Overview

From April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) conducted a health and safety campaign that focused on material handling hazards in manufacturing and farming sectors where production occurs.

Education and outreach phase

We began by focusing on education, outreach, and awareness, to provide information to employers, in partnership with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS).

The goal was to help employers comply with the requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations prior to focused inspections.

MLITSD inspectors also referred workplace parties to our health and safety partners for compliance assistance and training as appropriate during the enforcement phase.

Enforcement phase

Beginning May 1, 2023, we conducted focused inspections of workplaces to check that employers were complying with the OHSA and its regulations. In particular, MLITSD inspectors checked that employers were taking appropriate action to assess and deal with hazards, specifically for the protection of workers where materials, articles or things are carried, lifted or moved and put workers at risk of being injured by their movement.

MLITSD inspectors checked for compliance with the OHSA and applicable regulations. The goals were to:

  • prevent injuries and illnesses that could arise from unsafe work practices
  • raise awareness of key health and safety material handling hazards
  • ensure workplace parties were complying with the law
  • refer employers to health and safety partners for assistance in complying with legislation

Inspection results

As a result, MLITSD inspectors:

  • conducted 4,030 field visits with 484 support role activities
  • visited 3,132 workplaces
  • issued 10,225 orders and requirements

“Support role activities” means that a professional services staff (such as a hygienist, ergonomist or engineer) or another inspector accompanies an inspector on a field visit to provide professional support and/or expertise.

Background

Over the last five years, MLITSD data shows that material handling hazards are the number one cause of traumatic workplace fatalities in the industrial program. In this time period, being crushed by materials or equipment, being struck by materials or equipment and falling from heights have accounted for the greatest number of fatalities in the industrial program.

Ministry data from 2022 shows that:

  • there were 44 fatalities in the industrial program, an increase of 11 from 2021
  • eleven of the fatalities were because of crushing injuries
  • seven of the fatalities were a result of being struck by something

In the farming and agriculture sectors, ministry data from 2022 shows that:

  • there were six worker fatalities, an increase of three from 2021
  • three of these fatalities were related to falls from height
  • three of these fatalities were a result of contact with machinery

On farming operations, material handling is often challenging because the materials being moved are often not palletized and there may be limited material handling equipment.

Full report

Workplace inspection campaigns

Inspection campaigns are part of our compliance strategy. We announce to the sector, in advance, that we will be conducting a campaign. However, individual workplaces are not notified in advance. The results of the campaign are typically posted online within 90 days. MLITSD inspectors’ findings may impact the number and level of future inspections of individual workplaces.

MLITSD inspectors may also refer employers to health and safety associations for compliance assistance and training.

Focus of the campaign

This campaign focused on the manufacturing and farming sectors, specifically where production was taking place. The primary focus was on workplaces where large or bulky materials, articles or things are lifted, carried, or moved, and put workers at risk of being injured by their movement.

The key sectors included:

  • agricultural services
  • automotive
  • chemical, rubber and plastics
  • farming
  • food, beverage and tobacco
  • industrial services
  • primary metals
  • pulp and paper
  • transportation
  • wood and metal fabrication

Inspectors focused on the following key priorities:

  • lifting devices/mobile equipment/cranes
  • workplace layout and design
  • manual material handling
  • storage systems
  • automation
  • machine guarding, blocking and lockout
  • training and orientation provided by the employer (for example, supervisor and worker awareness training)
  • internal responsibility system (for example, joint health and safety committee/health and safety representation)

MLITSD inspectors took appropriate action to address contraventions, including issuing orders to comply with requirements of the OHSA and its regulations.

Inspection activity summary

Visits to workplaces

  • 4,030 field visits with 484 support role activities
  • 3,132 workplaces visited
  • 10,225 orders and requirements issued under the OHSA and its regulations including:
    • 5,098 orders (49.86%) issued for contraventions under the OHSA
    • 3,853 orders (37.68%) issued under Industrial Establishments Regulation
    • 785 orders (7.68%) issued under Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training Regulation
    • 287 requirements issued for the employer to provide an inspector with workplace information
  • an average of 3.21 orders and requirements issued per workplace visited
  • an average of 2.54 orders and requirements issued per field visit

Most frequently issued orders

A total of 5,098 orders were issued under the OHSA. The most frequently issued OHSA orders involved employers’ failure to:

  • ensure that the equipment, materials and protective devices provided by the employer are maintained in good condition [clause 25(1)(b)] – 1,038 orders or 10.15% of the total orders and requirements issued during the campaign
  • post a copy of the Act in the workplace and any explanatory materials prepared by the Ministry [clause 25(2)(i)] - 378 orders or 3.70% of the total orders and requirements issued during the campaign

A total of 3,853 orders were issued under Industrial Establishments Regulation. Orders were issued under the following sections (among others):

  • inspection of a lifting device [clause 51(1)(b)] – 765 orders or 7.48% of total orders issued under the regulation
  • safe material handling and storing against tipping and falling [s. 45, s. 46 and ss. 49(b)] – 748 orders or 7.32% of total orders issued under the regulation
  • keep floor or surface free of hazards or obstructions [s. 11] – 728 orders or 7.12% of total orders issued under the regulation

As part of checking for worker and supervisor training in workplaces, a total of 785 orders were issued under the Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training Regulation (O. Reg. 297/13). Orders were issued under the following sections (among others):

  • basic occupational health and safety awareness training for workers [s. 1] — 431 orders or 4.22% of total orders issued during the campaign
  • basic occupational health and safety awareness training for supervisors [s. 2] — 341 orders or 3.33% of total orders issued during the campaign
  • maintaining records of basic occupational health and safety awareness training [s. 4] — 7 orders or 0.07% of total orders issued during the campaign

Observations

The results of this campaign indicate that workplace parties need to improve compliance with respect to maintaining equipment in good condition, ensuring materials are stored safely and that workers and supervisors receive basic occupational health and safety training. We observed that:

  • the safe handling and storage of materials continues to be an issue that can result in serious outcomes
  • basic occupational health and safety knowledge and a well functioning internal responsiblitiy system continues to be a challenge in many workplaces

Conclusion and next steps

Heightened awareness of any hazard can bring change. All workplaces parties must continue to be diligent and not allow complacency to creep into their daily routines. The risks of handling materials in an unsafe manner can be prevented by raising awareness and taking proper precautions.

Ministry inspectors will continue to pay attention to workers who handle materials and the equipment used to handle these materials and that employers are taking appropriate action to assess and address these hazards in industrial workplaces.

The results of the campaign confirms our need to continue to focus on worker safety when they are potentially exposed to hazards related to material handling and to promote occupational health and safety, especially when new, young or vulnerable workers are present.

A key to workplace health and safety in Ontario is the Internal Responsibility System (IRS). Workplace parties are encouraged to work together to identify and control all hazards.

Help for employers

Please contact our health and safety partners, for more information, resources and tools.

Contact us through our Health and Safety Contact Centre. We can provide information about compliance with the OHSA, including where to find information that is relevant to your workplace to assist with compliance regarding the use of respirators.