International Women’s Day event for women in the skilled trades (presented by Linamar); and Conestoga College’s Jill of All Trades event.

First Job, Safe Job

To help parents and caregivers prepare young workers, WSPS created the First Job, Safe Job blog, offering articles, infographics, and tools on workplace dangers. Since its 2024 launch, it’s had over 18,000 visits. To grow its audience, a French version will launch in 2025.

Building a Skilled Workforce: New Ontarians

Supporting Ontario’s Most Vulnerable Workers 

Ontario is diverse and so are its workplaces. Newcomers may lack awareness of workplace rights and hazards, making them more vulnerable to risks. To support both workers and businesses, WSPS removes barriers to increase effective communication and application of safety knowledge.

Multilingual Safety Education 

Delivering health and safety information in a worker’s first language ensures clear understanding and protection.

Mobile-friendly animated hazard videos and articles were developed for high-risk industries – 30 for manufacturing (5 hazards, 6 languages) and 12 for agriculture (3 hazards, 4 languages). Safety First - Tips for New Workers videos on Chemical Safety, Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Workplace Violence & Harassment were created in 4 different languages. To support French-speaking workers, 21 of WSPS’ Small Biz Safety Bytes videos were translated, explaining basic health and safety requirements for top hazards.

Health and Safety in Korean

NextStar Energy (NSE) is Canada’s first large-scale lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility, located in Windsor, Ontario. WSPS played a key role supporting NSE and its equipment contractors to ensure safety and success by delivering a 1-hour presentation onsite in both English and Korean. Approximately 40 participants representing 20 different workplaces took part. WSPS continues to support NextStar Energy with additional health and safety prevention assessments and training.

Empowering Communities 

WSPS is growing a network of health and safety advocates to support newcomers. Using a “train-the-trainer” model, WSPS equips staff at community organizations to deliver workplace safety training. Since 2023, partnerships with 34 agencies have reached over 900 newcomers, with demand still rising.  Also, WSPS offers free H&S training to non-profit organizations working with job seekers transitioning to new careers.

“I recently had the privilege of volunteering with WSPS to deliver a Train-the-Trainer session on Health & Safety Awareness for Workers New to Canada. It was an honour to help equip these professionals with the skills they need to train newcomers on safety in the workplace."

- Elom Adekahlor, Health & Safety Awareness Presentation Facilitator

2024 Financial Report

View the 2024 Financial Report.