Overview

Health and safety inspection initiatives are part of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skill Development’s commitment to meeting requirements outlined in the ministry’s five-year occupational health and safety strategy, Prevention Works.

We announce these initiatives to sectors in advance. However, we do not identify individual workplaces before conducting a health and safety inspection.

Results from provincial initiatives are posted online. The initiatives are intended to raise awareness of workplace hazards and promote compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development inspectors are responsible for enforcing the OHSA and its regulations at workplaces across the province. The ministry decides on the focus of initiatives using a risk-based process. This process takes into account:

  • injury, illness and fatality rates
  • compliance history
  • the nature of the work (for example, hazards that come with the job)
  • current events
  • the vulnerability of the workers
  • strategic priorities
  • advice from stakeholders and the field

The focuses can be on specific sectors, hazards, issues or topics.

Inspectors are not limited to inspecting only the topics identified in this plan; they can apply the OHSA and its regulations to the situation they find at each workplace they inspect.

Inspectors’ findings may influence how often individual workplaces will be inspected in the future. Inspectors may also refer employers to health and safety associations for assistance and training.

High risk traumatic hazards — struck-by, motor vehicle and mobile equipment hazards

This initiative is happening in all sectors, such as:

  • construction
  • health care
  • industrial
  • mining

Phase 1: Compliance assistance

Dates: April 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022

Partners for this initiative include:

The ministry will partner with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association to:

  • deliver a sector-specific webinar before the focused inspections phase starts
  • publish motor vehicle and mobile equipment hazards compliance assistance resources and packages

Phase 2: Focused inspections

Dates: May 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022

Rationale

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) traumatic fatality statistics show that motor vehicle incidents cause more traumatic fatalities each year than any other type of event.

Workers being struck by objects and equipment accounted for 28% of allowed lost time claims received by the WSIB in 2018 for lost-time injuries. (Source: 2019 WSIB Statistical Report, Schedule 1).

In a similar focused inspection during a material handling blitz from September 15 to October 26, 2014, ministry inspectors conducted 841 visits to 701 workplaces and issued 3,263 orders under the OHSA and its regulations. This included 130 stop work orders.

For the period April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2016, there were 17 fatalities and 32 critical Injuries due to a “struck by” cause for workplaces covered under the industrial program. (Source: MLITSD Data).

Initiative focus

Inspectors will check that employers have assessed whether a competent or qualified operator is operating the mobile equipment. For motor vehicle and mobile equipment, common hazards include:

  • construction projects not being planned and organized to eliminate or reduce reversing of equipment or vehicles
  • effects of poorly maintained, broken, dirty or missing mirrors or windows affecting operator line of sight
  • drivers not ensuring equipment or vehicles are parked in a safe manner before leaving them unattended
  • walkways or common paths of travel are too close to areas where equipment or vehicles operate endangering workers or the public
  • lack of signs posted in prominent locations or in insufficient numbers to warn workers of the hazard of reversing equipment
  • inadequately trained signalers and equipment operators
  • operators not stopping all movement after losing sight or contact with signalers or other workers
  • lack of use of high visibility safety apparel or wearing apparel that is worn out
  • inadequate lighting or the presence of glare

Motor vehicle and mobile equipment inspections

Inspectors will check that:

  • workplace parties use and maintain equipment as per manufacturer’s instructions
  • employers ensure equipment operators are competent and/or qualified
  • workplace parties have planned the operation of equipment around pedestrian traffic
  • workplace parties use PPE, including high visibility safety apparel as required
  • providing competent signalers

Healthy worker healthy workplace initiative: asbestos and silica exposure

Healthy workers in healthy workplaces focuses on issues related to occupational diseases. This initiative is taking place in all sectors (such as construction, health care, industrial and mining). In the construction sector, the focus of the initiative will be on awareness and prevention of asbestos and silica exposure in construction workplaces.

Phase 1: Compliance assistance

Dates: October 3, 2022 to December 30, 2022

The ministry will partner with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association to:

  • deliver a sector-specific webinar before the focused inspections phase starts
  • develop asbestos hazards compliance assistance resources and packages

Phase 2: Focused inspections

Dates: October 31, 2022 to December 30, 2022

Rationale

Asbestosis, Mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases are one of the main sources of non-traumatic illness, disease and deaths in the construction sector.

In 2016 alone, occupational cancers were almost three times as high as traumatic injuries. From 2009–2018 the construction sector made up approximately 23% of all allowable long latency claims which included; plural plaques, mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis (WSIB by the numbers).

Initiative focus

Ministry inspectors will focus their inspections on:

  • industrial, commercial and institutional building renovation construction
  • residential renovation construction
  • demolition construction activities

Asbestos and silica exposure inspections

Inspectors will check that:

  • hazardous substances have been identified, including designated substances
  • hazard assessments are being completed, and the appropriate hierarchy of controls are being applied, including personal protective equipment (PPE) as the last line of defense to protect workers engaged in renovation and demolition activities where they may be exposed to asbestos
  • if removing asbestos, owners, employers and workers are following all requirements laid out in Regulation 278/05 for proper measures and procedures to be taken for the removal of asbestos
  • supervisors and workers involved in an asbestos removal operation have received the required training
  • if personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to be worn, the employer is ensuring their workers are trained in the proper selection, use and care
  • PPE is fitted and being worn properly
  • where asbestos decontamination facilities are required, set-up as prescribed by the regulation is done
  • where required, proper records are being kept
  • all required notices have been filed with the MLITSD

Resources and compliance assistance

Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Guide to the Regulation respecting Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations

Current Occupational Exposure Limits for Ontario Workplaces required under Regulation 833

Notice of Asbestos Removal and Asbestos Work Report Forms

Asbestos FAQs

Excavations and utility contacts

From September 5, 2022 to November 4, 2022, the ministry will run an initiative focusing on excavation cave-in prevention, precautions concerning underground services, and safe limits of approach to energized overhead electrical conductors.

Phase 1: Compliance assistance

Dates: September 5, 2022 to November 4, 2022

Partners for this initiative include the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association.

Phase 2: Focused inspections

Dates: October 3, 2022 to November 4, 2022

Rationale

A recent coroner’s jury recommendation related to an excavation fatality raised the need for an increase in cave-in/collapse awareness. The recommendation focused on the ministry increasing awareness about the hazard of trench cave-ins.

In addition, during 2019, there were a number of powerline contacts that resulted in worker fatalities. The ministry is working with the utility industry to increase awareness of the powerline contact hazards.

Initiative focus

Inspectors will check:

  • if employers have assessed the type of soil being excavated
  • whether shoring/sloping or engineering is required
  • whether locates for underground services have been obtained and are current and valid

In cases where directional boring is taking place, inspectors will be looking to see that the entire span of operation has valid/current locates.

For excavations and utilities, common hazards include:

  • cave-ins
  • utility service contact
  • contact with energized overhead electrical conductors

Excavations and utility inspections

Inspectors will check that:

  • the type of soil has been determined in accordance with regulatory requirements
  • underground services have been accurately located and marked
  • hazardous services have been shut off and disconnected prior to excavation
  • the presence of service owner requested if services cannot be disconnected
  • there is proper support of live/active service infrastructure to prevent breakage
  • adequate shoring/sloping/engineering for excavation walls are present
  • there are signs warning of overhead energized electrical conductors where required
  • prescribed limits of approach to overhead energized electrical conductors are being maintained
  • a competent designated signaller is in place to warn equipment operators when working near overhead, energized, electrical conductors to ensure machinery remains clear of hazard
  • shoring equipment/trench boxes are in good condition
  • shoring/trench boxes are engineered where required
  • shoring/trench boxes are properly installed
  • there is an adequate access/egress method for workers in excavations
  • debris/materials/spoil piles in relation to excavation are in a safe location
  • no work is performed in a trench, shaft, tunnel, caisson or cofferdam unless another worker is working above ground in close proximity to the excavation or to the means of access to it
  • precautions specified in writing by a professional engineer are being followed to ensure the stability of structures beside an excavation where required
  • excavations are kept reasonably free of water
  • excavation walls are stripped of loose rubble/debris/snow/ice
  • the equipment/machinery/vehicles are present in proximity to the excavation/utilities
  • that, where specified by locate information, hand digging methods are being used
  • proper PPE for directional boring operations where live utilities exist are being used
  • equipment such as directional boring/hydro-vac units have been set-up in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions
  • emergency procedures for the rescue of workers are in place and being followed

Resources and compliance assistance