Manitoba Integrated
Standardized Safety
Training

A project that aims to create a safe and healthy workforce in Manitoba

BACKGROUND

The primary goal of the Manitoba Integrated Standardized Safety Training (MISST) project was to conduct research leading to the development of a conceptual model that would guide the creation and implementation of a standards-based safety training system for Manitoba’s skilled building trades. This goal supported Manitoba’s Five-Year Plan for Workplace Injury and Illness, which had as goals: 1. To create a genuine culture of safety and 2. to reduce workplace injury.

Uniform training standards and a system by which those standards integrate into the commercial construction industry can help to ensure that the safety training provided to workers and employers throughout Manitoba is cost effective, consistent, reliable and transferrable.

Manitoba Building Trades (MBT) acted as the lead organization for the project and worked in partnership with the broad range of stakeholders, such as: WCB, SAFE Work Manitoba, Apprenticeship Manitoba; Allied Manitoba Sector Councils; employers; trade unions; high schools; colleges; pre-employment programs; and other health and safety organizations. This project was supported by a grant from the Research and Workplace Innovation Program of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

 

 

Results

To move towards the goal of standardization and integration of safety training delivery across the training system in the building trades, the MISST team:

  • Reviewed and analyzed the current safety training environment in Manitoba.
  • Created a partnership network including colleges and other stakeholders motivated to increase safety learning outcomes.
  • Developed a model for Standardized Safety Training which includes descriptions of key content areas for standardization, aspects of the current system that could be standardized and elements of other systems for consideration to support the goal of harmonization.
  • Provided a structural model detailing the requirements for implementation, maintenance and growth of the system including elements of importance such as organizing bodies, administrative structures and technology tools required to support rollout to the industry.
  • Transferred knowledge directly with the network of stakeholders/partners across the system as well as with the larger safety community through web, and print publications and attendance at events.

CURRENT STAGE:

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Phase 3 Completion

PHASES

The MISST project was completed in 3 phases over 16 months (from January, 2017 to April, 2018).

PHASE 1

January  – July 2017 

Partnership Development and Secondary Research

Partnerships were developed with the project stakeholder groups. An environmental scan of the current state of safety training in Manitoba’s commercial construction industry was completed with the project team surveying and reviewing over 100 industry members. Other secondary research included literature reviews of more than 10 national and international standards development organizations to determine best practice methods for developing standards both in the construction industry and in other industries.

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PHASE 2

July – November 2017

Primary Research

Extensive primary research was conducted across Manitoba including:

  • Structured interviews with more than 50 industry representatives including health and safety officers, company executives, trainers, training providers, colleges and apprenticeship.
  • Structured interviews with representatives from standards-based safety training systems in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • An industry-wide opinion survey sent to more than 300 curated members of the construction industry in Manitoba.  The results of this research clearly showed that a desire for standards in safety training existed and that other provinces had created successful systems that could inform a made-in-Manitoba solution.

PHASE 3

December 2017 – April 2018

Model Development

Working with the project stakeholders and using the results of the primary and secondary research, the project team identified a conceptual model that tied together the various items learned during the research and linked the research outcomes to structural models required to initiate and operate a standards-based safety training system in Manitoba. The models reflect best practices used in existing standards-based systems while also integrating Manitoba stakeholders’ views and priorities.

PROJECT SUPPORTERS

Manitoba Building Trades (MBT) is the lead organization for the project and has worked in partnership with the broad range of stakeholders, such as: WCB, SAFE Work Manitoba, Apprenticeship Manitoba; Allied Manitoba Sector Councils; employers; trade unions; high schools; colleges; pre-employment programs; and other health and safety organizations. This project is supported by a grant from the Research and Workplace Innovation Program of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

 

CONTACT

Manitoba Building Trades
510 – 136 Market Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P4
Phone: 204.956.7425

Fax: 204.956.7427
E-mail: info@mbtrades.ca

Questions about this project?

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