IHSA’s Labour-Management Network and its role in Ontario workplace safety

Volunteer groups take a “for the industry, by the industry” approach to health and safety.

If you’ve downloaded an IHSA manual or attended a regional health and safety event, IHSA’s Labour-Management Network probably helped make it happen in one way or another.

Established more than 50 years ago, the network’s 56 committees and more than 1,200 volunteers play a major role in improving health and safety at construction, aggregates, electrical utilities, and transportation workplaces across Ontario. Here’s everything you need to know about its membership, its impact, and why it matters.

What is the Labour-Management Network?

The Labour-Management Network brings workers and employers together to improve health and safety in Ontario’s high-hazard industries. The network’s committees represent different regions, sectors, and trades across the province. They meet regularly to review hazards, promote best practices, advise on IHSA resources, and advocate for improvements to health and safety standards and legislation. Why is it so valuable?

The network turns its members’ expertise into recommendations that lead to safer work practices and, where appropriate, regulatory change. Committee volunteers combine a ground-level understanding of their sectors with a passion for health and safety. By coming together as labour and management, they speak as one trusted voice to drive sustainable improvements for workplaces.

How is the network organized?

The network is led by the Provincial Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee for Construction (supported by the Construction Legislative Review Committee) and Provincial Labour-Management Safety Committee for Electrical and Utilities. These two committees are also recognized as formal advisory bodies established under Section 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Transportation Advisory Council performs a similar role for the commercial transport industry but doesn’t have Section 21 status.

The construction industry is further supported by regional committees that focus on local outreach and education, as well as sector and trade committees that provide technical guidance for specific work activities.

IHSA also provides administrative support to the Fleet Safety Council’s nine chapters. These groups work to improve carrier performance and driver behaviour through awareness, education, and training.

Who’s on the committees?

The volunteer members of each committee are drawn evenly from labour and management in the industry, region, sector, or trade that the committee represents. Each committee seeks balanced representation from both labour and management to preserve credibility and technical knowledge. Subject matter experts from industry associations, government, and other institutions also participate. All of them bring first-hand knowledge and technical expertise that inform IHSA’s products and services. The committees also share information and support professional development in ways that benefit members and the industries.

Members can access current best practices and technical guidance, network with colleagues and regulators, and contribute to Ontario’s safety culture by advising on the content of IHSA products and legislative submissions.

What do the committees do?

Committees turn the knowledge and experience of their members into practical guidance that benefits workplaces across the province. They identify emerging hazards, propose practical controls, and assist with the development and review of IHSA resources (e.g., manuals, technical advisories, and safety talks). These activities support a “for the industry, by the industry” approach to health and safety solutions. Regional committees also work extensively on community outreach to raise awareness of hazards and controls among local employers and contractors.

At the provincial level, committees coordinate submissions for legislative review and work with partners at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) to influence provincial policies and laws.

How do workplaces benefit?

The network has a long record of achievement. In the past couple of years, for example, committees have provided vital input for IHSA resources on key health and safety topics, including:

• Temporary bracing for long-span roof trusses
• Vehicle and mobile equipment struck-by risks
• Mental health support for construction small businesses
• Lockout procedures for sprinkler systems
• Electronic device distractions at work
• Excavation with vacuum technology near electrical utilities
• Guidance for working near water at mining projects
• Health and safety basics for new and young workers

Likewise, regional committees host seminars and summits to bring the latest health and safety information to business owners, contractors, and workers from Thunder Bay to Sarnia to Ottawa and everywhere in between. These events have recently highlighted many timely topics, such as:

• Worker mental health and well-being
• Fall protection, dropped objects, and PPE solutions
• The responsibilities of construction supervisors
• Threads of Life and the impact of workplace deaths

What is the Fleet Safety Council?

The Fleet Safety Council’s 500-plus members are driver trainers and safety professionals in the commercial transportation industry. Each of its eight regional chapters and its bus-specific chapter host multiple meetings throughout the year, as well as an annual conference. These gatherings enable members to engage with representatives from government, the insurance industry, law enforcement, and other sectors and remain proactively informed about trends and regulatory changes affecting the industry.

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