Join us on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM for a free webinar on preventing silica exposure in the construction industry.
Click here to register!
Approximately 429,000 Canadians are exposed to silica at work, primarily in the construction sector, and occupational exposure to crystalline silica is responsible for around 570 lung cancer cases annually in Canada.
When materials containing silica are cut, ground, or drilled, fine dust particles can be released into the air, posing serious health risks. To help prevent exposure, Ontario offers a free online resource called the Silica Control Tool.
This tool uses real-world data to estimate the amount of silica dust produced based on the material, task, and tool used to then create an Exposure Control Plan (ECP).
Attend this session for a demonstration on how to use the Silica Control Tool and ask questions about the functionality of the online tool. By signing up for this session, OHCOW will provide simplified access to the Silica Control Tool. All attendees will receive an email with login details to allow you to follow along and ask questions!
Meet Your Speakers:
Meghan Friesen, BA, ROH
Meghan Friesen has been an Occupational Hygienist at the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) since 2023. She holds an undergraduate degree with honours in Environmental Studies from the University of Ottawa and is a Registered Occupational Hygienist since 2016. Prior to her work in the public sector, Meghan worked as an occupational hygienist in the private sector for 15 years where she specialized in industrial hygiene and risk assessments. Currently, Meghan is the technical lead for the Ontario Silica Control Tool. She possesses broad and in-depth technical knowledge on occupational exposures with a focus on asbestos and chemical agents. In addition, Meghan supports professional investigations of past occupational processes and occupational exposures as part of an interdisciplinary occupational health team at OHCOW.
Jasmine Kalsi, MSc, ROH
Jasmine Kalsi is an experienced Occupational Hygienist at the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), having joined the organization in 2022. A Registered Occupational Hygienist certified by the Canadian Registration Board for Occupational Hygienists, Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Simon Fraser University and a Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene from the University of British Columbia. With over seven years of experience in the Occupational Health and Safety field, she has developed expertise in the construction, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors, applying her knowledge to help create safer, healthier work environments.