2025 submissions now open!
Win up to $10,000 by telling us what your small business has done over the past year to improve your workplace health and safety.
We know how hard small business owners and operators work to keep their employees healthy and safe. That’s why each year we recognize the health and safety achievements of independently owned and operated businesses with fewer than 50 employees through our Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Awards.
The top three businesses will receive a monetary prize:
- Gold – $10,000
- Silver – $6,000
- Bronze – $4,000
Submissions are due May 14, 2025.
Celebrating our 2024 award winners
Congratulations to the 2024 Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Awards winners:
Gold winner
Invasive Phragmites Control Centre, Langton
Rodney C. Cook (centre left), Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services, presents the gold 2024 Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Award to Janice Gilbert (centre right), Executive Director of Invasive Phragmites Control Centre. The Invasive Phragmites Control Centre team members are (left to right) Gerry Farnham, Gabriele Hertweck, Jayden McGleish, Francis Chua, Ryan Davison, Chuck Simpson, Nicole Leversidge, Danalynn Williams, Dana Daetwyler, absent: Wesley Good.
Invasive Phragmites Control Centre is a not-for-profit that helps control Canada’s worst invasive plant, Phragmites, in fields and wetlands across Ontario. The organization established a comprehensive health and safety management system and focused on reducing the risk of heat-related incidents. They developed a detailed procedure for controlling heat stress and engaging their team, including monitoring weather conditions, providing access to cool drinking water and holding regular safety meetings.
Check out what it means to Invasive Phragmites Control Centre to be recognized as a health and safety leader in Ontario.
Video information is available as a text transcript with descriptions of visuals.
Silver winner
Mary’s Muffins Canada Inc., Oakville
Rodney C. Cook (right), Vice President of Workplace Health and Safety Services, presents the silver 2024 Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Award to Mary Legakis Engel (left), Founder of Mary’s Muffins Canada Inc.
Located in Oakville, Mary’s Muffins bakery and café offers handcrafted and nutritious muffins. Wanting to ensure their team was safe from the moment they opened their doors in 2023, the business created comprehensive health and safety policies, procedures and an employee handbook. They prioritized effective communication and engagement with their team through regular training workshops, a group chat and one-on-one conversations encouraging feedback and ideas.
Bronze winner
The Conscious Builder, Carp
Rodney C. Cook (second from right), Vice President, and Martin Robert (right), Assistant Director of Workplace Health and Safety Services, present the bronze 2024 Small Business Health and Safety Leadership Award to The Conscious Builder team members (left to right) James Lauzon, Project Manager, Andrew Cordina, Project Manager, Ainslie Cordina, Project Coordinator, and Casey Grey, Founder and CEO.
The Conscious Builder operates out of Carp and specializes in energy efficient and sustainable custom home construction. They have a multi-faceted approach to creating a strong workplace safety culture, including managing risks related to heat, poor air quality and ticks; enhancing site preparedness by ensuring job-specific safety equipment and information was meticulously maintained; providing financial assistance for personal safety equipment and certifications; ongoing communication; and implementing a site management initiative to help their team follow safety protocols and procedures.
Who can enter
- businesses registered with the WSIB whose account is in good standing (i.e., all premiums and other amounts owing to the WSIB are paid up-to-date and no convictions under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA))
- independently owned and operated businesses that have at least one employee (not including the owner/operator) but less than 50 employees
- during the life of their business, entrants must not have:
- any fatalities in the workplace
- any convictions by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations or the Employment Standards Act (ESA)
- past winners aren’t eligible to re-apply for five years
How to enter
There are two ways to enter:
- Download and save the on your computer or device and enter your responses in the text fields. Email your completed submission form to [email protected].
- Complete the online 2025 submission form. Important note: You can complete the online submission form in multiple sessions and save your drafts. Please do not delete your browser cookies while your draft form is saved. You only have 48 hours to submit the form once you begin completing it. The information you input in the form will be deleted after 48 hours if you don’t submit it within that timeframe.
Shortlisted businesses will be asked to send supporting information for the answers provided in the submission form. The types of files you can send us include photos, documents, videos, signage, certifications, etc.
Please email us at [email protected] if you have questions about the submission process – we’re here to help.
Interested in taking health and safety in your business to the next level?
Keeping your team safe and healthy at work is good for business. Our Health and Safety Excellence program helps you make your workplace safer while earning rebates on your WSIB premiums. Plus, you’ll receive $1,000 once you get started.
You can also review our health and safety resources to learn more about your health and safety responsibilities, the value of investing in health and safety, and how to make your workplace safer.