OHS Canada

Aug. 31, 2026, Halifax, N.S. – The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Nova Scotia has reached its 2030 injury prevention target three and a half years ahead of schedule, with the provincial time-loss injury rate falling to a record low of 1.15 injuries per 100 covered workers as of July 2026. The achievement, announced Aug. 31 as part of a two-year progress report following a 2024 provincial system review, marks a significant turnaround for the province.

Aug. 31, 2026, Vancouver, B.C. – WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Department has launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to Part 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The proposed revisions focus on Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment — Standard of Fit.

Aug. 25, 2026, St. John’s, Nfld. – WorkplaceNL is transitioning to a new Working at Heights Certification Training Standard, which will replace the current fall protection framework and reduce the mandatory training course duration from 16 to eight hours. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the new standard and its accompanying common curriculum will serve as the mandatory training pathway for employees working at heights of three metres or more on provincially regulated worksites.

Credit: Adobe Stock/Funster. On May 26, 2026, a catastrophic failure of a white liquor tank at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility in Longview, WA, U.S.A., killed 11 workers and injured others. Eleven people went to work and never came home. Families have been changed forever, and a community will carry that loss long after the news cycle moves on.

Credit: Nirusmee / Adobe Stock The first wave of artificial intelligence in many workplaces helped people answer questions. The next wave will start taking action. That shift should get the attention of every health and safety leader. Traditional AI may summarize an incident report, draft a procedure, organize inspection notes, translate training material, identify patterns or help a safety professional compare information faster.

WorkSafeNB is expanding its Mental Health Monitoring Safeguard System to include the Moncton Fire Department and New Brunswick Coroner Services, aiming to identify psychological stress early. The initiative, launched in 2025 with the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick, provides digital tools for trauma-exposed workers to monitor their mental well-being. The secure platform allows daily and monthly check-ins, along with annual self-assessments.

Aug. 5, 2026, Jasper, Alta. – Alberta’s government is facing workplace safety related charges in the death of a firefighter who was struck by a tree about two years ago while tackling the massive wildfire in Jasper National Park. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety says the wildland firefighter was employed by the minister of forestry and parks when a tree fell on him in August 2024.

July 29, 2026 Health & Safety July 29, 2026, Ottawa, Ont. – A new national survey reveals that Canadians overwhelmingly support enhanced health and safety enforcement and stronger worker protections as the federal government reviews the Canada Labour Code. The Pollara Strategic Insights survey, commissioned by the Canadian Labour Congress and released July 21, 2026, found that every worker protection measure currently under review is viewed as fair by a significant majority of the public.

July 27, 2026 By OHS Canada Health & Safety WorkSafeBC is calling on employers to improve workplace culture as new research indicates that young workers often recognize hazards but hesitate to report them due to fears regarding job security or professional perception. This reluctance contributes to a trend where young and new employees remain at a disproportionately high risk of injury, particularly during their first months on the job.

Credit: Getty Images/Hailshadow. A maintenance planner at a mid-sized food-processing plant raises a machine-guarding concern on the depositor line. Two weeks later, her supervisor rewrites her shift pattern, moving her off days without explanation. Then he starts correcting her work in the morning meeting, loudly, in front of the contractors. She files a complaint. Within a week, HR has retained an external investigator.