Basics of Supervising
Workers are often promoted to a supervisory position because of their high-quality work and experience. This one day Basics of Supervising program gives provincially regulated workers the training they need to become effective supervisors.
Participants will learn how to fulfill their role as a supervisor and about their responsibilities under Ontario law to manage health and safety in the workplace. Once they understand what to do, the program then gives them the tools to meet their health and safety responsibilities and ensure a productive workplace.
Course Overview and Scope:
Legal Responsibilities
Elements of Supervising
Supervisor Safety Tasks
This course is offered in Ottawa and the surrounding area, with the option for in-person training at our local facility or on-site at your workplace if suitable space is available. Whether you're an individual looking to develop your leadership skills or an employer aiming to train new supervisors, this course provides the knowledge and confidence needed to lead safely and effectively in any provincially regulated work environment.
-
Basics of Supervising training is designed to help supervisors understand their responsibilities related to workplace leadership, hazard recognition, communication, and health and safety compliance in Ontario workplaces.
The course helps supervisors develop practical knowledge that can be applied in real workplace situations, including how to recognize hazards, respond to incidents, conduct inspections, communicate with workers, and support a strong workplace safety culture.
Topics commonly covered may include:
Supervisor duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)
The Internal Responsibility System (IRS)
Hazard recognition and hazard controls
Workplace inspections and documentation
Incident reporting and investigations
Work refusals and worker rights
Due diligence and supervisory responsibilities
Workplace communication and safety leadership
The course is designed to combine Ontario health and safety requirements with practical workplace application to help supervisors feel more confident in their role.
Effective supervisors play a critical role in workplace safety, communication, and hazard prevention. Proper supervisor training helps individuals understand their responsibilities under Ontario health and safety legislation while building the practical skills needed to support safer and more productive workplaces.
-
Under Ontario health and safety legislation, supervisors are expected to be “competent persons,” meaning they must have the knowledge, training, and experience necessary to organize work safely and help protect workers from hazards.
A competent supervisor should:
Understand the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and applicable regulations
Be familiar with workplace hazards and safe work practices
Be capable of identifying and addressing potential dangers
Understand how to communicate safety expectations clearly
Support safe work procedures and workplace compliance
Supervisor training helps individuals better understand their responsibilities and develop the practical knowledge needed to help maintain safer workplaces.
-
The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is a key concept within Ontario workplace health and safety legislation. The IRS is based on the idea that everyone in the workplace plays a role in helping maintain a safe and healthy work environment.
This includes:
employers,
supervisors,
workers,
health and safety representatives,
and workplace committees.
Supervisors play an important role within the IRS by:
identifying hazards,
communicating safety concerns,
supporting workers,
conducting inspections,
and helping ensure safe work procedures are followed.
A strong Internal Responsibility System helps improve communication, accountability, and overall workplace safety culture.
-
Basics of Supervising courses are designed to provide supervisors with practical workplace safety and leadership knowledge.
Topics commonly covered may include:
Ontario health and safety legislation
Employer, supervisor, and worker duties
Hazard identification and hazard controls
Workplace inspections
Work refusal procedures
Incident investigations and reporting
Workplace documentation requirements
New worker orientation
Due diligence and supervisory responsibilities
Communication and leadership skills
Courses may also include practical discussions, workplace examples, and real-world scenarios to help participants apply what they learn in everyday work environments.
-
Yes. DNT Safety Training offers Basics of Supervising training in Ottawa and throughout Ontario, including on-site training options for workplaces, employers, and organizations.
On-site supervisor training can help organizations provide practical and convenient training for crews, team leads, and supervisors while supporting workplace health and safety goals.
Training may be beneficial for construction, industrial, maintenance, manufacturing, and commercial workplaces.
-
At DNT Safety Training, we believe supervisor training should go beyond simply reviewing legislation. Our goal is to help supervisors build practical workplace leadership and safety skills that can be applied in real-world situations.
Our Basics of Supervising training focuses on:
practical workplace application,
hazard awareness,
communication,
due diligence,
inspections,
and real supervisory responsibilities.
Why workers and employers across Ottawa and Ontario choose DNT Safety Training:
Practical and engaging supervisor training
Experienced and approachable instructors
Training grounded in Ontario workplace realities
Real-world workplace examples and discussions
Strong focus on workplace communication and safety culture
On-site training available across Ottawa and Ontario
Flexible scheduling for workplaces and teams
Training designed to be informative, practical, and easy to follow
Whether you are a new supervisor, experienced team lead, or employer looking to strengthen workplace safety leadership, DNT Safety Training is committed to providing high-quality supervisory training that supports safer and more productive workplaces across Ontario.
