ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
EMPLOYMENT
The goal of the Employment pillar of the Accessible Canada Act is to ensure access to employment opportunities and accessible workplaces.
Being a diverse and inclusive employer is a priority of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). CCOHS has made meaningful progress on the objectives of our first three-year Accessibility Plan (2022) by:
- enhancing our hiring policy and procedure with an accessibility lens, making information available and accessible to job seekers, internal and external candidates. Candidates are supported to compete for positions to their full potential.
- several of our other key employment policies, procedures and practices have been enhanced with an accessibility lens and information is made available and accessible to employees, supporting them to achieve their full potential.
- employees were trained on neurodiversity and awareness campaigns supported efforts to leverage the talents and contributions of neurodiverse people.
- we have and continue to seek input from our knowledgeable workforce about our efforts and practices, respond to and action feedback.
The goal of CCOHS for this pillar for this three-year Plan is to provide persons with disabilities with access to career and advancement opportunities and an employment experience free of physical and psychosocial barriers.
This goal is informed by consultations which told us that:
- employees want to feel confident in raising their need for accommodation or support in any stage of the employment life cycle
- managers want to feel equipped with tools and resources to engage in these conversations effectively
The objectives for this pillar for this three-year Plan are to:
- continue our focus toward supporting neurodiverse employees by promoting inclusive leadership practices and providing training to all people managers.
- consult with employees and stakeholders to refine policies and practices, ensuring they remain responsive and effective.
- embed accessibility into all stages of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment, onboarding, training, performance and talent management, where inclusion is consistently prioritized and practiced.
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The goal of the Built Environment pillar of the Accessible Canada Act is to ensure all people can move freely around federal buildings and public spaces.
Our physical building is a leased space managed by a third-party organization, in conjunction with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and intended to meet or exceed current accessibility standards. CCOHS has made meaningful progress on the objectives of our first three-year Accessibility Plan (2022) by partnering with PSPC on our building accessibility audit and action plans.
The goal of CCOHS for this pillar for this three-year period is to continue to partner with property management and Public Services and Procurement Canada to improve the accessibility of our building and continue to reinforce a scent free environment.
This goal is informed by consultations which told us that:
- accessibility of parking spots and outside walkways can be hindered at times.
- building entrances are not accessible to people with mobility challenges.
- building navigation can be challenging.
- there are lighting issues in areas of our building.
The objectives for this pillar are to:
- work with Public Services and Procurement Canada to ensure that all new facility fit-ups/construction are accessible.
- assess existing facilities to identify potential accessibility upgrades to be incorporated into planned/future projects.
- continuously engage internal and external stakeholders to identify and remove barriers to the built environment and use innovative or novel technologies to support accessibility.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT)
The goal of the Information and Communication Technologies pillar of the Accessible Canada Act is to ensure the accessibility of digital content and technologies.
CCOHS has historically made consistent efforts to address accessibility in our technology by way of proactive software accessibility standards training and accessibility reviews of newly released products. CCOHS has made meaningful progress on the objectives of our first three-year Accessibility Plan (2022) by consistently integrating accessibility into our digital platforms and services. Each project is approached with a clear commitment to ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards, so that websites and applications are inclusive and usable for all. Rather than treating accessibility as a one-time initiative, this work is embedded into the design and development process on a project-by-project basis, ensuring that every deliverable meets established accessibility requirements.
To verify compliance, industry-standard tools are employed throughout the testing process. Screen readers such as NVDA and JAWS remain central to accessibility evaluations, complemented by trusted browser extensions and manual checking to validate usability across diverse scenarios. This combination of automated and manual methods ensures that accessibility is not only technically compliant but also practically effective for end users.
Upgrades and enhancements have been implemented across existing CCOHS systems to improve accessibility. These include updates to the Business Safety Portal, CANManage, the CCOHS website, the Psychological Safe Team Assessment (PSTA), E-Commerce platforms, and WHMIS.org. Each of these systems has undergone accessibility improvements to better support users with varying needs and to align with WCAG requirements.
To strengthen internal expertise, online courses have been purchased and provided to Web Developers and UX/UI designers. This training ensures that accessibility principles are embedded directly into the design and development process, equipping staff with the knowledge and skills to maintain and advance accessibility across all ICT initiatives.
The goal of CCOHS for this pillar for this three-year period is to provide all users, including those with disabilities, with modern tools that enhance productivity and improve efficiency, while providing a supportive and inclusive technology environment.
This goal is informed by consultations which told us that:
- some systems are incompatible with assistive technology.
- legacy systems are not built with native accessibility features, making them difficult to use without assistive technology.
Our objectives for this pillar are to:
- strengthen accessibility by continuing to ensure that internally developed or acquired systems, hardware and software meet modern accessibility standards.
- develop and communicate policies and procedures for accessible digital services technology.
- continue to consistently integrate accessibility into our digital platforms and services during the design and development process on a project-by-project basis, ensuring that every deliverable meets established accessibility requirements.
- professional development continues to reinforce these practices; training and continuing education courses for Digital Services employees will further strengthen expertise and ensure that accessibility efforts remain aligned with evolving standards and best practices.
COMMUNICATIONS (other than ICT)
The goal of the Communications pillar of the Accessible Canada Act is to ensure barrier free services and spaces for persons with disabilities.
CCOHS is committed to accessible communications and produces materials in multiple accessible formats. CCOHS has made meaningful progress on the objectives of our first three-year Accessibility Plan (2022) by:
- Embedding accessibility and plain language principles across all organizational communication channels.
- Visual communications have also advanced, with 86.7% of posters updated to meet accessibility standards, and work underway to apply the same standards to infographics. Improvements to the CCOHS website continue as a direct result of the accessibility audit conducted in March 2024, ensuring that digital content remains compliant and responsive to user needs.
- Our national Spell it Out campaign continues to be executed through social media, newsletters, and events, raising awareness about the importance of using plain language when communicating health and safety information. This initiative reinforces our commitment to clarity and inclusiveness in all public-facing communications.
- All new communication products, including documents, posters, infographics, podcasts, and videos—are now produced to meet accessibility requirements. This includes the provision of alt descriptions, transcripts, and text-only formats, ensuring that content is accessible to all audiences. In addition, we continue to offer sign language options for hosted events, including national Safety and Health Week webinars and the CCOHS Forum, further expanding accessibility for participants.
- Together, these efforts demonstrate meaningful progress in ensuring that communication practices are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with best practices in plain language and accessibility standards.
The goal of CCOHS for this pillar for this three-year period is to continue to provide credible informational assets and services in clear language that are easily accessible and inclusive to persons with disabilities.
This goal is informed by consultations which told us that:
- some communications are too long, complex, and academic in nature.
- internal communications not always clear, and often too long.
- more clear and inclusive language in employee communication.
- larger font sizes could be used.
- navigation of our website could be improved.
- website is not “accessibility-reader” friendly.
- too many acronyms are used in communications.
- inconsistent look and feel on website can cause confusion.
Our objectives for this pillar are to:
- perform a comprehensive content review of the CCOHS Style Guide, available on the myCCOHS intranet for easy access by all staff, to align with evolving plain language communication guidance. This ensures that our materials remain clear, inclusive, and user-friendly.
- continue to promote the CCOHS Spell-it-Out campaign to raise awareness about the importance of communicating in plain language.
- ensure that internal and external digital content is accessible.
- provide communications products and events in accessible formats.
PROCUREMENT OF GOODS, SERVICES AND FACILITIES
The goal of the Procurement pillar of the Accessible Canada Act is to ensure the purchasing of goods, services and facilities is accessible.
CCOHS is committed to procurement of accessible goods and services and being accessible to those who procure services from us. CCOHS has made meaningful progress on the objectives of our first three-year Accessibility Plan (2022) by:
- Embedding accessibility considerations into our financial and procurement practices. Those in Finance responsible for procurement have successfully completed a course designed to strengthen inclusive procurement processes. This achievement ensures that accessibility requirements are consistently applied when evaluating vendors, products, and services, and that procurement decisions align with organizational accessibility goals.
The goal of CCOHS for this pillar is to continue to modernize our procurement practices so that the goods and services we procure are accessible.
This goal is informed by consultations which told us that:
- Accessibility is not sufficiently contemplated in procurement process.
Our objectives for this pillar are to:
- incorporate accessibility into our procurement and contracting documents, templates, and guidance.
DESIGN AND DELIVERY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
The goal of the Design and Delivery of Programs and Services pillar of the Accessible Canada Act is to ensure Canadians receive services that are accessible to all.
CCOHS prioritizes accessibility in the design and delivery of our products are services. CCOHS has made meaningful progress on the objectives of our first three-year Accessibility Plan (2022) by:
- Our team has completed a comprehensive curriculum of training focused on plain language writing and principles, reinforcing our commitment to clear and inclusive communication. All current and new PDF publications are now fully accessible, with alt text provided for all non-decorative images and plain language applied to tables and content wherever possible.
- Accessibility has also been embedded into our evaluation tools. The Inquiries Satisfaction Survey is now fully compatible with screen readers in both English and French, with correct language attributes applied when toggling between languages. The survey can be navigated using keyboard-only commands and remains functional with Windows Magnifier enabled, ensuring usability for individuals with diverse needs. To further strengthen our practices, both our team and the Communications Team participated in the Writing Alt Text for Accessibility course offered by Accessibility Services Canada.
- In the area of e-learning, new CCOHS courses undergo evaluation using the NVDA screen reader, and all new courses now include closed captioning. The Learning Management System has been updated to support closed captioning functionality, and all employees in Education Services have been trained on WCAG standards for contrast. Training on motion accessibility is scheduled for completion in 2025. Enhancements have also been introduced to support learners with visual impairments, including the capacity to add descriptive audio and text to animations. While this capability has not yet been fully implemented, we plan to provide dual video options—one with descriptive text and one without—to balance accessibility with instructional clarity.
- Legacy technology that did not support screen readers has been discontinued, and all courses have been migrated to Rise, a platform that enables screen reading technology.
- New initiatives have further expanded our accessibility efforts. We have consulted with subject matter experts to ensure that accessibility features meet client needs, incorporating feedback to improve subsequent courses. Standard upgrades have been implemented in Rise to better meet accessibility requirements, such as providing accessible alternatives to drag-and-drop activities. We are also exploring the integration of sign language, beginning with ASL in our Violence in the Workplace course, with potential expansion to other courses in the future.
- Accessibility has been reviewed across neurological, speech, visual, and auditory dimensions. For neurodiverse and anxious learners, changes such as replacing the red “X” with a faded grey symbol for incorrect answers, removing background music to reduce cognitive overload, and providing answer-specific feedback have improved usability. Auditory accessibility has been enhanced by removing in-course audio to avoid duplication with screen readers, while visual accessibility has been strengthened through adjustments to course colour palettes, increased opacity on image overlays, and more careful classification of images as informative versus decorative.
The goal of CCOHS for this pillar for this three-year period is to continue to review each product and service to determine how we can further integrate accessibility features.
This goal is informed by consultations which told us that:
- not all our e-learning courses are fully accessible.
- products and software we use can create limitations regarding accessibility.
- greater involvement of accessibility groups in review of our products is needed.
- more in-house expertise trained in accessibility to produce our courses, content.
Our objectives for this pillar are to:
- explore the addition of accessibility surveys at the end of courses to ensure compliance with WCAG requirements and to gather valuable feedback from learners.
- use customer surveys focused on accessibility of products and services and determine if the users encounter barriers to accessibility.
- consult with various subject matter experts to determine if the accessibility meets their clients' needs.
- review results for upgrades to existing products and services.
- incorporate accessibility feedback into our e-courses and implement changes.
- provide accessibility training for those developing and designing products and services.
- add sign language to various products and procedures where possible.
- review neurological, speech, visual and auditory accessibility.
- ensure that new products and services comply with the Accessibility Plan.
TRANSPORTATION
The goal of the Transportation pillar of the Accessible Canada Act is to ensure a barrier-free federal transportation network.
CCOHS is not engaged in any transportation related work. The pillar is listed here as a requirement of the Act, but there are no activities applicable to CCOHS.
