In Canada, workplace safety is a top priority. That’s why there are such stringent regulations and dedicated agencies whose main goals are maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for Canadian businesses.

There are many ways to improve health and safety in the office, particularly during the hiring process. Background screening is a frontline defense for organizations to mitigate hiring workers who pose a risk to health and safety. What types of workers pose a risk to health and safety? Workers with a history of alcohol and substance abuse, hate, violence, theft, and negligence – are just a few examples.

So, how do you identify problematic workers before they can create a health and safety risk in your organization? Before you even hire them!

For this reason, there is a direct correlation between health and safety and background screening.

  • According to the Workplace Safety Insurance Board, in 2022, 264 workplace fatalities occurred in Ontario.
  • As per WorkSafeBC, in B.C. in 2023, people missed 4.15 million days of work due to work-related incidents and disease, and 175 work-related deaths occurred.

Hiring for Health and Safety

Criminal background checks, social media checks, and driver abstracts are some of the most common background checks used to identify candidates who post potential health and safety risks.

Criminal Background Check

This will tell you if a candidate has been convicted of a crime. Depending on the crime, it could indicate that they are a potential threat to your workplace.

Social Media Background Check

We often forget about how “free” people tend to be on social media, and a candidate who shows you one facet of their character in an interview can show you a completely different side online.

 

A social media background check can identify flags that could be relevant to safety, such as drug use or violent behaviour. A social media check reveals far more than a criminal background check because a charge/conviction isn’t required to produce a result. Results are derived from the candidate’s online behaviour. A social media check combined with a criminal background check can give you the most complete insight into the potential risk your candidate presents.

Ensuring Health and Safety in the Office

Of course, health and safety in the office doesn’t end at the hiring stage—life changes. Routine background check screening of existing employees is another step toward safer workplace environments.

For more information about establishing a background screening process for better health and safety, Triton has been a leader in the background check industry for 15 years and can help you avoid surprises. Get these checks online, fast, and 24/7. Visit www.tritoncanada.ca today.