Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour will be checking for hazards that could cause slips, trips and falls at Ontario construction sites this winter.
They’ll also be visiting underground mines to test diesel emissions and look for other hazards that could affect air quality.
During the blitzes, inspectors will be checking on the condition and maintenance of safety equipment, worker training, the use of safety equipment and other potential health and safety hazards to help prevent workplace injuries.
“One of our government’s key priorities is to protect the health and safety of workers at workplaces across the province,” said Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey. “We want every worker to return home safe and sound at the end of each work day.”
Ontario’s chief prevention officer George Gritziotis said the inspections are part of Ontario’s efforts to prevent injuries and deaths at workplaces.
“These blitzes will promote health and safety and raise awareness of the some of the hazards that can lead to tragedy.”
The blitzes are aimed at:
- Raising awareness of health and safety in the workplace.
- Preventing injuries and illnesses that could arise from unsafe work practices.
- Ensuring that workplaces are complying with the law.
Falls continue to be a major cause of injury and death in Ontario workplaces. Most of the injuries and deaths have occurred because fall protection was either missing or not used.
In Ontario, employers are required to provide workers with fall-protection training if the workers will be exposed to fall hazards.
The blitzes are part of Ontario’s enforcement strategy to increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.
This past fall, blitzes also targeted supervision at construction sites.
Since 2008, ministry inspectors have conducted more than 345,000 field visits, 47 inspection blitzes and issued more than 560,000 compliance orders in Ontario workplaces.