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Compliance plans and blitzes
Healthy Workers in Healthy Workplaces initiative
In the fall of 2019, the ministry led the Healthy Workers in Healthy Workplaces compliance blitz focusing on musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards. The initiative consisted of two phases.
The first phase was education, outreach and awareness conducted in collaboration with the health and safety associations. The purpose was to raise awareness and provide training and resources for employers.
The second phase was an inspection blitz. Inspectors visited workplaces in the construction, health care, industrial and mining sectors. There were two purposes. One was to check that employers were complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The other was to protect workers by assessing and addressing musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards.
Safe At Work Ontario (SAWO) – Annual sector-specific compliance plans
As part of SAWO, the ministry’s Operations Division develops annual sector-specific compliance plans to guide the work of inspectors and their proactive visits. Plans are developed for four sectors as well as specialized services:
- industrial sector
- construction sector
- mining sector
- health care sector
- specialized professional services
The plans include details about the ministry’s planned health and safety initiatives. Each year, inspectors conduct proactive blitzes and enforcement activities that target hazards and identify workplace concerns in workplaces in each sector.
The 2019-2020 initiatives are described in more detail in the following sections. More information can be found on the schedule for ministry health and safety enforcement initiatives.
Industrial Health and Safety Program
The Industrial Health and Safety Program is the largest and most varied of the ministry’s four occupational health and safety programs. The program enforces the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations in 29 subsectors. Most workers in provincially regulated workplaces in Ontario are covered by the Industrial Health and Safety Program.
Industrial health and safety blitzes
In 2019-2020, ministry inspectors conducted four inspection blitzes. The blitzes focused on reducing hazards related to slips, trips and falls, musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards, machine guarding and new and young workers.
Slips, trips and falls
During a health and safety blitz on slips, trips and falls from March 18 to July 12, 2019, ministry inspectors checked that employers assessed for slip, trip and falls hazards and controlled for them (for example, through posting appropriate signs and good housekeeping practices).
Musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards
During a health and safety blitz focusing on musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards from September 1 to December 27, 2019, ministry inspectors focused on hazards that may lead to MSDs during manual materials handling activities, and on helping workplaces eliminate or control those hazards. In industrial establishment workplaces, inspectors will focus on activities that may pose respiratory hazards, including vapours, fumes and particulates.
Machine guarding
During a health and safety blitz from January 20 to March 31, 2020, ministry inspectors focused on machine guarding, locking and blocking, electrical hazards, power line contact and the internal responsibility system. Electrical workers can also be at risk of a major electrical hazard if improper lockout procedures are used when working on energized electrical equipment.
New and young workers
From May 1 to August 30, 2019, inspectors visited industrial workplaces that hired new and young workers in sectors such as retail, restaurants, food, beverage and tobacco, tourism, hospitality and recreational services. Inspectors focused on workplaces that were newly registered with the WSIB and hadn’t had a proactive health and safety visit in the five years prior.
Construction Program
Construction is a dynamic industry comprising several primary sectors, each with subsectors. Activities vary widely on construction projects, with workplaces and workforces that change constantly. At a typical project, there can be multiple employers and trade unions on site. These workplaces are quite different from those in other industries.
Most construction contractors in Ontario are small-to-mid-size employers. Many construction employers have fewer than eight employees. Some construction employers have more than 100 workers, often working across several projects.
Construction inspectors enforce compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and regulations at construction projects across the province. As part of the SAWO strategy, they focus on construction sectors with high injury rates, a history of non-compliance and known workplace hazards.
Construction health and safety blitzes
In 2019-2020, ministry inspectors conducted four inspection blitzes. They focused on reducing risks related to slips, trips and falls, suspended access equipment, musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards, and personal protective equipment.
Slips, trips and falls
During a health and safety blitz on slips, trips and falls from March 18 to July 12, 2019, ministry inspectors checked that employers assessed for slip, trip and fall hazards and controlled for them (for example, through posting appropriate signs and good housekeeping practices).
Suspended access equipment
Between July 2 and September 27, 2019, the ministry conducted a health and safety blitz focused on suspended access equipment on construction sites across the province.
Musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards
Between September 1 and December 27, 2019, ministry inspectors conducted an enforcement blitz focusing on musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards across the province.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Between January 6 and March 18, 2020, ministry inspectors conducted a province-wide enforcement blitz focusing on personal protective equipment.
Mining Program
Ontario has about 40 underground mines with about 25,000 workers, located mostly in northern Ontario. Minerals such as copper, nickel, gold and other precious metals, diamonds, salt and gypsum are extracted from them.
Ontario also has several thousand surface open pits, quarries, and sand and gravel operations, with about 10,000 workers. Minerals such as gold, as well as material such as limestone, sand and gravel, are extracted from them. There is also a materials-testing laboratory.
Mining health and safety blitzes
In 2019-2020, ministry inspectors conducted four inspection blitzes. The blitzes focused on reducing hazards related to slips, trips and falls, ground control, emergency preparedness and self-audit, and musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards.
Slips, trips and falls
During a health and safety blitz on slips, trips and falls from March 18 to July 12, 2019, ministry inspectors checked that employers assessed for slip, trip and falls hazards and controlled for them in mines and mining plants across the province (for example, through posting appropriate signs and good housekeeping practices).
Ground control
From July 15 to September 27, 2019, the ministry conducted proactive inspections on ground control plans (unsupported underground openings, ground support quality control and ground instability record-keeping), mine design, communication programs, procedures for installation of ground support and quality control programs in mines and mining plants across the province.
Emergency preparedness and self-audit
From December 16, 2019, to March 17, 2020, the ministry conducted a self-audit initiative that covered underground fires, fire drills, escape ways, secondary accesses, checks of risk registry for potential emergencies and mine rescue, refuge stations, remote worksites and emergency preparedness.
Musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards
Between September 1 and December 27, 2019, ministry inspectors conducted an enforcement blitz focusing on musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards across the province.
Materials Testing Laboratory
The ministry’s Mining Program also operates the Materials Testing Laboratory in Sudbury, which tests steel mine hoist ropes used to hoist conveyances in underground mine shafts. Under the mines and mining plants regulation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), mine operators that use hoist ropes must have their ropes regularly tested by an approved laboratory. In 2019-2020 the Materials Testing Laboratory tested 789 rope samples from Ontario, as well as from across Canada and around the world.
Health Care Program
Health care workers provide daily care to millions of Ontarians in a variety of settings that include hospitals, long-term care centres and homes. The hazards facing health care workers can be complex and require a steadfast commitment to workplace health and safety. The ministry’s Health Care Program covers health and community care services in seven settings:
- long-term care homes (homes for nursing care)
- retirement homes (homes for residential care)
- hospitals
- nursing services
- supported group living residences and other facilities (group homes)
- treatment clinics and specialized services
- professional offices and agencies
In 2019-2020, health care inspectors focused on slips, trips and falls, workplace violence prevention, group homes, and musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards, along with their general inspection duties and field visits.
Health care health and safety blitzes
Slips, trips and falls
Between March 18 and July 12, 2019, ministry inspectors checked that employers assessed for slip, trip and fall hazards and controlled for them (for example, through posting appropriate signs and good housekeeping practices) in health care workplaces across the province.
Workplace violence prevention
From July 22 to September 27, 2019, the ministry focused on workplace violence prevention in long-term care, retirement homes and community care workplaces to raise awareness of workplace hazards and promote compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Group homes
From January 20 to March 13, 2020, the ministry conducted an initiative on group homes. Group homes
are primarily engaged in providing residential care for people who require care or support, including people with developmental disabilities, mental health disabilities or substance abuse problems. They include intensive supported residences, supported group living residences and other facilities that provide support to clients and residents in residential settings.
Musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards
Between September 1 and December 27, 2019, ministry inspectors conducted an enforcement blitz focusing on musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards across the province.
Specialized Professional Services Program
The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development's (MLTSDs) Specialized Professional Services Program provides technical support and expertise to regional staff in the industrial, construction, mining and health care programs in five key areas:
- ergonomics
- occupational hygiene
- engineering
- radiation protection services
- emergency management
Ergonomics health and safety blitzes
Ergonomics focuses on the interaction between workers and such workplace elements as equipment, workstations, work processes and the environment. Ministry ergonomists provide technical support to inspectors and conduct inspections focusing on ergonomics to protect workers from ergonomics-related hazards. In 2019-2020, ergonomists provided technical support to several ministry inspection blitzes, including the musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards cross-program blitz. They also conducted an ergonomics-specific blitz that focused on ergonomics in municipalities.
Ergonomics – municipalities
Phase 1 of this initiative started on April 1, 2018, and included compliance assistance for municipalities by the ministry and PSHSA.
Blitz inspections started on April 1, 2019, and MLTSD ergonomists performed an administrative review and physical inspection(s) for each municipality visited. The administrative review focused on the entire municipality, while the physical inspection focused on the public works department.
The blitz was scheduled to continue until March 31, 2020. It was later extended to September 30, 2020, but was put on hold due to the pandemic. A full report for the blitz will be scheduled at a later date.
Occupational hygiene
Occupational hygienists (OH) provide professional and technical support to the industrial, construction, mining and health care sector programs. Through inspections, investigations and industry-wide air quality surveys, the OH recognizes and evaluates the risk factors that contribute to occupational diseases and illnesses among workers.
To control exposures, the OH enforces the Occupational Health and Safety Act and specific regulations, including Regulation 490/09: Designated Substances, Regulation 833: Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents, Regulation 632/05: Confined Spaces, Regulation 278/05: Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations, Regulation 860: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, and the Hazardous Products Act and federal Hazardous Products Regulations.
Engineering
Field staff receive technical support from professional engineers who provide specialized services. This helps to ensure workplaces in Ontario are safe. These engineers take part in accident investigations and provide reports on the root cause of the accident that could be used in legal proceedings. Engineers also take part in the development of regulations, internal and external guidance documents, and Canadian Standards Association standards.
Engineers supported field inspectors during blitzes by providing technical support through phone consultations, development of training materials, and participating in field visits.
Radiation Protection Service
The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development's (MLTSDs) Radiation Protection Service provides technical support and expertise to regional staff on all aspects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
Radiation Protection Service focus
Radiation safety is devoted to minimizing occupational radiation exposure to workers. The ministry’s radiation protection officers conduct proactive radiation safety inspections and reactive radiation exposure investigations and provide support to inspectors. In 2019-2020, they focused on dental X-ray installations in open treatment areas at veterinary facilities, workplaces that have outstanding rejected
applications for installation of an X-ray source, and workplaces with X-ray sources that have never been inspected.
Radiation Protection Service Laboratory
The Radiation Protection Service Laboratory in Toronto samples, tests and monitors food and environmental samples for radiation around nuclear installations in and surrounding Ontario. The testing is conducted as part of the Order-in-Council responsibilities assigned to the ministry under the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan (PNERP). The laboratory also conducts radio analysis of drinking water for the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks in support of the Drinking Water Surveillance Program. Over the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the laboratory tested 1,501 samples, performing 1,997 analyses.
Emergency Management
As the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) has Order-in-Council responsibilities under the Emergency Management & Civil Protection Act (EMCPA), we have ensured that all emergency response plans and related emergency management documents are current and up to date. In addition, for 2019-20, MLTSD has achieved certification as compliant with EMCPA requirements through the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management annual review & certification process.
The Emergency Management Program of the MLTSD has been instrumental during the COVID‑19 pandemic in liaising information between Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) and the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development's, (MLTSD's) Ministry Action Group (MAG), as well as planning, scheduling regular meetings and coordinating with various ministries.