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ADVANCED CONSULTING AND TRAINING
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Safety Audits
A safety audit is done at work sites to determine the efficiency, reliability & effectiveness of the health and safety procedures. These are done to ensure that the company’s day to day activities comply with safety regulations.
The individual that is conducting the safety audit should be a trained professional, so nothing is missed. ACT knows what to look for and can provide up to date knowledge and expertise when conducting an audit.
A workplace safety audit typically reviews company safety policies, hazard controls, training records, equipment safety, and compliance with applicable workplace regulations.
Safety audits should generally be conducted annually, or more frequently in high-risk industries such as construction or manufacturing.
Safety audits may be conducted by internal safety officers, health and safety committees, or external safety consultants depending on the organization.
First Aid
The most important factor in delivering effective first aid is training and preparation. If you have all your first aid certifications up to date and have learned and practiced the material, outcomes are much more likely to be positive. In emergency situations, every second counts. By being prepared you can ensure that care is provided as soon as it is needed.
First Aid Certificates are valid for a 3 year period.
Workplaces must have a sufficient number of trained first aid providers available at all times. Requirements vary based on the number of workers, the type of work being performed, and applicable workplace safety regulations.
First aid training prepares workers to respond to injuries such as cuts, burns, fractures, choking, cardiac arrest, and other workplace medical emergencies.
First aid training courses typically cover essential life-saving skills such as CPR, AED use, choking response, bleeding control, and treatment for common injuries like burns, fractures, and shock. Participants also learn how to assess emergencies, provide immediate care, and respond effectively until professional medical help arrives.
Safety Gap Analysis
A gap analysis is designed to promote safety and eliminate incidents in your business, leading to improved productivity and profitability.
A safety gap analysis involves several steps
- Identify the current state of safety in your organization In order to understand where to go, you first have to understand where you are. In this stage, a complete and honest look at your companies health and safety procedures must be examined.
- Identify where you want to be in your organization Once you have sorted out the big picture and fully understand how your business’ health and safety procedures work, you will have to decide where you want to be. Don’t be afraid to be ambitious, especially when it comes to health & safety in your workplace!
- Identify the gaps Once you have accurately identified your current situation and figured out where you would like to be in the future, now you will have to identify the gaps between the two. Make sure you choose the right gaps to close, and don’t get carried away trying to address too many at the same time. Prioritize the most important gaps that you need to close before moving onto other issues.
- Identify how to close the gaps Now that you’ve identified the gaps you are seeking to address, now come the time to create and implement a plan to bridge it. This involves concrete measures
Once you have completed a safety gap analysis, the next step is to put your plan into action! Make sure you don’t just leave your safety gap analysis on the shelf, it doesn’t do any good there. Make sure your plan is ambitious, but realistic. Make sure you don’t try and close too many gaps at once, as this can be extremely inefficient and will prevent real improvements from occurring.
A gap analysis can help us understand our current safety shortcomings and help us prioritize our needs and efforts to best address them. A gap analysis is designed to promote safety and eliminate incidents in your business, leading to improved productivity and profitability.
Joint Health & Safety Committees
A Joint health and safety committee is a group tasked with bringing a company or organization’s safety and responsibility system into practice. These committees meet regularly to discuss and manage health and safety issues, and are made up of employees and management. In smaller companies, there might be a health and safety representative in place of a committee. We offer courses designed to help you fully understand the role of the Joint Health and Safety Committee, and how to best organize one in your company.
1 to 5 employees: Your company is not required to have a Joint Health and Safety committee or a health and Safety representative, unless there are regulations specific for your work environment. 6 to 19 employees: Your company must have at least 1 health and safety representative. In some specific workplaces, you are required to have a Joint health and Safety Committee.
20 to 49 employees: Your company is required to have a Joint Health and Safety Committee with at least 2 members.
50 + employees: Your company is required to have a Joint Health and Safety Committee with at least 4 members. Advanced Consulting and Training will help you fully understand your and your workers roles in a Joint Health and Safety Committee to ensure compliance.
At least half of the committee members must be workers - meaning employees who do not have any management role. These committee members are chosen by the workers or trade union where applicable. The employer chooses the remaining half of the members, consisting of employees with management roles.
The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act mandates that Joint Health and Safety Committees meet at least every 3 months. We recommend that the Joint Health and Safety Committee in your business meet more frequently, especially the work involves using heavy machinery, hazardous substances or dangerous processes.
Step 1: Identify the hazards Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on control measures Step 4: Record your findings Step 5: Review your assessment and update as and when necessary
Workplace Safety
The best way to improve your safety procedures on a construction site is to have clear, easy to understand procedures & ensure all workers are trained and aware of the importance of following the safety guide. ACT helps to provide these plans so it is straightforward & easy to follow.
1) Health & Safety Policy statement of intent – this defines how your company intends to manage the health and safety risks as well as meet the requirements issued by the government. 2) Performance targets – This part of the policy is for your organization to commit to continually improving & following the guidelines laid out in the policy. These are the goals your organization aims to meet to show continued growth. 3) Who is responsible? – Each organization should have a designated member of the team who takes ownership of ensuring the safety policy is followed, and kept up to date.
Policies & procedures differ from one workplace to another. A professional safety audit will identify the risks & outline what policies and procedures are required to tackle each risk that is identified.
The main purpose of the Act is to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job. It sets out duties for all workplace parties and rights for workers.
In order to be on a construction site in Ontario, workers must first pass a WHIMIS certification course, working at heights training, and either a worker safety awareness or competent supervisor course depending on their role.
WHIMIS is extremely important as it helps workers understand potential risks and hazardous materials they might handle while working. It is for that reason that WHIMIS training needs to be retaken annually. A safe workplace is a productive workplace, so ensure that all training is up to date.
Booms, Lifts & Cranes
A boom lift is a type of aerial lift which allows for both vertical and horizontal reach. Boom lifts are especially useful for outdoor jobs at height, industrial tasks, construction projects, & more. Compared to scissor lifts, boom lifts have a higher reach and are more maneuverable however they also generally have a smaller work platform. The main advantage of boom lifts is that they give us access to difficult to reach places while also providing a stable and safe platform to work from.
Advanced Consulting & Training recommends taking refresher courses every 3 years. Regular retraining and refresher courses are an effective way to ensure AEWP Boom Lift Operators remain compliant to the rules and regulations and continue to practice safety best practices. If you or your employees would benefit from a refresher or retraining course, contact ACT today!
The two most commonly used boom lifts are the telescopic boom lifts (also called straight boom lift or stick boom lift) and the articulating boom lift. Telescopic boom lifts consist of a single hinged arm which can extend. Telescopic boom lifts are best for use in open spaces or within standard, rectangular structures. Articulating boom lifts have a variety of arms which are more maneuverable. Articulating boom lifts can move the platform into smaller spaces and around obstacles. Articulating boom lifts are best used in busy spaces and more complex structures where a telescopic boom lift would not be able to properly and safely steer into position. Advanced Consulting & Training offers training for both of these types of boom lifts to ensure you and your employees are able to work as safely as possible. Contact us today!
The difference between a boom lift & scissors lift is the mechanism that is used to lift the platform, and as a consequence the application of the lifts. Boom lifts with their telescopic arms are able to go up, down, forwards, backwards. Scissor lifts on the other hand only go up and down. Scissor lifts also don’t go as high as boom lifts, so they have more limited applications. The advantage of scissor lifts is that they have larger platforms which can carry more workers and a greater volume of materials. Scissor lifts are very common for construction, sign hanging, and maintenance jobs across a variety of industries. If you or your employees require scissor lift training, contact Advanced Consulting & Training today.
While not all scissor lifts are the same, generally speaking they can go between 20 to 50 feet (approx. 6 to 15 meters) high. The typical range for a scissor lift is 32 feet to 40 feet high (approx 10 to 12 meters). This height is ideal for a wide variety of construction and maintenance projects.
In Canada, licenses for scissor lifts are not granted. Licenses are issued by the government, and the government does not issue licenses for scissor lifts. What is required is Working at Heights for Construction or Industrial Fall Protection certification. To ensure safe operation of scissor lifts, we offer comprehensive AEWP/Scissor Lift Training. If you or your employees require scissor lift certification, contact Advanced Consulting & Training today! We provide the training that you need.
Overhead crane training is necessary because overhead cranes are widely used in a number of Overhead cranes, also called industrial cranes or overhead traveling cranes are used to move extremely heavy or bulky loads. They are most commonly found in industrial and maintenance environments where efficiency, downtime, and floorspace are critical factors. Overhead cranes are commonly found in the following work environments:
- Storage & warehouses
- Automotive industry
- Heavy equipment repair
- Metal manufacturing
- Concrete manufacturing
- Power plants
- Ship building
- Aviation
- Transportation & Shipping
Overhead crane training is necessary because overhead cranes are widely used in a number of manufacturing and maintenance environments. They move massive loads overhead, and the improper use of an overhead crane can be catastrophic. In order to safely operate an overhead crane, there are many safety protocols to follow, such as knowing the limits of the machinery, the weight of loads being carried, how to properly carry loads, how to be aware and safely operate in an environment with an overhead crane and more.
Overhead cranes are extremely useful in the workplace, however with improper use they have potential to cause serious injuries or even death. Our overhead crane safety course will help you be fully prepared to work with or near overhead cranes, however here are some basic safety tips to keep in mind:
- Do not engage in any activity that will distract you or divert your attention such as using your phone.
- Do not ever move loads over people.
- Avoid quickly changing or reversing direction
- Avoid swinging the load or hoist hook when the bridge trolley or hoist is traveling
- Never lift, lower, or transport people with the crane, hoist, trolle, hoist hook, or load
Contact Advanced Consulting & Training today if you or your staff require overhead crane training.
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
According to regulations, anyone who handles, offers for transport, or transports dangerous goods require transportation of dangerous goods certification. The Transportation of Dangerous Goods act defines hading as “loading, unloading, packing or unpacking dangerous goods in a means of containment for the purposes of, in the course of or following transportation and includes storing them in the course of transportation (manutention)” only. This includes a wide range of jobs such as truck drivers, warehouse workers, forklift operators, and many more.
A Transportation of Dangerous Goods certificate is not transferable between employers. That means when you change jobs, even if the responsibilities are the same, you will have to retrain. Your certificate has the name and address of your employer, and a new one must be obtained with updated information when you change jobs. This is done to ensure the highest level of safety and adherence to regulations.
The length of the validity of your transportation of dangerous goods certificate depends on the means of transportation being used to move the dangerous goods. If the dangerous goods are to be transported by aircraft the certificate is good for 24 months (2 years). If the dangerous goods are to be transported by other modes of transportation (road, sea, etc) the certificate is good for 36 months (3 years). If your transportation of dangerous goods certificate has expired, contact Advanced Consulting & Training today! We will work with you to get your certificates up to date.
Dangerous goods are substances or materials that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment during transportation. Examples include flammable liquids, compressed gases, explosives, corrosive substances, and toxic chemicals.
Shipping documents must include important details such as the product name, UN number, hazard classification, quantity of the goods, and emergency contact information. This information helps ensure the safe handling and transportation of hazardous materials.
TDG labels and placards are used to clearly identify hazardous materials during transportation. They help workers, carriers, and emergency responders quickly recognize the type of hazard and take appropriate safety precautions.
Working From Heights
Working from heights training is valid for 3 years from the date your certificate is issued. Once your working from heights training certification expires, you will be required to take a refresher course in order to remain compliant. If you or your employees need to get re-certified for working from heights training, contact Advanced Consulting & Training today.
Working from heights training is required for all those who work in construction. In Ontario this means all construction projects, regardless of the sector.
Simply put, a fall hazard is something that may cause someone to fall while working at heights. Examples of fall hazards on a construction site are: missing guardrails, misused or complete absence of protective equipment, improper raining, an unclean work environment (ex. An unclean spill or debris lying around the workplace). Working from heights training aims to reduce and eliminate fall hazards from your work environment to make doing your job safer and more effective.
Working at Heights training covers the proper use of common fall protection equipment such as full-body harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, anchor points, and guardrails. Participants learn how to inspect, use, and connect these systems correctly to prevent falls and reduce the risk of serious injury on the job site.
Fall protection is required whenever workers are exposed to a fall hazard at a height that could cause injury, according to workplace safety regulations. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and industry, but typically apply when working on elevated platforms, roofs, ladders, scaffolds, or near unprotected edges.
Before using fall protection equipment, workers should inspect all components for signs of damage, wear, or defects, including harness straps, buckles, lanyards, and connectors. Any damaged equipment should be removed from service immediately to ensure worker safety.
Forklifts
Forklift certifications are valid for 3 years. After three years, you will need theoretical and practical reassessment in order to get recertified and be able to continue to operate a forklift in compliance with Ontario’s safety regulations.
In Canada, there is no such thing as a forklift license. Only forklift certificates are awarded to students who show they are able to safely operate a forklift. The certificate may sometimes be referred to as a license, but it is not truly a license. Licenses are issued by the government and in Canada the government does not issue forklift licenses. If you or your employees require forklift certifications, contact Advanced Consulting & Training today!
In order to be a forklift operator, you do not need a driver's license or any other kind of license. The only certification that is required is forklift certification. If your job as a forklift operator entails the transportation of dangerous goods, you will also require a transportation of dangerous goods certificate.
Common forklift types include counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, pallet jacks, and rough-terrain forklifts. Each type is designed for different environments such as warehouses, distribution centers, and construction sites.
Before operating a forklift, operators should perform a pre-shift inspection that includes checking the brakes, steering, tires, forks, controls, lights, horn, and warning devices. Identifying issues before operation helps prevent equipment failures and workplace accidents.
Common forklift accidents include tip-overs, collisions with pedestrians or objects, falling loads, and improper stacking of materials. Proper training and safe operating practices help reduce these risks.
Confined Space Safety
A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed area that is not designed for continuous occupancy and may have limited entry or exit. These spaces can contain hazards such as low oxygen levels, toxic gases, flammable vapours, or restricted ventilation, which can pose serious risks to workers.
Confined spaces may contain hazards such as toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, flammable atmospheres, engulfment risks, and poor ventilation. These conditions can quickly become dangerous if proper safety procedures are not followed.
Confined space training is required for workers who may enter, work in, or supervise work around confined spaces where atmospheric or physical hazards may be present. Proper training helps workers recognize hazards and follow safe entry procedures.
Confined space training covers the proper use of safety equipment such as gas detectors, ventilation systems, full-body harnesses, lifelines, respiratory protection, and rescue equipment. Participants learn how to identify hazards, monitor atmospheric conditions, and use protective equipment correctly to safely work in confined spaces.
Material Handling And Safety
Material handling safety refers to the safe movement, storage, control, and protection of materials throughout a workplace. It includes both manual handling (lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling) and the use of equipment such as forklifts, hoists, and conveyors to reduce injury risks.
Common material handling hazards include:
- lifting loads that are too heavy
- improper lifting posture
- falling or improperly stacked materials
- being caught between objects or equipment
- collisions with moving machinery
These risks can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, crush injuries, and workplace accide
Mechanical equipment should be used when:
- the load is too heavy or awkward for one worker
- the object must be moved frequently or over long distances
- lifting requires repetitive movement
- the load must be lifted above shoulder height
Using tools like forklifts, hoists, or pallet jacks significantly reduces injury risk.
Material handling safety is important in any workplace where materials, supplies, or equipment are lifted, carried, moved, or stored. Common industries include, but are not limited to, construction, warehousing and logistics, manufacturing, transportation, retail, restaurants, healthcare, agriculture, and oil and gas. Workers in these environments frequently handle heavy or awkward items, making proper lifting techniques and safety procedures essential to prevent injuries and workplace accidents.
Material handling training helps workers understand safe practices when lifting, moving, and storing materials. Training typically covers topics such as:
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proper lifting and carrying techniques
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hazard recognition in the workplace
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equipment limitations and load capacity
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safe storage and stacking practices
By learning these skills, workers can reduce the risk of workplace accidents and prevent long-term musculoskeletal injuries.
Get in touch with us
Advanced Consulting & Training Ltd.
Address
Advanced Consulting and Training Ltd.
28 Capital Drive, Nepean, ON K2G 0E9
Contact Info
Telephone: (613) 225-5169
Telephone: (613) 225-5169
Fax: (613) 225-6409
