Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, “construction” includes 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 (excluding any work or undertaking underground in a mine).

Construction inspectors enforce overall compliance with the legislation at construction projects across the province. As part of the Safe At Work Ontario strategy, they focus specifically on construction sectors with high injury rates, a history of non-compliance and known workplace hazards.

The sharing of knowledge creates partnerships, understanding and focus for both industry and enforcement. Safe At Work Ontario informs current and future strategies and programs that best protect the health and safety of Ontario’s workers.

Michele Beckstead-Jackson
Provincial Specialist, Construction Health and Safety Program

Construction blitzes

In 2015-16, the Construction program conducted three blitzes aimed at: reducing struck-by hazards and trenching hazards, and improving safe operation of heavy equipment.

Struck-by hazards blitz

Workers continue to be at risk when working near construction traffic. One of the biggest dangers is being struck. These incidents can result in serious injuries or even death.

In May and June 2015, ministry inspectors conducted a blitz at construction sites across Ontario focused on the hazards of working around vehicles and large pieces of mobile equipment. They checked that employers were taking appropriate and effective action to assess and address these hazards and protect workers’ safety.

The three most frequently issued orders involved a failure on the part of employers to:

  • ensure workers were protected from falls
  • ensure workers used personal protective equipment (PPE) when required
  • provide traffic control and planning, and organize vehicle and equipment operation at the construction project.
Table 17: Struck-by hazards blitz stats
Program activities Number
Field visits 1,494
Workplaces visited 1,313
Orders and requirements issued 3,056
Stop work orders 261
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 2.33
Orders and requirements per field visit 2.05

Resources

Trenching hazards blitz

Trenches, which are deeper than they are wide, are usually excavated to install or repair underground utilities, such as sewers, electricity, water mains, natural gas lines and telecommunications lines, and to construct foundations for buildings or other structures. Trenches can be dangerous because of their depth and because their relatively narrow opening can make escape difficult in an emergency. Workers can also be at risk due to widely varying soil types, unstable ground conditions and high water content.

For two months in the summer (July and August 2015), the Ministry of Labour conducted a safety blitz on hazards in the construction of trenches. Ministry inspectors visited construction projects across Ontario where trenches were being excavated. They checked for safety issues related to:

  • excavation and trenching support systems
  • identification, location and marking of utilities before work is undertaken
  • measures taken to prevent falls by workers
  • trench work notification to the Ministry of Labour.

The four most frequently issued orders involved a failure on the part of employers to ensure:

  • trenches 1.2 metres or deeper had proper support systems to prevent the walls from collapsing onto workers
  • material, excavated soil and equipment were kept a safe distance from the upper edge of the trench walls to prevent the material from falling onto workers and to maintain the stability of the walls
  • workers were wearing personal protective headwear to protect them from falling debris in the trench
  • adequate written procedures for emergencies had been developed and posted in a conspicuous place at the construction project.
Table 18: Trenching hazards blitz stats
Program activities Number
Field visits 994
Workplaces visited 862
Orders and requirements issued 1,683
Stop work orders 151
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 1.95
Orders and requirements per field visit 1.69

Resources

Heavy equipment operation blitz

Workers continue to be at risk when operating, maintaining and working around heavy equipment on construction sites. They can be injured or killed when struck by vehicles, equipment or their loads.

In October and November 2015, Ministry of Labour inspectors conducted a blitz at construction sites across Ontario on the dangers of operating and working around heavy equipment and vehicles. Inspectors checked that employers were taking appropriate steps to assess and address these hazards and protect workers’ safety.

The three most frequently issued orders involved the failure on the part of employers to:

  • provide a guardrail system around the open sides of a surface as a primary form of fall protection
  • ensure workers used personal protective equipment (PPE), including protective headwear, safety footwear and safety glasses
  • ensure that written emergency procedures had been developed and posted in a conspicuous place at the construction site.
Table 19: Heavy equipment operation blitz stats
Program activities Number
Field visits 1,128
Workplaces visited 967
Orders and requirements issued 2,321
Stop work orders 201
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 2.40
Orders and requirements per field visit 2.06

Resources

Provincial construction enforcement initiatives

During 2015-16, provincial compliance and enforcement initiatives in the construction sector focused on improving supervisors’ awareness of health and safety requirements, safety for workers on sloped roofs and material handling practices.

Supervisory awareness of occupational health and safety and regulatory duties initiative

Supervisors play a critical role in the Internal Responsibility System, and must be trained and knowledgeable. To increase their awareness of the occupational health and safety requirements for construction projects, inspectors checked for:

  • proof that site supervisors had received the health and safety awareness training that came into effect on July 1, 2014
  • compliance with the supervisor responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations for construction projects.
Table 20: Supervisory awareness of occupational health and safety and regulatory duties initiative stats
Program activities Number
Field visits 1,919
Workplaces visited 1,590
Orders and requirements issued 4,601
Stop work orders 368
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 2.89
Orders and requirements per field visit 2.40

Resources

Worker safety on sloped roofs (underground economy/roofing) initiative

Falls are the number one cause of fatalities among construction workers in Ontario, and roofers are at high risk of falls. Yet many workers, particularly those who work in the underground economy, often do not have the training or protection to reduce their risk.

In 2015-16, enforcement initiatives in the roofing sector focused on new sloped roof and re-roofing activities and included after-hours inspections of roofing projects. The sloped roofs initiative assessed fall protection, risks related to over-exertion, and safe use of ladders and other equipment to get to the roof.

Inspectors checked that:

  • adequate fall protection systems were in place and workers were properly trained in the safe use of fall protection components and equipment
  • workers were adequately trained in proper lifting, pushing and pulling of materials, and adequately supervised
  • workers were not engaging in activities that could lead to increased physical demands and awkward postures, which may result in musculoskeletal disorders
  • workers were adequately trained in the use and maintenance of equipment such as ladders, scaffolds and work platforms.
Table 21: Worker safety on sloped roofs (underground economy/roofing) initiative stats
Program activities Number
Field visits 817
Workplaces visited 736
Orders and requirements issued 2,115
Stop work orders 143
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 2.87
Orders and requirements per field visit 2.59

Resources

Worker material handling practices and ergonomic risks and controls

Material handling and other ergonomic risks continue to be a notable source of work-related injuries in the construction sector. The risk of back injury and muscular strains (musculoskeletal injuries/disorders) from lifting and moving heavy or bulky items of stock is common at projects where workers are regularly handling materials.

In this initiative, inspectors looked specifically at material handling procedures and equipment, and walking and working surfaces. Inspectors checked that employers ensured:

  • workers performed tasks and interacted in a manner that prevents musculoskeletal injury and the risk of slips, trips and/or falls
  • equipment was appropriate for use, maintained, inspected and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s operating manual and safe practices were followed ( e.g. safe load securement procedures and traffic control plans)
  • the condition of walking and working surfaces was safe and appropriate housekeeping practices were followed
  • construction sites were clear of conditions that could cause slips, trips and falls – particularly any hazards or unsafe conditions caused by weather.
Table 22: Worker material handling practices and ergonomic risks and controls initiative stats
Program activities Number
Field visits 1,947
Workplaces visited 1,589
Orders and requirements issued 4,193
Stop work orders 297
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 2.61
Orders and requirements per field visit 2.13

Resources

Regional construction enforcement initiatives

Central East Region

Housekeeping – slips, trips and falls – initiative

With the dynamic nature of construction activities – uneven surfaces, debris and poor housekeeping – it is a constant challenge to ensure safe walkways at construction workplaces. For this initiative, inspectors looked for any and all housekeeping related issues at a construction project, including:

  • daily removal of garbage
  • proper and safe storage of materials
  • clear paths in and out of projects
  • access/ egress routes treated with sand/ salt if slippery due to weather
  • clear work areas to prevent tripping.

As a result of this initiative, inspectors conducted 829 field visits at 559 different construction projects and issued 3,291 orders.

Table 23: Housekeeping – slips, trips and falls – initiative stats (Central East Region)
Program activities Number
Field visits 829
Workplaces visited 559
Orders and requirements issued 3,291
Stop work orders 365
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 5.89
Orders and requirements per field visit 3.97

Central West Region

Overloading of dump trucks

In response to concerns raised by the Ontario Dump Truck Association (ODTA), the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Transportation coordinated a six-week initiative (October 1 to November 15, 2015) on hazards associated with overloading dump trucks at construction sites in the Greater Toronto Area. Inspectors visited five workplaces, looking specifically for hazards such as:

  • lack of constructor/excavator accountability
  • improper use of dump truck equipment
  • lack of procedures to prevent dump truck overloading.
Table 24: Overloading of dump trucks initiative stats (Central West Region)
Program activities Number
Field visits 5
Workplaces visited 5
Orders and requirements issued 2
Stop work orders 0
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 0.4
Orders and requirements per field visit 0.4

Falls from elevations initiative

Falls are the number one cause of critical injuries and deaths of workers at construction sites in Ontario. In this initiative, inspectors in the Central West Region visited 200 construction projects looking for hazards that result in a fall, including:

  • missing or inadequate protective devices (e.g. guardrails)
  • lack of appropriate personal protective equipment
  • equipment that is misused or in poor condition
  • poor lighting, slippery surfaces, inadequate housekeeping.
Table 25: Falls from elevations initiative stats (Central West Region)
Program activities Number
Field visits 239
Workplaces visited 200
Orders and requirements issued 757
Stop work orders 62
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 3.17
Orders and requirements per field visit 3.79

Eastern Region

Failure to notify requirements under the Regulation for Construction Projects O. Reg. 213/91

Depending on their size and specific activities, construction projects are required to file notices of activities that may pose a health and safety risk, such as trenching and asbestos abatement.

In this initiative, inspectors focused on construction activities where the required notice has not been filed, using information from municipal building permits records and field intelligence to target unregistered projects. Through this initiative, inspectors were able to engage both small businesses and vulnerable workers while, at the same time, uncovering parties who were operating in the underground economy.

Inspectors conducted 255 field visits to identify unregistered projects. They issued a total of 830 orders – an average of 3.2 orders per field visit, which is much higher than usual. They also issued 70 stop work orders.

Table 26: Failure to notify the requirements under the Regulation for Construction Projects O. Reg. 213/91 (Eastern Region) stats
Program activities Number
Field visits 255
Workplaces visited 239
Orders and requirements issued 830
Stop work orders 70
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 3.5
Orders and requirements per field visit 3.2

Northern Region

Roll-over protective structures initiative

Construction work often involves operating large equipment on uneven terrain. In an incident in 2012 in the Northern Region, a packer rolled over onto a worker. The operator was thrown from the equipment (he was not wearing a restraining device) and the injuries caused by the roll over protective frame were fatal.

To prevent future injuries, the region launched an initiative on roll over protective structures. In the 18 workplaces visited, inspectors examined the use of roll over protective structures as well as restraining devices (seat belts). They issued 24 orders, including one stop work order.

Table 27: Roll-over protective structures initiative stats (Northern Region)
Program activities Number
Field visits 18
Workplaces visited 18
Orders and requirements issued 24
Stop work orders 1
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 1.33
Orders and requirements per field visit 1.33

Western Region

Electrical contact initiative

The 2015-16 electrical contact initiative was a partnership between the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and the Ministry of Labour. The goal was to reduce the number of electrical fatalities, injuries and fires with the ultimate vision of “getting to zero”. Results to date have shown the importance of this targeted initiative in increasing awareness of the workplace parties’ duties and responsibilities while working around electricity.

Table 28: Electrical contact initiative stats (Western Region)
Program activities Number
Field visits 459
Workplaces visited 392
Orders and requirements issued 922
Stop work orders 65
Orders and requirements per workplace visited 2.35
Orders and requirements per field visit 2.01