Provincial partners should continue team-building and developing a provincial strategy, common priorities, and the approach started in 1998. There is more awareness that ccupational health issues can have significant negative effects on Ontario's workers and the profitability of Ontario's businesses. Partners such as safe workplace associations, Client Service Councils, and SIGs, still struggle with coordination of their efforts. Frustrated with the slow progress of systemwide strategic planning some provinial partners may proceed with their own prevention initatives, thereby jeopardizing the work already done. Health and safety competes for the attention of small business owners as they struggle to keep their business afloat in an environment with other pressures that are out of their control.
Opportunities Develop more formal interprovincial network relationships.
Invite external researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of OSSA's tools and consulting philosophy. Develop a coordinated approach to evaluating potential participation in new projects by relating them to the OSSA annual strategy and priorities. Promote health and safety training across provincial borders, particularily with national companies. Continue to focus on small business in the upcoming year to better understand and serve its unique culture, service, and product needs. Continue to focus on injury and illness prevention through integration and the systems approach.