NEW HORIZONS IN SAFETY SUMMIT 2026

CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH, POLICY, AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS

FULL AGENDA

8:30-9:10 | OPENING ADDRESS

GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP REMARKS ON WORKPLACE SAFETY

City of Markham • Member of Parliament • Minister of MLITSD - Ministry of Labour

Welcome & Opening Address: Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Logan Kanapathi, MPP - Markham Thornhill, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction
Hon. David Piccini Minister, Ministry of Labour Immigration Trades & Skills Development
Dr. Joel Moody, Chief Prevention Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister

9:10-10:00 | PLENARY 1

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Session Summary: AI is rapidly reshaping how occupational health and safety professionals identify hazards, manage risk, and protect workers. Drawing on research from the Partnership on AI and the Quality of Work at the Institute for Work & Health, this session will cut through the hype to clarify what we know, and don’t know, about AI in OHS. This session will also examine emerging evidence on its risks and opportunities, and provide practical, policy-relevant guidance to help OHS professionals innovate responsibly while ensuring worker health and safety remain central. A roundtable discussion will follow where panelists will discuss their experiences working with AI tools in the field and provide their perspectives on how to best optimize the use of the technology for OHS.

Institute for Work & Health • 4S Consulting • App Mastery • Manulife • PointClickCare

Dr. Arif Jetha | Presenter Bio

Dr. Arif Jetha is Associate Scientific Director and Scientist at the Institute for Work & Health and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He researches how the future of work, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), affects worker health, safety, and wellbeing. He directs the federally funded Partnership on AI and the Quality of Work (PAIQ). Arif holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and PhD from the University of Toronto.

10:00-10:45 | PANEL DISCUSSION

BILL 30 WORKING FOR WORKERS ACT 7: IMPACT AND OPPORTUNITIES, BILL 70 WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT, BILL 72 THE BUY ONTARIO ACT

MLITSD • 4S Consulting Services • Ontario Road Builders Association

10:45-11:00 | COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING

11:00-12:00 | PLENARY 2

MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WSIB HEALTH AND SAFETY EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

Join Ontario safety leaders for an interactive session exploring how real-world data and evidence can strengthen workplace health and safety programs. Featuring insights from a five-year evaluation of the WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program, this discussion will highlight how research can drive practical improvements and help create safer, healthier workplaces across Ontario.

University of British Columbia • 4S Consulting • WSIB

Dr. Chris McLeod | Presenter Bio

Dr. Christopher McLeod is an Associate Professor and Director of the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety at the University of British Columbia's School of Population and Public Health. For over twenty years, he has dedicated himself to improving workplace safety by evaluating programs and systems across Canada. Coming from a working-class background, Chris is passionate about sharing research that helps businesses make smarter decisions, protect workers' health, and find practical solutions. His current work explores how climate change affects worker health, the impact of mental health and substance use on well-being, and challenges facing workers in high-risk industries and communities.

12:00-12:30 | AWARDS PRESENTATION

4S CONSULTING SAFETY RECOGNITION AWARDS

4S Consulting

12:301:15 | LUNCH & NETWORKING

12:45-1:05 | LUNCHEON SPEAKER

FROM INJURY TO EMPLOYMENT

Afiya Spine and Pain Institute

Dr. Zameer Pirani, MD, FRCPC (Anesthesia) & FRCPC (Pain Medicine), Principal Co-Founder, Afiya Spine and Pain Institute
Dr. Ahilraj Siva, Interventional Spine and Joint Specialist, HBSc(Eng), MD, FRCPC(PM&R), FAAPMR FRCPC(Pain Med), FIPP, CIPS, Founder, Afiya Spine and Pain Institute
Dr. Abhitej Rewari, MD, FRCPC Anaesthesia & Interventional Pain Specialist

1:15-2:15 | EARLY AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS SAFETY

WSIB • Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS)

DESIGNING THE SAFER TRANSIT BUS: INNOVATION FOR OPERATOR HEALTH

Centennial College • Toronto Transit Commission • Amalgamated Transit Union

Introduction - Jonathan Hack (Dean, Centennial Innovates)
Moderator: Dr Wenzi Ckurshumova (Assoc Director Sustainable Transportation and Transit Research at Centennial college)
Panelists: Naina Dewan (Manager of New Technology and Innovation, Toronto Transit Commission), Andrew Falotico (Health and Safety Director, ATU International), Dr Sarah Fox (Assistant Professor, Carnegie Mellon University), 1 additional panelist TBA

ADVANCING MSD PREVENTION IN WORKPLACE SYSTEMS: FROM EVIDENCE TO SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) remain the leading type of workplace injury claim in Ontario, representing more than one‑third of all lost‑time claims and one‑quarter of associated costs. MSD are preventable injuries and every workplace—big or small—can take meaningful action to reduce these injuries. Effective MSD prevention requires strong leadership commitment, a systematic approach, and active worker engagement throughout implementation. This session will showcase evidence‑based resources from the MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario, including the 10‑step framework, Quick Start Guidelines for small businesses, and the ERGO‑ROI calculator for estimating the return on investment of ergonomic interventions. It will also highlight real‑world success stories demonstrating the long‑term benefits of integrating ergonomics into organizational systems and explore emerging research on evolving technology and artificial intelligence (AI) and their potential to enhance workplace MSD prevention.

This session will demonstrate how workplaces can transition from a reactive state of responding to injuries toward achieving measurable, long‑term impacts on worker health and organizational performance. By showcasing evidence‑based tools from the MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario, real‑world implementation stories, and emerging research on new technology, the session highlights how systematic, leadership‑driven MSD prevention efforts translate into tangible outcomes resulting in reduced injury rates, stronger safety culture, and improved organizational performance.

University of Waterloo – CRE-MSD

Dr. Jack P. Callaghan | Presenter Bio

Dr. Jack Callaghan is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo, with a cross-appointment in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. His research focuses on the causes of spine injuries, particularly how cumulative loading affects spinal tissues. He has received major research funding from NSERC and CIHR and has collaborated with a range of industry partners, including companies in automotive and office furniture manufacturing.

2:15-2:30 | COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING

2:30-3:30 | LATE AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

TRANSFORMING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE OF ONTARIO'S WORKFORCE THROUGH FIELD RESEARCH AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance

BUILDING AN OUTCOMEFOCUSED APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY

Mental health injuries are increasingly complex and often require longer, less predictable recovery journeys, challenging compensation systems to reconsider how support is designed and delivered. This session explores how WSIB’s Mental Health Strategy is being shaped in response to growing expectations for more coordinated, evidence-informed approaches to mental health at work. The presentation will describe how WSIB is placing greater emphasis on recovery and return to work through integrated case management, innovative health-care models, and stronger alignment between recovery and return to work supports. Participants will gain insight into current initiatives, emerging practices, lessons learned in managing mental health claims, along with a clearer understanding of the supports available to Ontario employers and workers. The session will conclude with an interactive discussion to support shared learning across the system.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

Julie Thurlow | Presenter Bio

Julie Thurlow is the Vice President of Specialized Claims and Recovery Services at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in policy, epidemiology, claims management, health services, and analytics. Previously involved in mental health and epidemiology research, she is a graduate of the Ivey Executive Leadership Program and has earned awards for expanding access to mental health services and for excellence in teaching. Julie holds an Honours Health Sciences degree from McMaster University and a Master of Health Sciences in Community Health and Epidemiology from the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

SAFETY COMPLIANCE AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

Sherrard Kuzz LLP • 4S Consulting

Michael G. Sherrard | Presenter Bio

Michael is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading employment and labour lawyers, earning distinctions from Chambers Global®, Lexology®, Legal 500®, Best Lawyers®, expert®, and Canadian Occupational Safety®. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers® and holds a King’s Counsel. Known for strategic excellence and exceptional client service, he is praised by Chambers Global® for his specialist expertise in union contract and negotiation matters. A former Chair of both the Canadian Bar Association’s and Ontario Bar Association’s Labour and Employment Law Sections, Michael is a prolific speaker and author, advising national and international clients across diverse industries.