The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) and Health & Safety in Ontario

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast discusses the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) and the evolution of health and safety in Ontario's construction industry and features Brian Barron, CEO of the OCS.

Brian speaks on his extensive history in construction and health and safety in Ontario. Drawing on his experience as a former inspector with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and a construction small business owner, Brian shares that his transition from the MLITSD to CEO of the OCS was motivated by the OCS's commitment to improving the construction industry through collaboration between labour and management, as well as its focus on training and quality of life for workers.

Brian explains that the OCS, established in 1993 to support provincial-wide collective bargaining in the construction industry, has a three-part mandate: to facilitate collective bargaining with data and information, to provide opportunities to network between labour and management, and to advance unionized construction in the ICI sector.

Brian also explores topics on health and safety culture within Ontario’s construction industry, discussing improvements, current challenges, and the biggest health and safety priorities. He also explains factors that contribute to a stronger safety culture in unionized workplaces and the lessons non-unionized workplaces can take from them.

Free resources

The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS)

Entry Level Construction (IHSA training)

IHSA YouTube channel

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