Operating context and key risks

Operating context

CCOHS is governed by a tripartite council representing governments (federal, provincial and territorial), employers, and labour organizations. The Council of Governors (Council) assists in overseeing a policy framework for a trustworthy and complete occupational health and safety service, and ensures that the information CCOHS disseminates is unbiased. CCOHS’ Council members are directly involved in the policy, governance and strategic planning for the organization. Council also assists with reviews of programs and services to help ensure that CCOHS’ information is impartial and relevant. Along with federal government support, CCOHS’ inquiries service is supported and partially funded from contributions provided by provincial and territorial governments.

Key risks

To deliver on its mandate, to promote health and safety in the workplace and to enhance the physical and mental health of working Canadians, CCOHS requires a strong complement of tripartite Governors ensures that a broad range of perspectives is represented on Council to:

Vacancies on the tripartite Council of Governors, whose members are appointed by Privy Council by Order in Council and whose members must provide representation from the employer, labour and provincial/territorial caucuses presents an ongoing potential risk to CCOHS’ ability to deliver on its mandate. Through its governance policies the Council of Governors and its Chair work to mitigate the risk of vacancies.

CCOHS faces ongoing funding risks as it relies heavily on cost recovery programs and contributions from partners to supplement its parliamentary appropriations and cover fixed costs. The CCOHS funding model is based upon the target of receiving fifty percent of its operating budget through its cost recovery efforts. Therefore, CCOHS’ products and services must be continually updated to be marketable.

CCOHS also works very closely with various government and non-profit partners. Changes to its partners’ funding can have a direct impact on its revenues and ability to deliver its products and services to workers and employers in Canada. CCOHS is proactively managing this risk by improving its cost recovery program and by continually seeking on-going partnerships with a variety of organizations.

In its efforts to further mitigate funding risks, CCOHS modified its federal funding model to allow for full cash surpluses to be carried forward for investment use in future years. This funding model change has enhanced CCOHS’ ability to plan strategically for investments in its product and services and to further expand CCOHS’ reach as a national occupational health and safety leader.

Investments in technology are monitored closely by CCOHS as continuous improvements in technology have significant impact on its operations and on its ability to deliver its mandate. CCOHS delivers the majority of its products and services to workers and employers in Canada through electronic delivery, and must stay up to date on new technology as traditional delivery methods for its content can quickly become unsustainable or out-dated. CCOHS has responded to this risk by expanding its on-line resources to include more specialized web portals, e-learning programs, webinars, podcasts, Facebook and Twitter promotion and on-line discussion groups. CCOHS also continues to develop mobile apps to help workers proactively assess hazards and risks. These new channels are integral to supporting CCOHS’ priority to expand its reach and impact on Canadians on a daily basis.

CCOHS continues to invest in the technology required to support these new communication channels and is challenged to do so with a limited operating budget.

  • In addition to actively managing governance, funding and technology risks CCOHS also must manage the risk of becoming impartial. The loss of impartiality from losing the CCOHS.ca domain from which to deliver services would have a direct impact on CCOHS’ ability to fulfill its mandate. The purpose of the CCOHS Act is to promote the fundamental right of Canadians to a healthy and safe working environment and cooperative advancement of occupational health and safety, in whose governing body represents the interests and concerns of workers, trade unions, employers, federal, provincial and territorial authorities, professional and scientific communities and the general public. CCOHS delivers on its mandate through evaluations where the level of satisfaction in the quality and impartiality of the organization is reviewed. In addition,

    CCOHS utilizes tripartite participation in the review of new programs, products and services to provide objective advice for the relevancy, credibility of new unbiased products and services.

    Key risks
    Risks Risk response strategy and effectiveness Link to department’s Core Responsibilities Link to mandate letter commitments and any government wide or departmental priorities (as applicable)
    • Funding Risk
    • Operating deficit due to the reliance from partners.
    • Changes to our partners’ funding can have a direct impact on our revenues and our ability to deliver our products and services to Canadians.
    • CCOHS maintains regular contact with all partners and proactively seeks new partnerships. In collaboration with these partners, new products and services are developed which will service the partner’s jurisdiction.
    • The learnings from these collaborative jurisdictional partnerships further enhance CCOHS’ development of tripartite occupational health and safety information which can be shared with a broader range of workers and employers across Canada.
    • CCOHS is increasing its focus on cost recoveries in order to continue to enhance its ability to provide easy access to occupational health and safety information and services on a broad range of topics to workers and employers in Canada with a focus to promote awareness and improved workplace practices.
    • National Occupational Health and Safety Resource
    • Canadians can easily access CCOHS’ occupational health and safety information and services.
    • Canadians have an increased awareness of occupational health and safety issues in the workplace.
    • Occupational health and safety information is used to improve workplace practices.
    • Technology Risk
    • Technology changes are impacting the way in which we must deliver our products.
    • The majority of CCOHS’ products and services are delivered electronically so it is essential that CCOHS stay up-to-date on new technology.
    • CCOHS has discontinued the sale of CD based products and expanded its internet-based products and information channels.
    • CCOHS continues to develop apps to deliver its key services to mobile devices.
    • CCOHS also continues to expand its reach by adopting new methods by which to deliver its services such as podcasts and through social media.
    • National Occupational Health and Safety Resource
    • Canadians can easily access CCOHS’ occupational health and safety information and services.
    • Canadians have an increased awareness of occupational health and safety issues in the workplace.
    • Occupational health and safety information is used to improve workplace practices.
    • Impartiality Risk
    • Loss of CCOHS.ca domain from which to deliver services.
    • CCOHS will have an Institutional Profile on the Government of Canada.ca website while maintaining a separate CCOHS website.
    • National Occupational Health and Safety Resource
    • Canadians can easily access CCOHS’ occupational health and safety information and services.
    • Canadians have an increased awareness of occupational health and safety issues in the workplace.
    • Occupational health and safety information is used to improve workplace practices.