TORONTO, Ont. — The Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario (THSAO) has merged with two other safety groups to form the Infrastructure Health and Safety Associatio (IHSA).

The merger included the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO) and the Electrical & Utilities Safety Association of Ontario (E&USA), and will form a new organization that will work to prevent workplace injury, illness and fatalities through training, consulting, research and communication, the groups have announced.

The IHSA was officially formed Jan. 1 and will serve the aggregate, construction, electrical, pipeline, ready-mix concrete, transportation and utility industries.

“IHSA brings together three effective organizations well-respected by their industry sectors. During these challenging economic times, the merger makes sense as it capitalizes on shared efficiencies to deliver programs more effectively and devote more resources to front-line service delivery,” said Michael Delisle, who will serve as president and CEO of IHSA.

The merger is part of a broader realignment of Ontario’s 12 workplace safety associations, which will result in four newly-created health and safety associations.

“Our most important task is to listen and respond to employers and workers. By working with them, we can deliver the high-quality products and services they need to maintain safe workplaces. Everyone deserves to work in a safe and healthy environment,” added  Delisle.