Improving aggregates sector health and safety

How IHSA helps protect workers in the surface mining and aggregates industries.

Aggregates like gravel, sand, and stone are essential to building Ontario. They’re used to construct everything from roads to buildings to water mains. But the work to supply the province with aggregate products often involves heavy machinery, working at heights, and handling hazardous materials; workers need specialized skills and training to do their jobs safely.

Here’s how IHSA supports health and safety in the surface mining and aggregates sector.

Industry-specific consulting services

IHSA’s experts help businesses address health and safety concerns impacting their workforces. In 2024, IHSA Health and Safety Consultants David Greene and Ryan Smith provided customized safety solutions and guidance to a variety of companies.

IHSA Occupational Hygienist Jasmine Kalsi also worked with firms to improve control of airborne contaminants. And she taught members of IHSA’s Surface Mining and Aggregates Working Group how to use the Silica Control Tool.

• Find out how IHSA consultants can help your company.
• Use the Silica Control Tool, developed by Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.

Stakeholder engagement

Since 2014, IHSA has facilitated quarterly meetings of the Surface Mining and Aggregates Working Group. The group aims to improve safety practices through collaboration between mining and construction industry stakeholders, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD).

For example, in 2023, the group hosted a root-cause workshop on slips, trips, and falls, which resulted in a number of recommendations to improve industry regulations, work practices, training, and safety culture. It has also produced various industry-specific guidelines—on topics such as mobile diesel generating plants and working safely around water.

• Learn about IHSA’s Labour-Management committees.

Online resources

Employers and workers can download safe-work resources at no cost from ihsa.ca. Many of these guidelines, safety talks, and articles are listed on the site’s dedicated aggregates topic page. In particular, our comprehensive Safe Work Practices Guide for the Aggregates Industry (M075) covers common hazards, including explosives and blasting, crushing operations, and shovels, cranes, and draglines. Or access our Health and Safety: Aggregate Sector brochure (IHSA005) for a summary of how to reduce some of the sector’s most common hazards.

• Visit IHSA’s aggregates health and safety topic page.
• Order aggregates sector products.

Specialized training

Among IHSA’s aggregates-focused training courses are:

• Surface Mining Common Core, which provides fundamental knowledge for surface mining workers across a broad range of topics, including safe work practices, lockout/tagout procedures, and the safe operation of hand and power tools.
• Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Part II - Aggregates, a JHSC certification course that’s tailored to the aggregates industry.

IHSA’s on-demand eLearning courses and webinars are also a great option for workers who want to learn at their own pace. Learners can improve their understanding of silica—a major surface mining hazard—in our Basics of Silica eLearning module. And IHSA recently offered two webinars to help employers prepare for the MLITSD’s 2024–2025 surface mining compliance campaign.

• Register for in-class training.
• Take the Basics of Silica eLearning course.