Ontario inspection blitzes and initiatives to raise employers’ awareness
By Ontario Ministry of Labour
Construction Health & Safety fatalities health and safety injuries inspection occupational health and safetyThis 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.
2016-2017 Blitzes and Initiatives
Provincial Blitzes
| 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 |
Regional Blitzes
| Focus | Program | Sector/Business Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central East | Employment Standards | Child Day-Care Services | October 1, 2016 – November 30, 2016 |
| Central East | Health and Safety | Industrial:
|
December 1, 2016 – February 17, 2017 |
| Central East | Health and Safety | Construction:
|
January 1, 2017 – February 28, 2017 |
| Central West | Health and Safety | Construction:
|
July 1, 2016 – July 31, 2016 |
| Central West | Employment Standards | Manufacturing | September 1, 2016 – October 31, 2016 |
| Central West | Health and Safety | Industrial:
|
November 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017 |
| Eastern | Health and Safety | Construction:
|
April 1, 2016 – September 30, 2016 |
| Eastern | Employment Standards | Fitness Centres | October 1, 2016 – November 30, 2016 |
| Northern | Health and Safety | Construction:
|
June 1, 2016 – July 31, 2016 |
| Northern | Employment Standards | Tow Truck Companies | September 1, 2016 – October 31, 2016 |
| Western | Health and Safety | Industrial:
|
July 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016 |
| Western | Employment Standards | Small Manufacturing | September 1, 2016 – October 31, 2016 |
| Western | Health and Safety | Industrial:
|
October 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017 |
Provincial and Regional Initiatives
Three-Year Health Care Sector Initiative
| Location | Program | Sector/Business Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Year Initiative for Health Care Sector | Health and Safety | Health Care | July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2017 |
Health and Safety Initiatives
Information about year-long province-wide and regional initiatives will be available in the Sector Plans. The Sector Plans will be posted on July 1, 2016.
