Workwell

Because unsafe companies increase insurance and compensation costs for everyone, the WSIB's Workwell program performs on-site health and safety evaluations of firms when their injury experience indicates that there is a higher risk of injury at their workplace (compared to other firms doing similar work).

These evaluations help workplaces identify weaknesses in workplace health and safety programs and practices.

Firms that make improvements see the benefits of reducing the risk of injury at their workplace. Fewer injuries and illnesses leads to improved production, less downtime and better worker morale. 

In addition, firms with better injury experience records are eligible for rebates and decreased premiums through their experience rating program (NEER, MAP, or CAD-7).

However, firms that do not make needed improvements before a second evaluation face a one-time increase to their WSIB premiums.

The process

If your firm has been selected for a Workwell evaluation, you are required to participate under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

Here’s what you can expect:

1. The Workwell evaluator contacts the employer to make an appointment for a visit.
2. The Workwell evaluator meets with the employer and a worker representative, and:
   • Examines workplace documents and records that provide details of the health and safety policies, procedures and practices at your workplace
   • Observes the practices and procedures in action
   • Inspects the workplace
   • Interviews workers
   • Sends the employer an audit report detailing the audit findings. This report will also be sent to the MOL and your industry's safe workplace association.
3. Firms that fail the evaluation have six months to make improvements
4. After six months the Workwell evaluator will do a second evaluation. If your firm fails again, an additional charge is applied to your premium. This can range from 10% to 75% of your premium, paid in the year you were selected for the Workwell audit.

You can find out more about the evaluation process by downloading the new Workwell Core Health and Safety Audit Tool (962.5kb, PDF). (Note that employers who were selected for a Workwell audit prior to February 14, 2011 will be audited using the old Workwell Core Health and Safety Audit ( 2.4mb, PDF).)

You can use the 3-page Hazard Assessment Tool (264.4kb, PDF)  or 12-page Hazard Assessment Tool (288.0kb, PDF) to start recognizing, assessing and controlling the hazards in your workplace right now.

Workwell for small business

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by small business in Ontario, the Workwell Program has developed a Small Business Audit tool to more effectively help small businesses create and implement sustainable health and safety management systems.

The new tool (275.7kb, PDF) will help small businesses in the Workwell program increase health and safety, save money, mitigate risk, and become compliant with occupational health and safety legislation.

For more information, contact Sandra Beniuk, Manager, Workwell, at 416-344-4046.