Act First Safety
Act First Safety is a privately held Ontario-based occupational health and safety training consultancy delivering CPO-approved instructor-led, online, and on-site certification courses in Working at Heights, JHSC, WHMIS, fall protection, and related safety programs across Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersScarborough, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Act First Safety does
Act First Safety is a privately held, Scarborough, Ontario-based occupational health and safety training consultancy founded in 2005 (incorporated from a 2003 kitchen-table operation) by Lauren McFarlane. The company delivers a catalog of more than 40 regulatory-mandated safety certification courses across three modalities: instructor-led public training at its 5,600 sq ft facility, private on-site training at client locations across Ontario, and self-paced online training available nationally across Canada. Core regulated programs include CPO-approved Working at Heights and JHSC certification, TSSA-approved Propane (CH-02), CSA-compliant Aerial Lift / MEWP, Swing Stage, Hoisting & Rigging, WHMIS 2015, Confined Space, Asbestos Types 1 & 2, Respirator Fit Testing (CSA Z94.4), and First Aid/CPR. The firm is the exclusive Canadian facilitator for Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) workplace violence prevention programs and operates a CSA-approved on-site PPE shop.
The business operates across five revenue streams: public course enrollment, private on-site corporate training, online subscription courses, PPE retail, and respirator fit testing. Pricing is per-seat for public courses, quote-based for private enterprise engagements (typically multi-year contracts), and subscription/recurring for online programs. Distribution combines a direct phone-based sales motion with online calendar booking, supported by SEO-driven website content and 903+ Google reviews. Customers span construction, industrial/manufacturing, electrical/utilities, municipal government, education, healthcare, and engineering — with named accounts including City of Toronto, York Region, TDSB, Guild Electric, TKE, Smith & Long, Sunnybrook, WM (Waste Management), and Centennial College.
The company is founder-led (Lauren McFarlane, President & CEO) with no external institutional investors, no M&A history, and no disclosed funding rounds. Adjacent key personnel include Managing Director Kelly Jackson and Training Coordinator Carrie Brookes. The firm is WBE Canada certified as a women-owned diversity supplier and has trained over 100,000 workers over its 20-year history, with market reach concentrated in Ontario for in-person services and Canada-wide for online delivery.
Act First Safety firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Act First Safety
- Legal name
- Act First Safety
- Website
- https://actfirstsafety.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Act First Safety is a privately held Ontario-based occupational health and safety training consultancy delivering CPO-approved instructor-led, online, and on-site certification courses in Working at Heights, JHSC, WHMIS, fall protection, and related safety programs across Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Act First Safety industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Occupational Safety Training
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Machine Safety, Guarding & Industrial Equipment Safety (EDABAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Safety, Security & Emergency Services (OSHA, Fire, EMS, Security CE) (EDAAALAK), Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training (BPAKAOAJ)
Keywords
Where Act First Safety is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Scarborough
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Act First Safety business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Public Training Courses: Instructor-led classroom training at the company's Scarborough facility. Courses include Working at Heights, Fall Protection, WHMIS 2015, First Aid, and various safety certifications. Participants receive certificates of completion.
- Private On-Site Training: Customized training delivered at client locations across Ontario. Tailored to specific industry needs and worksite requirements. Includes group sessions and facility rentals.
- Online Training Programs: Self-paced online safety courses available nationally across Canada including WHMIS 2015, Fall Protection, Forklift Training, Fire Safety, TDG, and workplace safety programs.
- PPE Sales: Sale of CSA-approved personal protective equipment including safety footwear, hard hats, full-body harnesses, lanyards, and other safety gear from their on-site PPE shop.
- Respirator Fit Testing Services: Individual and group respirator fit testing services including N95 mask fit tests, half-face and full-face mask fit tests with qualitative testing methods compliant with CSA Z94.4 standards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Public Training - Individual course enrollment at company facility |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Private Training - Customized on-site training for organizations |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Online Training - Self-paced courses across Canada |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Act First Safety product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Act First Safety is an occupational health and safety training company delivering CPO-approved and CSA-compliant certification courses for Ontario workers. It operates through three delivery modalities: instructor-led public classes at its Scarborough facility, customized private on-site training at client workplaces across Ontario, and self-paced online e-learning programs available nationally. The company also sells CSA-approved personal protective equipment (PPE) and offers respirator fit testing services.
Product overview
Act First Safety is an Occupational Health and Safety training company offering instructor-led and online training programs for workers across Ontario and Canada. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of safety certification courses including CPO-approved Working at Heights and JHSC Certification programs, TSSA-approved Propane training (CH-02), CSA-compliant equipment operation training (Aerial Lifts, Swing Stages, Hoisting & Rigging), regulatory compliance courses (WHMIS 2015, Confined Space, Asbestos), and first aid/CPR certification. Training is delivered through three modalities: Public courses at the Scarborough facility, Private on-site training at client workplaces, and Online self-paced e-learning programs valid throughout Canada. Founded in 2005, the company has trained over 100,000 workers and serves industries including construction, mechanical, electrical, healthcare, and engineering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Working at Heights / Fall Protection Training
Quantifiable outcome
- Trained over 100,000 workers since 2005
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Act First Safety
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Act First Safety technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Act First Safety partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- WBE Canada (Women Business Enterprise Canada)minorAct First Safety is a verified Diversity Supplier through WBE Canada, enabling the company to participate in corporate diversity procurement programs and serve as a preferred vendor for organizations seeking women-owned business suppliers.
- Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)coreAct First Safety is the exclusive facilitator of Crisis Prevention Institute programs in Canada. CPI is a globally recognized leader in workplace violence prevention, and this partnership enables Act First Safety to deliver specialized training in de-escalation and crisis intervention to Canadian organizations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Act First Safety competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Worksite Safety Compliance Centre: Ontario-based provider of MOL-approved Working at Heights, Forklift, Fall Protection and similar mandatory safety training. Direct head-to-head competitor in the GTA market selling to construction and industrial clients with overlapping course catalogs and on-site training delivery.
- Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA): Ontario's leading construction, electrical and utilities safety training association, delivering MOL-approved Working at Heights, JHSC, confined space, hoisting/rigging and crane operator programs. Directly comparable provider of the same CPO/MOL-approved certification courses that anchor Act First Safety's portfolio.
- Leavitt Machinery: Canadian equipment-focused training provider for forklifts, aerial lifts, MEWPs, and telehandlers across multiple provinces. Overlaps directly with Act First Safety's equipment-operation and on-site delivery model and competes for the same industrial equipment-training budgets.
- SafetySkills: Canadian online safety training provider delivering WHMIS, fall protection, confined space and supervisor courses via subscription and seat-licensing to employers. Overlaps directly with Act First Safety's online training line and competes for the same compliance-driven SMB and enterprise buyers.
- St. John Ambulance Canada: National first aid, CPR and AED training provider operating across Canada. Overlaps with Act First Safety's First Aid/CPR and emergency response training line and competes for the same workplace-compliance training budgets from employers and government agencies.
- SOS First Aid and Safety Training: Canadian first aid and workplace safety training provider with on-site and in-house course delivery. Comparable scale and structure to Act First Safety's first aid and private corporate training services and competes for similar SMB and mid-market buyers.
- 4Safety: Ontario-based occupational health and safety training and consulting provider serving construction and industrial clients. Directly comparable in course mix (Working at Heights, fall protection, confined space) and customer segments to Act First Safety's GTA-facing business.
Broad incumbents
- Canadian Red Cross (Training Programs): Large national first aid and emergency response training provider in Canada offering employer-facing certification programs. Much broader portfolio and brand recognition than Act First Safety, but directly comparable on workplace First Aid/CPR/AED training where the catalogs intersect.
- Total Safety: North American safety-services firm delivering industrial safety training, equipment, and on-site staffing across many verticals. Overlaps with Act First Safety's private on-site corporate training model at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
Others
- Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): Globally recognised content licensor for workplace violence prevention and crisis intervention programs. Strategic partner of Act First Safety, which is the exclusive Canadian facilitator of CPI curricula — making CPI an enabler and ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Act First Safety social profiles
Digital presenceAct First Safety financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Act First Safety leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Act First Safety funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Act First Safety M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Act First Safety
What does Act First Safety do?
Act First Safety is an occupational health and safety training company delivering CPO-approved and CSA-compliant certification courses for Ontario workers. It operates through three delivery modalities: instructor-led public classes at its Scarborough facility, customized private on-site training at client workplaces across Ontario, and self-paced online e-learning programs available nationally. The company also sells CSA-approved personal protective equipment (PPE) and offers respirator fit testing services.
Is Act First Safety a public or private company?
Act First Safety is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Act First Safety founded?
Act First Safety was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Act First Safety based?
Act First Safety is headquartered in Scarborough, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Act First Safety make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Public Training Courses are the primary driver. The others are private On-Site Training, online Training Programs, PPE Sales and respirator Fit Testing Services.
Who are Act First Safety's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Worksite Safety Compliance Centre, Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA), Leavitt Machinery, SafetySkills, St. John Ambulance Canada, SOS First Aid and Safety Training and 4Safety. Broad incumbents are Canadian Red Cross (Training Programs) and Total Safety. Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is listed as an others.
Does Act First Safety have an API?
No public API is recorded for Act First Safety.
What industry is Act First Safety in?
Act First Safety's product category is Occupational Safety Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABAEAG, Machine Safety, Guarding & Industrial Equipment Safety, with a secondary code of EDAAALAK, Safety, Security & Emergency Services (OSHA, Fire, EMS, Security CE). Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 8200.