Sector summary

This sector includes transportation, including freight trucking, courier service, taxis, school buses, GO Transit, urban transit systems and transit companies.

Key hazards

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

  • activities that may lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
  • slips, trips and falls
  • material handling hazards (such as workers being struck by objects, caught or crushed between objects)
  • transportation equipment and vehicle traffic
  • noise
  • exposures (to infectious agents).

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 Occupational health and safety Act.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

Workplace pains and strains can be serious and disabling for workers, causing pain and suffering ranging from discomfort to severe disability.

MSD is not a medical diagnosis; it is an umbrella term for a group of injuries. Some of these injuries include: back pain, muscle strain, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), rotator cuff syndrome, tennis elbow and shoulder pain.

  • Identify and assess job-related MSD risk factors (i.e. identify tasks and activities involving manual material handling, use of ladders, static or repetitive movements etc.).
  • Review training on job-specific MSD risk factors.
  • Assess controls to reduce worker exposure to MSDs.
  • Contact your health and safety association for guidance in assessments and prevention of MSDs.

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) 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 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 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)].

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 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 material and product to and from receiving areas or to shipping areas.
  • Ensure that products, equipment and materials are stored safely and that workers can move or handle products, materials and equipment safely [section 45].
  • 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].

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)].

Transportation equipment and vehicle traffic

Workers can be involved in serious collisions with tragic consequences. Injuries can also occur when workers are struck by or come into contact with vehicles while attending at scenes or locations where vehicle traffic is present.

A workplace includes the motor vehicle that workers operate. Employers should continue to promote a culture of safety that includes a focus on safe driving.

Employers must also ensure that vehicles used by workers are maintained in good condition and are safe to use.

Where vehicles are present:

  • review locations where pedestrians and vehicles may be present in/or at a workplace, including roadways
  • ensure that controls are in place to adequately protect workers from vehicle traffic.

A comprehensive program to protect workers may include an assessment of the risks and implementation of measures and procedures appropriate in the circumstances, such as warning lights, signs, signallers, barriers and worker training. The use of reflective clothing appropriate for the circumstances is also important. Workplace parties may wish to refer to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard CSA Z96-15 which contains performance criteria for high visibility garments. CSA Standard Z96-15 - High-visibility safety apparel is available through the Canadian Standards Association.

Exposures - infectious agents

Infectious agents may be present in workplaces that can be a hazard to workers. Workers may encounter a variety of infectious agents from specific tasks that are performed (e.g. during cleaning or maintenance activities) or workers may encounter members of the public who are sick (e.g. norovirus, common cold, influenza) or infected with a communicable disease (such as a blood borne pathogen).

Where there is a hazard of infection, employers must ensure that appropriate precautions are put into place.

  • Ensure that workers are educated about routine infection control precautions appropriate for their work.
  • Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment is available as required.

Trends

Table 1: Fatalities and critical injuries in transportation by fiscal year
Events2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Fatalities64302
Critical injuries3233414824
  • 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 excludes 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 is subject to change because of inspectors’ updates to the database.
Table 2: Events and activities in transportation by fiscal year
Events and activities2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Field visits1,0451,1961,117959938
Orders1,1691,3241,4901,0561,125
Complaints223260294276304
Work refusals1316151815

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)].

Most common orders issued under the Industrial Regulations

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

  • A floor or other surface used by any worker shall be kept free of obstructions, hazards, and accumulations of refuse, snow or ice, and not have any finish or protective material used on it that is likely to make the surface slippery [section 11].
  • 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)].
  • Machinery, equipment or material that may tip or fall and endanger any worker shall be secured against tipping or falling [section 46].
  • 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 (i) will not tip, collapse or fall, and (ii) can be removed or withdrawn without endangering the safety of any worker [clause 45(b)].

Industrial Regulations identified by section

Inspectors may issue orders in the transportation 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
  • Section 45 – material handling and storage
  • Section 57 – inadvertent vehicle movement
  • Section 73 – portable ladder
  • Section 76 – machine lockout
  • Section 79 – personal protective equipment instruction
  • Section 80 – head protection
  • Section 81 – eye protection
  • Section 82 – foot protection
  • Section 85 – fall arrest

Applicable regulations

Regulation for Construction Projects

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.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder | Ministry of Labour

Emergency medical services (EMS): What is Bill 163, the Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act, 2016?

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.