IHSA Locating Training Facility in Thunder Bay
The Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA), a leading developer and provider of prevention solutions for work environments involving high-risk activities, announced today the location of a training facility in Thunder Bay, specifically within Confederation College's Dorion Building.
The IHSA was formed in January 2010 by amalgamating the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO), the Electrical & Utilities Safety Association of Ontario (E&USA), and Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario (THSAO) and is dedicated to health and safety training in high risk work environments including working at heights, working with high voltage electricity, and transportation of dangerous goods, to name a few. Trainers came from the industries they serve, so they are experts in their fields and understand the specific conditions of the work.
"This partnership, with Confederation College, is one of the initiatives IHSA is undertaking to better serve our northern clients. This will make state-of-the-art training more accessible for workers and employers in the Thunder Bay area and will help ensure that everyone gets the information they need to work safe for life," said CEO Al Beattie.
Confederation College's Dorion Building houses a number of programs within the School of Trades and Technology, training tomorrow's workforce in the high demand skill trades areas.
"We are seeing a growing number of students within the school and it is paramount that health and safety training be ingrained. The location of this training facility on our site for industry use, goes far to instituting a safe work culture within tomorrow's workers," said Don Bernosky, Vice President, Regional Workforce Development.
As part of Ontario's health and safety system, the IHSA is recognized by the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board as designated trainers and consultants. The IHSA meets all regulatory requirements and compliance standards. IHSA is also an accredited training agent of the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities for Surface Miner Common Core, Mobile Crane 0-8 Ton, Powerline Technician Apprenticeship.
"This is an important expansion of IHSA service to the construction industry in the Thunder Bay area. Contractors will be able to improve their health and safety programs with local training and safety consulting. This will meet the safety needs of the expected growth in Northwestern Ontario due to an increase in construction projects related to mining. It will be a win-win for the construction industry and IHSA," said Harold Lindstrom, Manager of the Construction Association of Thunder Bay.
There are 16 IHSA consultants currently serving Northern Ontario. For more information about IHSA's initiatives in Northern Ontario, visit IHSA North.
For further information please contact:
Jennifer Schoffer, Media and Communications Officer,
(807) 475-6137 cell (807) 620-0043 jschoffe@confederationc.on.ca
Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Confederation College has nine sites located in Thunder Bay, Dryden, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa.
Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 11,400 combined full and part time students per year and currently has a total of 600 full and part time employees. Confederation's regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $ 800 million annually.
IHSA is the provincial leader in health and safety solutions for high-risk activities such as working at heights, working with high voltage electricity, driving motor vehicles, transportation of dangerous goods, suspended access, and hoisting and rigging. Located in Mississauga, IHSA is one of four health and safety associations that are part of Ontario's Prevention System. More than 70 IHSA consultants operate across the province, helping firms apply best practices and prevention strategies regardless of their size.