Inspection Blitzes and Initiatives

Apr

2016

Date: 20 Apr 2016

Posted by: WorkSmart

Issued: April 1, 2013
Source: www.labour.gov.on.ca

This year, the ministry is coordinating the proactive enforcement blitz and initiative schedules for the Occupational Health and Safety Program and the Employment Standards Program. Coordinating the schedules highlights the importance the ministry places on protecting workers’ rights under both the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Employment Standards Act (ESA), and enhancing employers’ awareness of their responsibilities.

Findings are generally reported soon after completion. The ministry tracks each sector to determine if there are long-lasting improvements in compliance and fewer injuries and fewer contraventions of employment standards.

Workplace injuries and fatalities can usually be traced to a few root causes that may vary by sector. Occupational health and safety inspectors conduct proactive blitzes and initiatives on sector-specific hazards; these are also designed to raise awareness and increase compliance with the OHSA.

Similarly, employment standards officers visit employers to verify compliance with core ESA standards, such as the Employment Standards Poster requirements, wage statements, unauthorized deductions, record keeping, hours of work, eating periods, overtime pay, minimum wage, public holidays and vacation with pay. They focus particularly on sectors where there is a history of employment standards violations, where vulnerable workers are employed and where an increasing number of Ontarians are working.

Province-wide workplace inspection blitzes: 2016-2017
Focus	Program	Sector/Business Type	Date
Temporary Foreign Workers	Employment Standards	Food Services, Retail Trade, Construction and other sectors known to employ temporary foreign workers	May 2, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Young Workers	Employment Standards	Food Services, Retail Trade, Construction and other sectors known to employ young workers	May 2, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Falls	Health and Safety	Construction	May 16, 2016 – July 15, 2016
Falls	Health and Safety	Industrial	May 16, 2016 – July 15, 2016
Falls	Health and Safety	Mining	May 16, 2016 – July 15, 2016
New and Young Workers	Health and Safety	Industrial	July 18, 2016 – September 2, 2016
Mobile Cranes and Material Hoisting	Health and Safety	Construction	August 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016
Repeat Violators / Zero Tolerance	Employment Standards	Professional Services, Services to Buildings and Dwellings, Other Amusement and Recreation Industries, Personal Care Services and other sectors with repeat violators	September 1, 2016 – October 31, 2016
Safe Material Tramming Underground and Surface	Health and Safety	Mining	September 1, 2016 – October 31, 2016
Chemical Handling	Health and Safety	Industrial	September 19, 2016 – October 31, 2016
Electrical Hazards	Health and Safety	Construction	November 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016
Processing – Safe Work Practices – Mine Plants	Health and Safety	Mining	February 1, 2017 – March 31, 2017

Slips, trips and falls

Slip, trips and falls accounted for 16% of all lost time injuries (LTIs) in the health care sector in 2012 (1,155 LTI claims). Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, all employers must take every reasonable precaution in the circumstances to protect workers, provide information and instruction, and to ensure that workers use or wear properly the required equipment.

To decrease potential for slip, trip and fall injuries, inspectors will focus on maintenance of work surfaces, general housekeeping, safe ladder use, etc., in accordance with sections 33 through 41 of the Regulations for Health Care and Residential Facilities (O. Reg. 67/93).

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