Industries We Serve
Industrial equipment, machinery, production systems and facility modifications can create complex health and safety requirements. When equipment is being installed, modified or integrated into an Ontario workplace, understanding whether a Pre-Start Health and Safety Review (PHSR) is required—and what the review needs to address—is critical.
PHSR.com provides engineering-led PHSR services for organizations across Ontario, with a primary focus on industrial facilities, manufacturing operations, commercial facilities and property managers.
Our approach combines engineering analysis with practical knowledge of workplace safety requirements, helping clients identify potential issues before equipment or systems are put into operation.
Not sure whether your project requires a PHSR? Start with our guide:
PHSR Services for Ontario Businesses and Facilities
A PHSR is not limited to one type of machine or one particular industry. The need for a review depends on the equipment, process, installation, modification and applicable regulatory requirements.
That means organizations in different sectors may encounter PHSR requirements when introducing or modifying equipment.
PHSR.com primarily works with:
- Industrial facilities
- Manufacturing operations
- Commercial facilities
- Property managers
- Large institutional and specialized facilities where applicable
For more information about the regulatory framework, see Ontario PHSR Requirements.
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Industrial Facilities
Industrial facilities often contain complex equipment, automated processes, material-handling systems and specialized machinery.
A facility may introduce new equipment as part of a production expansion, retrofit, process improvement or replacement project. Existing machinery may also be modified as production requirements change.
These projects can create questions about safeguarding, controls, electrical systems, mechanical hazards and other safety considerations.
PHSR services can be relevant to industrial projects involving equipment such as:
- Production machinery
- Conveyors and material-handling equipment
- Automated equipment
- Processing systems
- Dust collection systems
- Industrial ventilation equipment
- Machinery with new or modified safeguarding
- Integrated production lines
- Specialized industrial equipment
Engineering for Complex Industrial Projects
Industrial projects can involve more than one engineering discipline. Equipment may interact with mechanical systems, electrical systems, controls, ventilation or existing production infrastructure.
An engineering-led PHSR assessment helps bring these considerations together rather than treating equipment safety as an isolated issue.
Learn more about the PHSR Process and what is typically reviewed during an assessment.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is one of the primary environments in which PHSR services are relevant.
Manufacturers regularly install new machinery, replace production equipment, automate processes and modify existing systems.
These changes can introduce new hazards or alter the way existing equipment operates. Manufacturing projects may involve:
Manufacturers regularly install new machinery, replace production equipment, automate processes and modify existing systems.
These changes can introduce new hazards or alter the way existing equipment operates. Manufacturing projects may involve:
Production machinery
CNC and automated equipment
Conveyors
Robotics
Processing and mixing equipment
Machinery safeguarding
Production lines
Material-handling systems
Dust-producing processes
Modified or upgraded machinery
For manufacturing facilities, the objective is not simply to determine whether a machine appears safe. A PHSR involves an engineering assessment of the equipment and applicable safety requirements before the equipment is put into service where the regulation requires such a review.
Supporting Manufacturers Before Startup
A PHSR can identify deficiencies that need to be addressed before equipment enters operation. Identifying those issues early can help reduce delays during commissioning and startup.
For manufacturers purchasing or installing new equipment, it can also be useful to consider PHSR requirements early in the project rather than waiting until installation is complete.
See Common Equipment That Requires a PHSR for examples of equipment that may require review.
Commercial Facilities
Commercial facilities can also encounter situations where specialized equipment, machinery or facility modifications require engineering review.
The need for a PHSR is determined by the equipment and applicable requirements—not simply by whether a facility is classified as commercial or industrial.
Commercial projects may involve equipment or systems that warrant a PHSR assessment as part of a renovation, installation, modification or operational change.
For commercial facility owners and operators, early engineering consultation can help determine whether a proposed project should be evaluated for PHSR requirements.
PHSR Support for Commercial Projects
PHSR.com can help commercial facility stakeholders understand:
- Whether a proposed equipment installation should be reviewed
- What information should be collected before an assessment
- What engineering documentation may be required
- Whether modifications to existing equipment change the assessment requirements
- What deficiencies need to be addressed before startup
If you are unsure whether your commercial project falls within the PHSR requirements, see PHSR Exemptions in Ontario and Do I Need a PHSR?.
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Property Managers
Property managers may be responsible for facilities where tenants, contractors or operators introduce new machinery and equipment.
This can create an additional layer of responsibility: the property manager may not operate the equipment themselves, but they may need to coordinate with tenants, contractors, engineers and other stakeholders.
PHSR.com can provide engineering support when a project requires an assessment of equipment installed or modified within a managed facility.
Property managers may encounter PHSR-related questions during:
- Tenant improvements
- Equipment installations
- Facility upgrades
- Production-area modifications
- Machinery replacements
- Building or process renovations
- Changes to existing equipment
Making PHSR Coordination Easier
The earlier an engineering assessment is considered, the easier it can be to identify the information and documentation required for the project.
For property managers, this can help coordinate responsibilities between the equipment owner, tenant, contractor and engineering team.
Our PHSR Checklist provides a practical starting point for gathering project information.
Large Institutional and Specialized Facilities
PHSR.com can also support larger institutional or specialized facilities where applicable equipment and processes create a need for engineering assessment.
However, PHSR requirements are equipment- and circumstance-specific. An organization should not assume that an institutional classification automatically means a PHSR is required.
Similarly, the absence of a PHSR requirement for one project does not necessarily mean another project within the same organization will have the same result.
The best approach is to assess the actual equipment, process, modification and applicable requirements.
If you are uncertain, an early consultation can help determine the appropriate next step.
Industries and Equipment: What Determines Whether a PHSR Is Required?
One of the most important things to understand is that PHSR requirements are not determined by industry alone.
For example, two manufacturing facilities may have completely different equipment and therefore different PHSR considerations.
A project may warrant review because of factors such as:
- New industrial equipment
- Modified machinery
- New or modified safeguarding
- Automated production equipment
- Material-handling systems
- Dust-producing equipment or processes
- Combustible-dust hazards
- Flammable-liquid systems
- Changes to existing machinery
- Integration of multiple pieces of equipment
- New equipment being introduced into an existing workplace
For a more detailed overview, visit What Is a PHSR?.
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Industry-Specific Engineering Experience Matters
A PHSR can involve more than checking a machine against a single standard.
Industrial equipment can interact with electrical systems, mechanical systems, controls, ventilation, production processes and existing facility infrastructure. Understanding those relationships can be important when evaluating potential hazards and developing practical recommendations.
PHSR.com is backed by the engineering experience of Wintek Engineering, an established engineering business with approximately four decades of history. The company’s broader engineering capabilities include industrial and commercial applications, while PHSR is one of the specialized services that differentiates the Wintek offering.
The team also has experience performing PHSRs for industrial production equipment, supported by engineering expertise in electrical and controls systems.
This multidisciplinary perspective can be particularly valuable when a PHSR involves equipment that interfaces with existing building or industrial systems.
When Should You Contact a PHSR Engineer?
Ideally, PHSR requirements should be considered before equipment installation and startup, rather than after a project is substantially complete.
Early involvement can provide an opportunity to identify potential compliance issues before they become costly changes.
Consider contacting a PHSR engineer when you are:
Early involvement can provide an opportunity to identify potential compliance issues before they become costly changes.
Consider contacting a PHSR engineer when you are:
Purchasing new industrial equipment
Installing machinery in an Ontario workplace
Modifying existing production equipment
Adding or changing safeguarding
Installing automated equipment
Introducing dust-generating equipment
Integrating multiple machines into a production line
Purchasing equipment from outside Ontario or Canada
Unsure whether an existing project requires a PHSR
Installing specialized industrial systems
For a step-by-step explanation, see The PHSR Process.
PHSR Engineering Services Across Ontario
Whether you operate a manufacturing plant, manage an industrial facility, oversee commercial properties or are responsible for equipment installation, PHSR.com can help determine the appropriate engineering path for your project.
Our goal is straightforward: provide engineering assessments, compliance solutions and trusted expertise to help clients address PHSR requirements efficiently and move toward final compliance.
If you have a new machine, modified equipment or an upcoming installation and are unsure whether a PHSR is required, contact us with a few basic details about your project.
Tell us what you are installing or modifying, where the project is located and how we can contact you.
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FAQs About PHSR Industries
Which industries require a PHSR in Ontario?
There is no simple industry-wide rule stating that every company in a particular industry requires a PHSR. The requirement depends on the equipment, process, installation or modification and the applicable provisions of Ontario’s safety regulations.
Do manufacturing companies need a PHSR?
Manufacturing facilities frequently install or modify machinery that may require a PHSR. However, the specific equipment and circumstances must be assessed rather than assuming every manufacturing machine requires a review.
Do commercial facilities need PHSRs?
A commercial facility may require a PHSR when applicable equipment or processes fall within the regulatory requirements. The classification of the facility alone does not determine whether a PHSR is required.
Can property managers arrange a PHSR?
Yes. Property managers can coordinate with equipment owners, tenants, contractors and engineers when a PHSR may be required for equipment installed or modified within a managed facility.
Does every new machine require a PHSR?
No. A new machine does not automatically require a PHSR simply because it is new. The specific circumstances and applicable regulatory requirements need to be considered.
What if I am not sure whether my equipment requires a PHSR?
When there is uncertainty, the safest approach is to have the equipment and project circumstances reviewed by a qualified engineer before startup. See Do I Need a PHSR? for a practical starting point.