In the Fall 2026 Edition of OHAO Forum: | | |
|
|
| Greetings all,
Welcome to the 2026 fall issue of the OHAO Forum. We have some very interesting and varied articles for you in this issue. Thank you to all the contributors for sharing your knowledge and expertise with the membership. To those who attended the fall PDC and/or conference, it was great to see you all in person.
As a safety professional, an occupational hygienist, and a mother, I find myself providing the same cautionary words and warnings to both my children and the workers I am trying to protect at my job. Has anyone else noticed this? Here’s an example, workers on a job site came across a used syringe with the needle still attached. The guidance here was: don’t touch the needle, call someone to come take it away. Which is exactly what I have told my daughter to do when they are doing garbage clean ups around the school property.
| | |
|
|
| As the days grow shorter and Ontario's fall
colours come into view, I find myself reflecting on the people, partnerships,
and shared purpose that make our profession so meaningful. Fall is a season of
learning, connection, and renewal, making it a fitting time to consider the
progress we have made and the opportunities ahead.
In my first President's Message, I shared
my hope that occupational hygiene would become more than a profession people
recognize; that it would become a way of thinking. Conversations with members,
students, early-career professionals, and partners across Ontario and beyond
have only strengthened that belief.
| | |
|
|
| Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to energy, technology, and defense industries. China controls more than two-thirds of global mining and nearly all refining; the EU depends almost entirely on China for REEs and magnets,1 as does the United States for 70% of its supply.2 By intentionally outsourcing REE refining, developed countries gained access to low-cost imports while avoiding the sector’s harmful environmental impacts. This shift inadvertently enabled China’s dominance in REE processing and rendered global critical mineral (CM) supply chains vulnerable.3
Ore Resources of Topical Interest
Ukraine has significant mineral wealth––including REEs and other CMs––worth trillions of dollars4 but Russian occupation of key regions hinders immediate development.
| | | |
|
|
Heat waves, UV radiation, wildfire smoke, air quality issues, flooding, severe storms, and emerging infectious diseases have long been recognized workplace hazards. These hazards have typically been addressed through distinct occupational health and safety, emergency preparedness, and facility management programs. However, climate change is challenging this siloed approach by altering the risk profile of these hazards, increasing their frequency, intensity, duration, and interconnected impacts. As risks become more complex and interdependent, organizations must assess climate-related hazards holistically and implement coordinated prevention and control strategies across programs.
Climate change is defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. In Canada, environmental impacts were initially the primary focus, but attention to the health impacts of climate change has increased over the past two decades. More recently, climate change has become an emerging occupational health and safety priority, with organizations such as the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) publishing guidance on climate-related workplace hazards.
| |
|
|
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2026 issue of The Synergist®, the magazine of AIHA®.
As part of the OHAO/AIHA Memorandum of Understanding, AIHA will
be sharing one article from a recent issue of The Synergist in each issue of the OHAO Forum. Thank you to AIHA for sharing this information with our members.
In July 2024, fires started north and south
of Jasper, Alberta, a picturesque town of approximately 5,000 residents within
one of Canada’s oldest national parks. Fed by high winds and hot, dry
conditions, the fires merged to form the Jasper Wildfire Complex with
uncontrollable flames reportedly reaching heights of 30–50 meters. Following a
mass evacuation, the fires swept through Jasper, taking the life of one
firefighter and resulting in loss of property estimated at nearly $1.3 billion
Canadian. It was one of the most expensive natural disasters in Canada’s
history.
In the aftermath of catastrophes, the sheer
volume of insurance claims can significantly delay rebuilding efforts.
Following the Jasper fire, multiple insurance groups coordinated efforts to
develop a program for mass debris removal, which residents could enlist in.
Contractors, including my employer, conducted the removal from November 2024
through April 2025 using traditional dig-and-dump methods. This approach is highly
disruptive to the ground surface and has a high potential to generate airborne
releases, necessitating evaluation and control of potential worker exposures.
| |
|
|
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) associated with occupational driving have been documented across a wide range of driving occupations. Systematic reviews have consistently found that low back pain is the most commonly reported musculoskeletal concern among occupational drivers, with risk factors including duration spent driving, years in the profession, overall ergonomic setup in the vehicle, and whole-body vibration.[1,2]
Although much of the research has focused on professional drivers such as truck, bus, and taxi drivers, driving is not limited to workers with “driver” in their job title. For example, sales representatives, occupational hygienists, inspectors, service technicians, home healthcare workers, emergency responders, and many others may regularly travel between work locations. Driving makes up a significant portion of a worker’s day in many occupations.[3] | |
|
|
| | | Do noise cancelling earbuds work as hearing
protection?
Earbuds and headphones, they seem to be a
permanent fixture on younger generations. But can they double as hearing
protection in Ontario workplaces?
This resource explains the important difference
between consumer Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) devices and specialized hearing
protection with Active Noise Reduction (ANR) and points out a few key things to
consider when choosing your protection.
[ LEARN MORE
]
Free Webinar: Human Factors Behind Everyday
Decisions
Human factors influence how people assess risk,
make decisions, and perform under pressure. Join this free 90-minute webinar
on January 21, 2027, to explore the impact of fatigue, cognitive load,
communication, time pressure, and system design on workplace safety, and learn
practical strategies to support safer outcomes.
| |
|
|
OHAO Student Award Winners! |
|
|
Congratulations to Amnah Omer for winning the OHAO Toronto Metropolitan University Student Award 2025. The recipient of this award is a student enrolled at the Toronto Metropolitan University in the Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational and Public Health) – Occupational Health and Safety.
|
|
|
The
award is based on the highest overall marks in a number of core occupational
hygiene courses during their final year of study.
|
|
|
Congratulations to Ragulan Chandrakanth for winning the OHAO University of Toronto Student Award 2025. The award is presented to a student enrolled at University of Toronto in the Masters of Public Health – Occupation & Environmental Health (Professional Option in Occupational Hygiene). |
|
|
The award is based on the highest overall marks in a number of core occupational hygiene courses during their final year of study.
|
|
|
OHAO Fall 2026 PDC and Conference Recap |
|
|
The OHAO Fall PDC and Conference took place on October 21 and 22 at the Humber College North Campus. Turnout was impressive on both days with 48 people in person for the PDC and 90 people in person and 78 people online for the Conference. There were almost 40 students present which was an incredible turnout and they were fully engaged in the lunch time networking session with industry professionals.
Thanks so much to Susan Arnold and Mark Stenzel for sharing their knowledge and resources with our OHAO members and guests at the Fall PDC on ‘Finding Approaches to Address Chemical Exposure and Health Risk Using IH Mod 2.0 and SDM2.0’. It was an engaging and informative session with lots of test scenarios where participants could use the tools during the PDC.
Thanks to all the speakers who took the time to present at the OHAO Fall Conference 2026. It was a full house for a day of informative sessions and networking including a large, engaged group of students.
Thank you to all our speakers for sharing their expertise: Craig Maunder, M.Sc., CIH, ROH, CSP (BluMetric Environmental Inc.) for Safer Labs by Design: Putting "Prevention Through Design" Principles into Action; Jérôme Lavoué (University of Montreal) for Bayesian Statistics for Better Communication of Uncertainty and More Reliable Exposure Decisions; Joe Tomaselli (WSP) for Community Noise; Andre Gauvin, BSc, MHK, CCPE, CIH (Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, OHCOW) for Heat Stress Toolkit – Managing Heat Stress in the Workplace; Chun Yip Hon, PhD CRSP CIH (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Shirly Yan, MPH, CRSP, CIH, PMP (OHCOW) for Control Banding and Applied Application Using the CHAP-Risk Tool; and Luca Romano, BSc (Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, WSPS) for From Walkthrough to Control Program: Using the WSPS Workbook for Designated Substance Assessments. |
|
|
Save the Date! Spring PDC
(In-Person)
Wednesday, March 10, 2027
|
|
If you would like
to contribute an article for the next OHAO Forum contact office@ohao.org |
|
Save the Date!
Spring Conference/AGM (Hybrid)
Thursday, March 11, 2027 |
|
|
| | | Don't forget to follow us and share OHAO posts on LinkedIn |
|
|
Disclaimer: Content in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and reflects the views of the individual authors, not necessarily OHAO. It should not be considered professional or technical advice. OHAO is not responsible for external links or third‑party content. You are receiving this email as part of your membership or subscription
and may unsubscribe at any time.
|
|
|
This message was sent to you by {Organization_Name}
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe at any time
6700 Century Ave, Ste 100, Mississauga, ON L5N 6A4
905-567-7196, {Organization_URL} |
|
|
|
