Which version:  There are two versions of mandatory Health and Safety Awareness Training. The decision of which version is appropriate is based on an individual’s role and duties. For more information, read "Who should participate" under the two course descriptions below.

Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness Training

Who should participate:

Mandatory for all Western academic and administrative leaders, principal investigators, managers, supervisors (including work study supervisors), lead hands and senior grad students who have the responsibility of overseeing others’ work. (A supervisor is defined as a person who has charge of workplace or authority over a worker.)

If you have completed the Supervisor version of Health and Safety Awareness training you are not required to complete the Worker version.

Course objectives:

• Understand the roles, rights and responsibilities of workplace parties under the Ontario Health and Safety Act.
• Know how to recognize, assess and control workplace hazards, and evaluate those controls.
• Develop awareness of general and Western sources of information on occupational health and safety.
• Understand what due diligence means and how it applies to the supervisor’s day to day activities.
• Conduct an accident investigation and complete an accident/incident investigation report form.

Worker Health and Safety Awareness Training

Who should participate: Mandatory for all Western staff, faculty, graduate students, work study students and volunteers who do not meet the definition of a supervisor (see above “Supervisor Health and Safety Training - Who should participate”).

Course objectives:

• Understand the roles, rights and responsibilities of workplace parties under the Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
• Know the roles of health and safety representatives and Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSCs) under the OHSA
• Know who your Health and Safety partners are at Western.
• Know what workplace hazards are and what to do if you see a workplace hazard.
• Know your duty to report workplace accidents and incidents.
• Know the proper response to campus fires and emergencies.

IMPORTANT:  WHMIS is changing.  On May 2, 2016, a single new version of WHMIS training replaced the previous two WHMIS training programs.  You will be required to take the new version of the training, even if you completed one of the previous versions prior to the introduction of the new training.

WHMIS *NEW* - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

Who should participate: Mandatory for all new Western staff, faculty, graduate students, work study students, co-op students and volunteers.

Reminder: All existing Western staff, faculty, graduate students, work study students, co-op students and volunteers must also complete the NEW version of WHMIS. Please do so by August 31, 2016.

Course objectives:

At the completion of the course, the participant will be able to: 

• Understand what WHMIS 2015 is and why it is important to workers
• Understand what GHS is and how it affects WHMIS 2015
• Identify the WHMIS 2015 hazard classes and symbols
• Identify the types of information covered on supplier and workplace labels
• Understand the purpose, content and function of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
• Understand the hazards associated with controlled products
• Know your legal rights and duties under WHMIS 2015

WHMIS Regulations - RRO 1990, Reg 860

Who should participate: Mandatory for all Western staff, faculty, graduate students, work study students and volunteers.

Course objectives:

• Identify what constitutes harassment, violence and domestic violence that emerges in the workplace
• Understand your rights and responsibilities with regards to these issues under the Occupational Health & Safety Act of Ontario
• Know what to do if these issues arise at Western.

Which version:  We offer two versions of AODA training:  Accessibility in Service or Accessibility in Teaching.  The decision of which version is appropriate is based on your role. For more information, read "Who should participate" under the two course descriptions below.

Accessibility in Service

Who should participate:  Mandatory for all Western Academic and Administrative Leaders, Staff and Volunteers.

Other Western relationships such as contractors interacting with Western students, alumni, visitors, or retirees are to receive and become familiar with a summary brochure.

Course objectives:

• Learn about the fit of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) with Western’s culture
• Understand your role in implementing the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service under the AODA and Western’s Guideline Regarding Accessible Goods and Services
• Learn how to help and interact with persons with disabilities and how to increase the overall accessibility of our services at Western

Please visit the Accessibility at Western website to view more information.

Accessibility in Teaching

Who should participate:  Mandatory for all Western Faculty, Graduate Teaching Assistants, Librarians and Archivists. 

Course objectives:

• Find out about the fit of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) with Western’s Culture.
• Understand your role in implementing the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service under the AODA and Western’s Guideline Regarding Accessible Goods and Services.
• Learn how to increase the overall accessibility of your teaching at Western and how to help and interact with students with disabilities

Please visit the Accessibility at Western website to view more information and access Supplemental Resources.

At Western, we are committed to fostering a community that actively promotes mental health. As a community member you are encouraged to complete this on-line learning module.

Mental Health Interactive Learning Module

Who should participate:

All members of the Western community (students, faculty and staff).  A specific course is available to students.

This course helps participants:

• Identify the signs of mental health problems in ourselves and others.
• Approach individuals who may be dealing with mental health issues and refer them to support.
• Access campus and local community resources.

Who should participate: Mandatory for all laboratory supervisors and workers. This includes faculty, staff, post-doctoral scholars, graduate students, fourth year thesis students, volunteers, work study students, co-op students, etc.

Course objectives:

• Understand the common hazards associated with laboratory work and how to identify them
• Use the proper precautions for the identified hazards
• Explain the proper use of the laboratory fume hood
• Select the appropriate personal protective equipment for the task
• Respond properly to a laboratory emergency
• Understand the different types of waste and how to process each
• Segregate chemicals appropriately for both waste disposal and storage
• Complete labels and inventory forms and package the wastes properly

Who should attend: Mandatory for all new principal investigators, workers and students who work with biohazardous materials such as microorganisms, cell cultures and human blood and body fluids.

Course objectives:

• Be familiar with safety legislation pertaining to biological works
• Be able to identify biohazardous risks in the laboratory
• Understand the difference in the 4 Biological Risk Groups
• Understand the application and limitations of Biological Safety Cabinets
• Know what to do in an emergency such as a spill
• Understand the recommended Routine Practice & Additional Precautions
• Learn the safe procedures when working with human and animal materials
• Understand the risk of bloodborne pathogens
• Know who to contact if you have to transport dangerous goods

Instructions for registering (When you register, search for the course number "RADIN")

Who should attend: Mandatory for all individuals working with nuclear substances, radiation devices or class II prescribed equipment including permit holders, faculty, staff and students.

Course objectives:

• Understand the basic concepts of radiation physics
• Understand the legislative requirements of radioisotope use
• Understand radiation protection, detection and measurement
• Describe the biological effects of radiation
• Recognize the requirements of transportation and receipt of radiation materials
• Understand radiological emergency procedures

Access to Radiation Safety Refresher training is automatically set up on OWL for individuals who have completed the in-class Radiation Safety Nuclear course. If you are unable to access the course, please contact Hoa Ly.

Who should participate: Mandatory for all Nuclear Energy Workers who have not received training in the last three years.

Who should participate: Mandatory for all personnel who intend to enter a nuclear radiation room and have not received radiation safety training. The radiation permit holder (or an authorized nuclear energy worker listed on the permit) is responsible for providing the awareness training and documenting who has taken the training.  Participants can view the radiation safety awareness material online or can review a hard copy version.

Who should participate: Mandatory for all x-ray users prior to using x-ray equipment.

Course objectives:

• Understand the basic concepts of x-rays
• Understand the hazards involved with the use of x-ray equipment
• Take appropriate precautions in the use of x-ray equipment

To get you set up in the course, complete and submit the registration form (login required). You will receive a follow-up email message with further instructions.

Link to X-ray Safety Training on OWL.

Who should participate: Mandatory for all class 3B or class 4 laser users.

Course objectives:

• Understand the basic concepts of lasers
• Understand the hazards involved with the use of laser equipment
• Take appropriate precautions in the use of laser equipment

To get you set up in the course, complete and submit the registration form (login required). You will receive a follow-up email message with further instructions.

Link to Laser Safety Training on OWL.

Who should participate: Required for all personnel who intend to enter a laser room and have not received laser safety training. The laser permit holder (or an authorized laser worker listed on the permit) is responsible for providing the awareness training and documenting who has taken the training.  Participants can view the laser safety awareness material online.

Who should participate: Required for all University personnel who will be either shipping or receiving chemical shipments by land (road/rail) transport. This applies to both shipments sent by commercial means (ground courier) and to shipments driven personally (ie. chemical/samples driven off campus on public roads).

Note: This course does not include air transport. Separate, targeted courses will be offered for those who ship by air.

Course objectives:

• Become familiar with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations (Clear Language)
• Know your responsibilities under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations
• Be able to prepare, offer for transport, import and/or transport dangerous goods, by LAND (not AIR)

Who should participate: Mandatory for all Western First Aid Representatives. This course is reserved for permanent, full-time employees (excludes contract) who have been designated by their supervisor, and Occupational Health and Safety, as the official First Aid Representative for their department/unit.

The course is given by SERT (Student Emergency Response Team) and is the Canadian Red Cross, Standard First Aid and Basic Rescuer CPR (Level C) certification. All materials, including the manual, are supplied.

Who should participate: Required for Facilities Management Caretaking Personnel.

Course objectives:

• Describe asbestos and its properties
• Identify the differences between friable and non-friable asbestos
• Describe the health effects that may result from exposure
• Identify Type 1, 2, and 3 operations
• Describe what to do when you discover insulation material on the floor
• State who to call when you suspect uncontrolled asbestos activities
• Describe internal asbestos procedures

Who should participate: Required for Facilities Management Trades Personnel

Course objectives:

• Describe the requirements of Regulation 278/05
• Describe asbestos and its properties
• Identify the differences between friable and non-friable asbestos
• Describe the health effects that may result from exposure to asbestos
• Identify Type 1 and 2 operations
• SDescribe how to perform Type 1 and 2 procedures
• Know who to call when you suspect uncontrolled asbestos activities

Who should participate: Required for Facilities Management trades, caretaking and other personnel who work with hazardous materials or situations.

Course objectives:

• Identify the common hazards at your workplace that require personal protective equipment
• Use the appropriate personal protective equipment selected by your supervisor for specific tasks

Who should participate: Required for Facilities Management staff

Course objectives:

• Understand fundamental concepts of electricity
• Recognize potential hazards related to electricity

Who should participate: Required for all Facilities Management staff

Course objectives:

• Describe energy hazards requiring lock-out procedures
• Identify and assess the sources of energy that need to be locked out in your workplace
• Identify the relevant legislation and regulations that apply to lock-out
• Describe the main steps in performing a lock-out to control electrical and other hazardous energy sources
• Discuss the need for lock-out policies and procedures specific to your workplace