Sector summary

This sector includes refrigeration and air conditioning installation and maintenance, commercial refrigeration work, environmental control work, dry and wet heating and gas piping work, process piping work, insulation work, thermal insulation work, duct work, mechanical specialty work, other industrial construction and other services incidental to construction. This sector also includes offices of the premise, maintenance garages, warehouses and equipment storage/yards, transportation of equipment and machinery to projects from the yard.

Key hazards

The following list represents hazards to which workers are commonly exposed in the sector:

  • material handling hazards (such as workers being struck by objects, caught or crushed between objects)
  • machine (and powered equipment) hazards such as improper lock-out and unguarded equipment
  • flammable liquids
  • slips, trips and falls
  • noise.

In general, hazards that are not covered by a regulation, and hazards in workplaces not covered by a sector-specific regulation, are addressed through the application of the general duty clause 25(2)(h) of the Occupational health and safety Act (OHSA).

Workplace parties should refer to the narrative portion of the field visit report, if they have received one, for further information or contact their health and safety association  for guidance.

In addition to any other hazards which may be present in a workplace, all employers covered by the OHSA must comply with the requirements for workplace violence and harassment. The act sets out requirements for workplace violence and harassment in sections 32.0.1 to 32.0.8. Further information regarding the requirements related to workplace violence can be found in the Ministry of Labour (MOL) Guide, Workplace violence and harassment: Understanding the law.

Additional information, including more information about new workplace harassment provisions, can be found on the MOL topic webpages for Workplace Violence and Workplace Harassment. Employers may wish to consider the use of the ministry’s Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment under the OHSA.

Material handling hazards: struck by objects, caught between or crushed by objects

Injuries associated with material handling can include workers being struck by objects, caught between objects and/or crushed by mechanical compression. Manual material handling may also lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Regulation 851 sets out requirements for material handling in sections 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50. Section 51 contains requirements regarding mechanical lifting devices. 

  • Review operations/processes involving the movement of raw material and product from receiving area to production line and from production line to shipping area [section 45].
  • Review operations/processes involving assembly line or similar style of raw material or product movement [clause 45(a)].
  • Review warehousing/storage operations [clause 45(b)].
  • Ensure that mechanical lifting devices are maintained in good condition, are operated by a competent person and are capable of handling loads [section 51].

Machine hazards

Machine or transmission start-up (improper lockout)

Injuries experienced by accidental machine start-up can include lacerations, crushing and amputations. In some circumstances these injuries can cause permanent disability or death. 

The Regulation for Industrial Establishments (Regulation 851) applies to industrial establishments (such as an office building, factory, arena, shop or office or any land, buildings and structures pertaining thereto) and sets out requirements for worker protection against machine start-up in sections 75 and 76. 

  • Review repair/maintenance of machinery [section 75].
  • Ensure requirement/compliance with lockout procedures [sections 75 and 76].
  • Ensure that instruction and information is provided to a worker on the hazard and the requirements to isolate and lockout hazardous energy [OHSA clauses 25(2)(a) and 25(2)(d)].

Unguarded equipment

Injuries to workers can include lacerations, amputations, crush by entanglement and loss of consciousness. Serious injuries can lead to permanent disability or death.

Hazards due to unguarded equipment include worker exposure to pinch points, moving (rotating) equipment and in-running nip hazards. Equipment that has exposed moving parts such as cutting equipment, conveyors, augers, equipment using power take-off (PTO), and exposed drive-motor assemblies used to power compressors and/or ventilation fans may endanger a worker. Regulation 851 sets out requirements for guarding of equipment in sections 24, 25, 26, 28, 31 and 32.

  • Ensure that the requirements for the guarding of prime movers, or transmission equipment are followed [section 24].
  • Ensure that pinch points are guarded [section 25].

Flammable liquids: storage and dispensing

Flammable liquids are defined in Regulation 851 as a liquid having a flash point below 37.8°C [100°F] and vapour pressure below 275 kilopascals absolute [40 psi] at 37.8°C. While this definition covers flammable liquids in general, those that have a flash point below 22.8°C [73°F] and a boiling point below 37.8°C are highly volatile and therefore require greater control.

Injuries from fire and, or explosion can include burns, lacerations, fractures and loss of consciousness. Serious injuries can lead to permanent disability or death.

  • Ensure the safe use of solvents in the workplace such as acetone and toluene.
  • Review requirements for flammable liquids such as the requirements for:
    • grounding and bonding [clause 22(4)(b)].
    • proper storage of flammable liquids [section 22].
    • ventilation and work area protection [sections 22 and 63].
  • Review the requirements outlined in the WHMIS, Regulation 860 and the requirements to monitor and control exposure limits as identified in Regulation 833.

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls hazards include hazards that result in workers falling onto the same surface or falling from a height.

Injuries to workers can include fractures, lacerations and loss of consciousness. In extreme circumstances injuries caused from a fall can lead to permanent disability or death.

The Regulation for Industrial Establishments (Regulation 851) sets out a number of requirements for worker protection against slips, trips and falls, including but not limited to sections 11, 13, 14, 15, 73 and 85.

  • Floors and other surfaces used by workers must be free of obstructions, hazards, accumulations of ice and snow and not have a slippery surface [section 11].
  • Review requirements for guardrails to protect from falls [section 13 and 14].
  • Review fall protection equipment required when working from heights [section 85].
  • Ensure that training is provided to a worker on the use of protective clothing and equipment i.e. fall arrest equipment [section 79].
  • In areas requiring ladder use, review compliance with section 73.
  • Employers must provide information, instruction and supervision to protect workers from slips, trips and falls and acquaint workers with the hazards [OHSA clauses 25(2)(a) and 25(2)(d)].

Noise

Injuries to workers can include varying degrees of noise-induced hearing loss.

The Noise Regulation O. Reg. 381/15, sets out workplace requirements regarding noise.

  • Review the engineering controls and administrative (work practices) controls in place to reduce noise levels and exposures (mufflers on air exhausts, mechanical damping, vibration isolators, enclosures, limiting worker’s exposure time) [subsection 2(2)].
  • Review the availability and use of hearing protection [subsection 2(6)].
  • Review the type of hearing protection provided [subsection 4(1)].
  • Review placement of warning signs at approaches to noisy areas [subsection 2(7)].
  • Review the training provided to workers [section 3].
  • Personal protective equipment is to be used only as a last resort. Engineering controls and work practices must be used where practicable [subsection 2(5)].

Trends

Table 1: Fatalities and critical injuries in construction premises by fiscal year
Events2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Fatalities10012
Critical injuries731291916
  • Only critical injury events reported to the ministry are included here.
  • These represent data that were reported to the ministry and may not represent what actually occurred at the workplace.
  • The critical injury numbers represent critical injuries reported to the ministry and not necessarily critical injuries as defined by the Occupational health and safety Act.
  • Non-workers who are critically injured may also be included in the ministry’s data.
  • The Ministry of Labour tracks and reports fatalities at workplaces covered by the OHSA. This exclude death from natural causes, death of non-workers at a workplace, suicides, death as a result of a criminal act or traffic accident (unless the OHSA is also implicated) and death from occupational exposures that occurred many years ago.
  • Data are subject to change because of inspectors’ updates to the database.
Table 2: Events and activities in construction premises by fiscal year
Events and activities2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Field visits6423,0573,2741,7811,001
Orders1,2158,3739,8993,8801,825
Complaints615549620407278
Work refusals11101

Most common orders issued under the OHSA

From April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, the most common orders issued by the Ministry of Labour under the OHSA were:

  • An employer shall ensure that, the equipment, materials and protective devices provided by the employer are maintained in good condition [clause 25(1)(b)].
  • An employer shall, take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker [clause 25(2)(h)].
  • An employer shall provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker [clause 25(2)(a)].
  • An employer shall post, in the workplace, a copy of this act and any explanatory material prepared by the ministry, both in English and the majority language of the workplace, outlining the rights, responsibilities and duties of workers [clause 25(2)(i)].
  • Orders issued to an employer related to workplace violence and harassment provisions [sections 32.0.1 through 32.0.8].

Most common orders issued under the Industrial Regulations (Regulation 851)

From April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, the most common orders issued by the Ministry of Labour under Regulation 851 were:

  • A lifting device shall, be thoroughly examined by a competent person to determine its capability of handling the maximum load as rated, prior to being used for the first time, and thereafter as often as necessary but not less frequently than recommended by the manufacturer and in any case, at least once a year, and a permanent record shall be kept, signed by the competent person doing the examination [clause 51(1)(b)].
  • An in-running nip hazard or any part of a machine, device or thing that may endanger the safety of any worker shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the pinch point [section 25].
  • Material, articles or things shall be transported, placed or stored so that the material, articles or things, will not tip, collapse or fall, and can be removed or withdrawn without endangering the safety of any worker [clause 45(b)].
  • A storage cylinder for compressed gas shall have a valve connection that prevents an inadvertent connection which would result in a hazardous mixture of gases, be secured in position during transportation, storage or use, have the valve protection cap in position when the cylinder is not in use, when containing acetylene, be in an upright position, and be protected from physical damage [section 49].

Industrial Regulations identified by section

Inspectors may issue orders in the construction sector under the following sections of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments where appropriate.

  • Section 7 – pre-start health and safety review
  • Section 11 – safe work surfaces
  • Sections 13 and 14 – guardrails
  • Sections 22 and 23 – flammable liquids
  • Sections 24, 25, 26, 28 and 32 – guarding of equipment
  • Section 45 – material handling and storage
  • Section 49 – compressed gas cylinders
  • Clause 51(1)(a) – examination of lifting device
  • Clause 51(1)(b) – maximum rated load plainly marked on lifting device
  • Section 73 – portable ladder
  • Section 79 – personal protective equipment instruction
  • Section 80 – head protection 
  • Section 81 – eye protection
  • Section 82 – foot protection

Pre-start health and safety review

A pre-start review (PSR) may be required by section 7 of Regulation 851. Section 7 applies to a factory as defined by the OHSA and is intended to ensure that hazards are removed or controlled before an apparatus or process is started up. If required, the PSR must be completed prior to the complete installation (in-service and operating) of any apparatus, structure or protective element.

Information about pre-start reviews can be found in the Ministry of Labour Guidelines for Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews: How to Apply Section 7 of the Industrial Establishments Regulation.

For further information contact your health and safety association or the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) for guidance in conducting a PSR or contact a professional engineer or engineering company that performs PSRs.

Applicable regulations 

Construction regulation

Employers should be aware that in situations where construction work is undertaken, the Construction Projects Regulation (O. Reg. 213/91) may apply.

Construction work can be described as new work, additions, alterations or maintenance and repairs. The Occupational health and safety Act defines construction as including erection, alteration, repair, dismantling, demolition, structural maintenance, painting, land clearing, earth moving, grading, excavating, trenching, digging, boring, drilling, blasting, or concreting, the installation of any machinery or plant and any work or undertaking in connection with a project but does not include any work or undertaking underground in a mine.

General resources

Publications | Ministry of Labour

For information and Guides, Fact Sheets, Information Bulletins, Guidelines, Alerts, Engineering Data Sheets, Extracts, Reports, Consultations, Codes, and Standards.

Videos and photos | Ministry of Labour

To view Ministry of Labour videos and photos.

Health and Safety Partners

To learn about sector-assigned health and safety associations.

By the numbers: WSIB statistical report

To review Workplace safety and insurance board (WSIB) injury experience data.