We added more courses to our 2025 schedule and can’t wait to see you in our virtual and in-person classes. Ensuring that injured, ill, and disabled workers are protected in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. This challenge requires education, awareness and commitment from workers, unions, employers and the community at large. Prevention Link offers comprehensive training programs beneficial to workers, union and employer leadership.
Who should attend: WSIB representatives, Workers’ Compensation activists, RTW specialists, union leadership and union stewards, H&S representatives and activists, supervisors, human resources specialists, employers and young workers.
Choose from a variety of core curriculum or topical courses below. We made it easier for participants to register for our core curriculum training. Once you complete Level 2, you can take any level, in any order, afterwards. Topical courses are usually shorter and do not require any prerequisite. Sign up today OR we can provide training just for your members, staff or workplace! Contact us to schedule at your convenience at info@preventionlink.ca
CORE CURRICULUM
LEVEL 1: RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS – Virtual and in-person
Prerequisites: None.
» January 29 – February 12 (Virtual)
» February 24-25 (In-person)
» April 1-15 (Virtual)
» June 2-6 (In-person; combined with Level 2)
» September 3-17 (Virtual)
The first of six core certification courses offered within Prevention Link’s disability prevention curriculum. This introductory course begins by exploring the history of Ontario’s compensation system and the development of legislation and the general principles of the system.
Participants learn the basics of a disability prevention framework, including:
- Types of workplace injuries and occupational illnesses;
- The legal tests applied by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) when considering entitlement;
- The method to report an injury;
- The steps to initiate a claim;
- Reporting strategies, including time limits and potential penalties.
LEVEL 2: BENEFITS AND SERVICES – Virtual and in-person
Prerequisites: Level 1.
» February 19 – March 5 (Virtual)
» March 3-4 (In-person)
» April 16-30 (Virtual)
» June 2-6 (In-person; combined with Level 1)
» October 9-23 (Virtual)
In the second of six core certification courses, offered within Prevention Link’s core curriculum, participants will become familiar with the significance of legislation (WSIA), regulations, and policies, including the history of legislative change and Bills that have amended the WSIA.
Participants will:
- Explore changes to the legislation and their effects on benefits and services;
- Discuss the benefits and services available under three district eras;
- Explore benefit calculations including Non-Economic Loss (NEL) and Loss of Earnings (LOE).
LEVEL 3: APPEALS & DISPUTE RESOLUTION – In-person
WORKER ADVOCATE EDITION
Prerequisites: Level 1 & Level 2
» May 4-9
An interactive and analytical course, Prevention Link has developed a holistic and intuitive course meant to build participants into mock hearing settings. Using case file examples and mock hearings, this intensive course will provide participants with the practical skills to prepare and present oral hearings before the Workplace Safety Insurance Board as well as the Workplace Safety Insurance and Appeals Tribunal.
We will examine reviewing of the file; gathering additional evidence; researching law; policy and precedent; preparation of witnesses; and questioning, cross-questioning and re-direct at a hearing.
LEVEL 4: RETURN TO WORK – In-person
Prerequisites: Level 1 & Level 2
» March 23-24
This course is designed for those who will or currently assist injured workers individually or collectively through a therapeutic return to work (RTW) and provides workplace parties with the tools necessary to develop strategies that ensure successful outcomes.
» Tools for workplace parties to develop return-to-work (RTW) strategies
» Leading research, law, and evidence-based best practices
» Duty to accommodate, both provincial and federal
» Precedent-setting cases
» Practical tips for preparing and participating in RTW
» Roles, rights, and responsibilities of the parties
» Hierarchy of RTW job opportunities
» Dispute resolution and penalties
TOPICAL WORKSHOPS
RETURN TO WORK 101 – Virtual
» January 28
» May 14
» June 19
» December 2
This workshop provides participants with the tools to develop strategies to assist workers with disabilities, individually and collectively; and return them to long term healthy and productive employment. The workshop will review noteworthy case law and Human Rights legislation.
PRINCIPLES OF ACCOMMODATION LAW – Virtual
» January 29
» May 21
» June 26
» December 3
With a focus on the protected ground of disability and the social area of employment, this workshop will advance a participant’s understanding of human rights legislation and the Duty to Accommodate. The definitions of discrimination will be explored, the requirements for requesting and responding to accommodation needs will be outlined, and what constitutes “undue hardship” will be examined. This workshop provides participants with the resources and tools to develop strategies to assist workers with disabilities, individually and collectively, and support return to long-term healthy and productive employment.
PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH & SAFETY AND RETURN TO WORK – In-person
» September 28 – October 3
Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in Canada and workplaces that have a strong commitment to psychological health and safety, demonstrated by the behaviours of the workplace, have more success in Return to Work (RTW). This training provides participants with the resources and tools to develop strategies to assist workers with disabilities, individually and collectively, and support return to healthy and productive employment.
Who should attend: WSIB and Benefits Representatives, RTW Specialists, Health and Safety Representatives, Human Resources, Workplace Leadership and Union Stewards.
HEARINGS IN WRITING – Virtual
» January 30
This workshop will help participants understand the goals and challenges of legal submission writing and how to address them. In accordance with the WSIB’s Practice and Procedures and with WSIAT’s Practice Directions, participants will learn how to organize and structure submissions to be clear and reader focused. Using various outlines and templates, the traditional structure of a submission is examined with attention given to strategies and guidelines to produce an effective written hearing submission. Participants will explore making facts and law persuasive and the technical components of writing, including referring to and attaching documents and a professional format will be reviewed.
