CAALL — Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation

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Statement on the Integration of Occupational Health and Safety Concepts and Competencies into Education and Training

The integration of concepts and competencies in the area of OHS has been a subject of interest both in Canada and abroad. For example:

• In 2003, the International Section on Education and Training for Prevention of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) adopted a Protocol for the integration of occupational health and safety competencies into vocational and technical education and training (referred to as the Québec City Protocol).
• In 2006, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted international instruments establishing a promotional framework for occupational health and safety, which recommends a more effective integration of occupational health and safety concepts and competencies into vocational education and training programs.
• The federal, provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Labour have noted that preventing work accidents and occupational illness among young Canadians is a priority of their respective governments and that education plays a crucial role in raising awareness about occupational health and safety issues among youth.
• The provincial and territorial governments promote education as a means of informing elementary and high school students about occupational accident and illness prevention.
• In 2006, the Ministers Responsible for Labour adopted a Statement on Healthy Workplaces, which in particular provided for promoting awareness of the ties between work and health.
• In 2006, the Ministers Responsible for Labour also recognized that the youth of today represent the workforce of tomorrow and acknowledge that introducing into education and training sound occupational health and safety concepts and competencies at a young age will develop a culture that views healthy and safe workplaces as the standard.

In this favourable Canadian and international context, the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Labour:

1. Note
   1. That preventing workplace injuries and occupational illness among young Canadians is a key objective of their respective governments;
   2. That education delivered to students by teachers plays a crucial role in raising awareness about occupational health and safety issues among youth;
2. Acknowledge that the Québec City Protocol is a partnership model that holds promise for the future, notably by applying the following principles to education and training:
   • the acquisition of occupational health and safety competencies throughout the learning path, including within practicum placements;
   • regular evaluation of those competencies within the education system;
   • the need for occupational health and safety best practices, notably the sharing of information and experiences among governments;
   • the material, equipment and environment are in compliance with occupational health and safety regulatory and other pertinent standards.
3. Confirm their intention to strengthen their support for Canada’s international leadership in the area of occupational health and safety.

As part of their respective governmental responsibilities, the provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Labour agree to:

1. Promote the effective integration of occupational health and safety concepts and competencies where appropriate, through elementary, secondary and post-secondary education system, and training;
2. Foster interministerial cooperation in this matter;
3. Encourage partnerships among the government departments or agencies responsible for occupational health and safety and the government departments or agencies responsible for formal education and training.

January 25, 2007