Move beyond compliance to master safety leadership as an operational control. Learn to verify critical safeguards, stop drift, and drive real accountability in the field.
Transform how you lead workplace safety with Leadership, Occupational Health and Safety, a one-day session built for supervisors, managers, and safety professionals who want safety to function in the field, not just on paper.
This course moves beyond administrative compliance and into the operational discipline that prevents harm: identifying critical controls, setting clear standards, and verifying that those controls are actually working under real conditions.
You will learn how “drift” takes hold when shortcuts become normal, why assumptions are not a safety strategy, and how to use direct observation and evidence to confirm that work is truly controlled.
We also cover the legal foundation leaders are accountable for, including due diligence and “reasonable in the circumstances” decision-making, and we connect it to practical leader behaviour that shapes reporting, trust, and follow-through.
In this session, you will learn how to:
Lead vs. manage safety by shifting from paperwork and rules to standards, control performance, and verification.
Build verification habits using a “show me” approach that tests controls in real time, rather than relying on verbal reassurance.
Apply legal responsibilities and demonstrate due diligence through clear decisions, visible action, and solid documentation.
Intervene effectively using a Five-Step Model that corrects at-risk actions calmly, professionally, and without triggering defensiveness.
Strengthen hazard identification and control selection using tools such as the Hierarchy of Controls and energy-based thinking.
Improve incident response by separating worker actions from system failures, then implementing corrective actions that are measurable and verifiable.
Shape safety culture through what you tolerate, what you reinforce, and what you consistently verify at the point of work.
By the end of the day, you will have a practical toolkit for turning safety information into better decisions, conducting defensible investigations, and creating a work environment where people report hazards early, leaders respond consistently, and accountability is clear.
Trainer | Mentor | Performance Driven | Hands-On Trouble Shooter
John Duplessis, B.Sc., CRSP, is a recognized leader in Occupational Health & Safety (OH\&S), dedicated to helping organizations build safer, more resilient workplaces. With over 30 years of experience in high-risk sectors—including oil & gas, construction, green energy, and manufacturing—John has built a reputation for translating complex safety legislation and standards into clear, practical strategies that drive measurable results. An internationally respected trainer and consultant, John has delivered programs across Canada and abroad on topics such as ISO 45001 implementation, incident investigation, safety leadership, and building strong safety cultures. His approach emphasizes leadership at every level—engaging executives, supervisors, and front-line workers alike—to foster systems that balance top-down accountability with bottom-up input. John’s career includes senior safety roles in major energy and construction firms, as well as decades of consulting, auditing, and mentoring.
This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.
If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.
