MOL blitzing workplaces in Ontario

Provincial inspectors with the Ministry of Labour will be conducting safety blitzes at various workplaces this fall, the province stated in a press release.

Between September and December, blitzes will focus on:
-September-October 2012 — supervision at construction sites.
-October-November 2012 — machine guarding hazards and repetitive strain injuries in manufacturing and industrial workplaces.
-October-November 2012 — Infection Prevention and Control in health-care workplaces.
-November-December 2012 — transfer of ore in underground mines.

During blitzes, inspectors will check on condition and maintenance of safety equipment, worker training, the use of safety equipment and other potential health and safety hazards to help prevent workplace injuries.

“Our goal is to protect the health and safety of Ontario workers at construction, industrial, health-care and mining workplaces,” Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Labour, said. “We believe every worker has the right to return home safe and sound at the end of each work day.”

The blitzes are part of Ontario's enforcement strategy to increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

This past summer, blitzes also targeted new and young workers, temporary help agencies and construction traffic, tower cranes and pits and quarries.

Since 2008, ministry inspectors have conducted more than 345,000 field visits, 43 inspection blitzes and issued more than 560,000 compliance orders in Ontario workplaces.