Inspection blitz results: Falls

Overview

During a cross-sector blitz in October and November, 2017, Ministry of Labour inspectors:

• conducted 1,654 field visits and 210 field visits in a support role^{footnote i[i]}
• visited 1,442 workplaces
• issued 5,516 orders and requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations, including 206 stop work orders

Inspectors checked that employers were taking appropriate action to assess and address falls hazards and protect workers. They focused on:

• ladder safety at construction projects
• slips, trips and falls at health care workplaces
• slips, trips and falls at industrial workplaces
• slips, trips and falls as well as MSD in underground and surface mines and mining plants

The inspectors checked that measures were in place to prevent these hazards.

Inspectors took appropriate action if violations were found under the OHSA or its regulations, including:

• writing orders to employers, supervisors and workers to make them comply with legal requirements
• requiring employers to provide information to the inspector
• issuing stop work orders requiring employers to comply before work could continue

The goals of this cross-sector blitz were to:

• raise awareness of hazards
• increase workplace compliance with the law
• prevent injuries and illness that could arise from unsafe work practices

Workplace inspection blitzes

Inspection blitzes are part of our Safe At Work Ontario compliance strategy. We announce to the sector, in advance, that we will be doing a blitz, although individual workplaces are not notified in advance. The results of the blitz are typically posted online, within 90 days. Inspectors' findings may impact the number and level of future inspections of individual workplaces.

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

Construction projects

Falls hazards

Between January 1, 2006 and April 30, 2017, 13% of critical incidents (279 out of 2,075) reported to the Ministry of Labour were due to falls from ladders. During that same time period, 8% of fatal incidents were due to falls from ladders (17 out of 208).

In 2016, 11% of total critical incidents (18 out of 159) reported to the ministry were due to falls from ladders. In 2015, 14% of critical incidents (21 out of 151) were due to falls from ladders.

In 2016, no fatalities were due to ladder use. In 2015, 17% of fatalities (three out of 18) were due to falls from ladders.

Ladders are a commonly used piece of equipment throughout the construction industry. Ladders that are improperly used or poorly maintained can result in serious injuries due to falls. Improper positioning while working from a ladder can result in musculoskeletal injuries unless ergonomically safe practices are used.

Falls from ladders on construction projects continue to be a significant cause of workplace injuries in Ontario.

Blitz focus

Inspectors checked on specific safety issues, such as:

• Access and egress using ladders: Inspectors checked that ladders used for access to and from the workplace were adequate, set up properly and had no defective parts.
• Portable ladders: Inspectors checked that manufactured portable ladders met the design, performance, testing and labelling requirements.
• Working off ladders: Inspectors verified employers had conducted a risk assessment to ensure their ladders were the most suitable equipment to conduct assigned work. They also checked that workers working on ladders were adequately protected against falls and had received adequate training
• Fall protection requirements: Inspectors checked that workers using a fall protection system were adequately trained in its use and had successfully completed required working-at-heights training with an approved training provider. They also checked that employers had in place written procedures for rescuing workers if a fall was arrested.

Inspection activity summary

Visits to construction projects, October 2 to November 24, 2017

• 577 field visits and 58 field visits in a support role^{footnote i[i]}
• 538 workplaces visited
• 1,574 orders and requirements issued
• 1,555 orders were issued for a number of violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, including 93 stop work orders
• 19 requirements to provide an inspector with information related to the workplace were issued
• an average of 2.93 orders and requirements issued per workplace visited
• an average of 2.73 orders and requirements issued per visit

Most frequently issued orders

The most frequently issued orders under the Regulation for Construction Projects (O. Reg. 213/91) during the blitz were:

• Failure to wear protective headwear at all times when on a project [s. 22(1)] – 143 orders or 9.1% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Failure to use at a project a portable ladder that is manufactured to meet the design, performance, test and marking requirements of a Grade 1, Grade 1A or Grade 1AA ladder in the CSA Standard Z11-12, Portable Ladders [s. 80(1)] – 94 orders or 6% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Failure to protect a worker by the highest ranked fall protection method that is practicable - in accordance to the ranking provided by the regulation, if it is not practicable to install a guardrail [s. 26.1(2)] – 66 orders or 4.2% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Failure to adequately protect a worker from falling by a guardrail system that meets the requirements of s. 26.3 (2) to (8) of the regulation [s. 26.1(1)] – 62 orders or 4% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Failure to secure a portable ladder used as a means of access and egress (between levels of a building or structure, between the ground or grade level to a building or structure, or between different work surface levels) at the top and the bottom to prevent its movement [s. 82(2)(d)] – 38 orders or 2.4% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Failure by the constructor to complete an approved notification form and file it at the Ministry of Labour office located nearest to the project or submit it electronically on a Government of Ontario website [s. 6(3)] – 36 orders or 2.3% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Failure to wear protective footwear at all times when on a project [s. 23(1)] – 34 orders or 2.2% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Failure to use an adequate guardrail or an adequate protective covering, as prescribed in the regulation, to prevent a worker from falling through an opening on a work surface [s. 26.3(2)] – 33 orders or 2.1% of the total orders and requirements issued

Of the most frequently issued orders, the ones ranking second, third, fourth, and seventh were related to fall protection. These added up to 299 orders, comprising 19% of the total orders and requirements issued. This figure would be even higher if all the other fall protection-related orders were added.

Observations

A total of 117 orders accompanied 93 stop work orders issued. These orders were issued for violations that posed an immediate hazard to workers’ health and safety. Of the 117 orders:

• 65 orders involved a lack of fall protection and eight of those orders also involved unsafe ladder use
• 14 orders involved inadequate or unsafe use of equipment
• eight orders involved inadequate access or egress to the workplace
• eight orders involved unsafe excavations
• three orders involved electrical hazards

These findings are in keeping with the statistical data for last year when the majority of fatal and critical incidents were due to inadequate use of fall protection and of equipment.

Ladder orders related to the blitz objective

The most commonly issued orders for inadequate ladder use involved a failure to:

• use a portable ladder that was manufactured to meet the design, performance, test and marking requirements of a Grade 1, Grade 1A or Grade 1AA ladder in the CSA Standard Z11-12, Portable Ladders
• secure a ladder used as a means of access and egress between different levels of a structure or building (s. 82(2))

Orders related to fall protection training

A total of 24 orders (1.5% of the total orders and requirements issued) involved fall protection training and maintenance of those training records. Two orders were specifically issued for working-at-heights training.

Conclusion and next steps

The results indicate falls hazards continue to be a key concern at construction projects. Inadequate ladder use is an important contributor to such hazards. All workplace parties need to improve onsite safety and their understanding of their duties and responsibilities under the OHSA.

The ministry will continue to raise awareness of falls hazards in Ontario workplaces.

One of the OHSA’s primary purposes is to facilitate a strong internal responsibility system (IRS) in the workplace. To this end, the OHSA lays out the duties of employers, supervisors, workers, constructors and workplace owners. Workplace parties’ compliance with their respective statutory duties is essential to the establishment of a strong IRS and the control of hazards in the workplace.

All workplace parties – employers, supervisors, workers, Joint Health and Safety Committees and health and safety representatives – must continue to work together to identify and control falls hazards.

Health care workplaces

Falls hazards

Slips, trips and falls are among the leading causes of workplace lost-time injuries (LTIs) in Ontario’s health care sector. For example, in 2016, slips, trips and falls accounted for 1,205 lost time injures, which was 17% of all LTIs in health care workplaces across Ontario.

From April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, 48 health care workers suffered critical injuries due to slips, trips and falls in health care workplaces.

Employers are ultimately responsible for protecting workers from slips, trips and falls hazards in health care workplaces. Some examples of common slips, trips, and falls hazards in the health care sector are:

• poorly maintained or obstructed floors and other work surfaces
• wet and slippery surfaces
• debris and items stored in pedestrian walkways or hallways
• weather conditions (snow, ice and rain)
• clutter and loose cords, hoses, wires and medical tubing

Blitz focus

Ontario’s health care sector includes “health care” and “community care” workplaces such as:

• hospitals
• long-term care homes
• retirement homes
• nursing services
• supported group living residences
• independent support residences (group homes)
• treatment clinics and specialized services
• medical laboratories
• professional offices and agencies

In Ontario’s health care sector, inspectors checked on specific safety issues, including:

• Maintenance of work surfaces: Inspectors checked that employers and supervisors were ensuring that work surfaces were free of obstructions, cracks, holes and finishes that make surfaces slippery.
• Same level falls: Inspectors checked that same level falls were being controlled or minimized. Special attention was given to same level falls hazards caused by slippery and uneven surfaces, debris and tripping hazards, and dark and obstructed pathways in hallways and walkways, etc.
• Housekeeping: Inspectors checked that employers were controlling hazards leading to slips, trips and falls, such as by cleaning spills, removing debris and ensuring clean castors on wheeled carts.
• Safe ladder use: Inspectors verified that hazards were being assessed and workers were being protected.
• Safe work practices and working conditions: Inspectors checked that employers had developed safe work practices. They also checked that employers covered by the health care regulation had put in place measures and procedures for safe work practices and working conditions in consultation with the workplace’s Joint Health and Safety Committee or worker health and safety representative.
• Training: Inspectors verified that workers were receiving information, instruction and supervision to prevent injuries and deaths from falls hazards, including training and education on measures and procedures to recognize falls hazards.

Inspection activity summary

Visits to health care workplaces from October 2 to November 24, 2017

• 47 field visits and 7 field visits in a support role^{footnote i[i]}
• 37 workplaces visited
• 60 orders issued for a number of violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations
• no stop work orders issued
• no requirements issued to provide an inspector with information related to the workplace
• an average of 1.62 orders issued per workplace visited
• an average of 1.28 orders issued per visit

Most frequently issued orders

During the slips, trips and falls blitz a total of 20 orders (33%) were written under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to health care workplaces. The most frequently issued OHSA orders involved employers not complying with duties [s. 25]. This accounted for 12 orders (20%) of total orders issued. The most frequently issued OHSA s. 25 orders were:

• failure to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker [s. 25(2)(h)]
• failure to ensure equipment, materials and protective devices were maintained in good condition [s. 25(1)(b)]
• failure to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect his or her health or safety [s. 25(2)(a)]

The most frequently issued orders under the Regulation for Health Care and Residential Facilities during the blitz accounted for 10 orders (16.6%) of total orders issued. The most commonly issued orders under the Regulation for Health Care and Residential Facilities were:

• failure to keep work surfaces free of obstructions and hazards, including cracks, holes and bumps that may endanger a worker, and accumulations of refuse, snow and ice [s. 33(1)]
• failure to review and revise health and safety measures and procedures for workers at least once a year in light of current knowledge and practice [s. 9(2)]

Twelve orders (20%) were written under other legislation including:

• Ontario Regulation 297/13 - Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training
• Ontario Regulation 381/15 - Noise
• Regulation 860 - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

Observations

Twenty per cent of the most frequently issued orders were for employers’ failure to protect workers from slips, trips and falls hazards, as required by OHSA s. 25. This reinforces a need for employers to ensure workers are protected from these hazards in health care workplaces.

Orders issued under Ontario’s Health Care and Residential Facilities Regulation indicates workers continue to be exposed to hazards involving unsafe work surfaces that are slippery or wet.

As well, to prevent slips, trips and fall hazards, it is important employers review measures and procedures to prevent slips, trips and falls, and, when needed, revise them in light of current knowledge and practice.

During the slips, trips and falls blitz, the health care sectors that received the highest number of orders and field visits were:

• long-term care nursing homes – 30 orders or 50% of total orders issued during 21 field visits
• retirement homes – 12 orders or 20% of total orders issued during 7 field visits
• hospitals – five orders or 8.3% of total orders issued during 4 field visits to workplaces

Conclusion and next steps

Slips, trips and falls continue to cause serious worker injuries in health care workplaces across Ontario.

The Ministry of Labour is committed to raising awareness of, and increasing compliance with, the OHSA and its regulations, as part of the ministry’s enforcement blitzes.

Slips, trips and falls continues to be a key priority in the Ministry of Labour’s SAWO Health Care Sector Plan.

During routine workplace inspections, inspectors will continue to focus on falls hazards at health care workplaces and look for evidence of a strong internal responsibility system (IRS).

To strengthen workplace health and safety in Ontario’s health care sector, we will continue to work with our health and safety system partners and stakeholders in Ontario’s health care sector to:

• check that employers are complying with legal requirements to prevent and control slips, trips and falls hazards in health care workplaces
• improve worker health and safety

For more information, visit:

• Health and Community Care
• Public Services Health and Safety Association for identifying, preventing and controlling workplace hazards in health and community workplaces
• Ontario’s other health and safety associations

Industrial workplaces

Fall hazards

Across the province in all sectors, slips, trips and falls continue to be a significant problem.

In industrial workplaces, there were 54 critical injuries as a result of falls involving ladders and 186 critical injuries from falls on the same level between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016.

Between 2012 and 2016, 35 incidents involving flatbed trucks were reported to the Ministry of Labour. Almost half of those incidents resulted in injuries to workers who fell off a flatbed truck while doing work.

Employers are responsible for protecting workers from falls hazards at industrial establishments.

Hazards at workplaces in the industrial program can include:

• slippery, poorly maintained or obstructed floors or other surfaces
• poorly maintained and unsafe use of ladders
• falls through openings in floors or other surfaces
• falls from equipment, beds of trucks, trailers or loads

Blitz focus

Industrial inspectors focused on the following sectors:

• Retail
• Wholesalers
• Tourism, Hospitality & Recreational Services
• Restaurants
• Food, Beverage and Tobacco
• Industrial Services
• Vehicle Sales & Service
• Transportation

Inspectors checked on specific safety issues, such as:

• Policies and programs: Inspectors checked that employers had policies and programs in place to protect workers from falls. This included ensuring investigations were conducted when fall-related critical injuries or fatalities occurred. The goal was to prevent a recurrence. They also checked that employers had emergency rescue procedures in place for workers who fall.
• Safe work practices:Inspectors checked that employers had developed safe work practices, including assessing the risk of falls. They also checked that employers were ensuring workers followed safe work practices.
• Falls from ladders, mobile stands and platforms:Inspectors checked that employers had assessed ladders, stands and platforms for hazards and that this equipment was maintained and placed on firm footing when in use.
• Same level slips and trips: Inspectors checked that employers were keeping floors and other work surfaces free of obstructions and other hazards (such as oil or grease). Special attention was given to walkways, aisles and other areas where there was pedestrian traffic.
• Falls from trucks/loads:Inspectors checked that employers were ensuring that workers were using safe work practices if they could be exposed to falls hazards from the beds of trucks, trailers or the top of loads. Inspectors also verified that employers had safe procedures for securing tarps over loads on flatbed trucks. Inspectors also checked that lighting was adequate and work surfaces were maintained.
• Ergonomics:Inspectors checked that employers were ensuring workers performed tasks in a manner that prevented falls. For example, inspectors checked that employers were ensuring workers were carrying objects so their view was not obstructed and that they were working in a safe manner that protected them from losing their balance.
• Worker training:Inspectors checked that employers provided information, instruction and supervision to workers to prevent injuries and deaths from falls hazards.

Inspection activity summary

Visits to industrial workplaces, October 2 – November 24, 2017

• 937 field visits and 88 field visits in a support role ^{footnote i[i]}
• 811 workplaces visited
• 3,412 orders and requirements issued
• 3,375 orders issued for a number of violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, including 75 stop work orders
• 37 requirements issued to provide an inspector with information related to the workplace
• an average of 4.21 orders and requirements issued per workplace visited
• an average of 3.64 orders and requirements issued per visit

Of the 75 stop work orders issued, one third (25) were due to unsafe ladders.

Most frequently issued orders

During the blitz, the most frequently issued orders under the Industrial Establishments Regulation (Reg. 851) involved:

• the condition of the floor or other surface [s. 11] - 244 orders or 7.15% of the total orders and requirements issued
• improper material handling [s. 45] – 125 orders or 3.66% of the total orders and requirements issued
• the condition and operation of lifting devices [s. 51] – 122 orders or 3.58% of the total orders and requirements issued
• unguarded in-running nip hazards [s. 25] – 83 orders or 2.43% of the total orders and requirements issued
• machinery, equipment or material that may tip or fall [s. 46] – 76 orders or 2.23% of the total orders and requirements issued
• the lack of an eyewash fountain [s. 124] – 53 orders or 1.55% of the total orders and requirements issued
• requirements for storage cylinders for compressed gas [s. 49] – 53 orders or 1.55% of the total orders and requirements issued
• the condition of portable ladders [s. 73] – 46 orders or 1.35% of the total orders and requirements issued
• Fire Code requirements for fire extinguishers and access/egress [s. 123] – 42 orders or 1.23% of the total orders and requirements issued
• unguarded machines, or prime mover or transmission equipment with exposed moving parts [s. 24] – 30 orders or 0.88% of the total orders and requirements issued
• requirements for guardrails [s. 13] – 25 orders or 0.73% of the total orders and requirements issued

During the blitz, the most frequently issued orders under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) involved employers’ failure to:

• post a copy of the OHSA [s. 25(2)(i)] – 243 orders or 7.12% of the total orders and requirements issued
• ensure equipment, materials and protective devices provided by the employer are maintained in good condition [s. 25(1)(b)] – 226 orders or 6.62% of the total orders and requirements issued
• prepare and review, at least annually, a written occupational health and safety policy and develop and maintain a program to implement that policy [s. 25(2)(j)] – 116 orders or 3.40% of the total orders and requirements issued
• take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker [s. 25(2)(h)] – 115 orders or 3.37% of the total orders and requirements issued
• have a workplace health and safety representative at the workplace [s. 8(1)] – 100 orders or 2.93% of the total orders and requirements issued
• provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker [s. 25(2)(a)] – 81 orders or 2.37% of the total orders and requirements issued
• have a health and safety representative do an inspection of the workplace [s. 8(6)] – 68 orders or 1.99% of the total orders and requirements issued
• post a copy of the health and safety policy [s. 25(2)(k)] – 47 orders or 1.38% of the total orders and requirements issued

Of the total orders and requirements:

• 65% (534 orders) were issued under Part III.0.1 of the OHSA provisions for workplace violence and harassment. They involved employers’ failure to comply with requirements to:
• have workplace violence and workplace harassment policies and programs
• assess or re-assess the risks of workplace violence arising from the workplace’s nature, type of work or conditions of work
• provide information and instruction to workers on the workplace violence and workplace harassment policies and programs
• 49% (358 orders) were issued under the Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training Regulation for violations involving:
  • basic occupational health and safety awareness training for workers – 197 orders or 5.77% of total orders
  • basic occupational health and safety awareness training for supervisors –158 orders or 4.63% of total orders
  • maintaining occupational health and safety awareness training records for workers and supervisors – three orders or 0.001% of total orders

Sector analysis

Inspectors visited workplaces in various sectors.

During the blitz, 29% of all orders and requirements were issued to retail sector workplaces. A high percentage of orders and requirements were also issued for the restaurant sector (12.5%), vehicle sales and service sector (11.2%), and wholesale sector (9.3%).

Observations

The blitz results indicate workers continue to be exposed to hazards involving unsafe ladders, guardrails and floors or other work surfaces. Hazards involving improper material handling and unsafe lifting devices were frequently found. This may contribute to slips, trips and falls in the workplace.

In 12.8% of workplaces visited, orders were written for failure to comply with requirements for regular workplace inspections. These inspections could help identify potential health and safety issues which could be brought to an employer’s attention. Hazards could be addressed before workers are injured. Workplace inspections help ensure a well-functioning internal responsibility system.

Conclusion and next steps

Slips, trips and falls continue to be a cause of worker injury in industrial sector workplaces.

The ministry will continue to raise awareness of falls hazards during inspections and encourage the establishment of a strong internal responsibility system and hazard control in workplaces.

Mines and mining plants

Falls hazards and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) at mines and mining plants

The blitz targeted falls in the mining sector. The goal was to prevent worker injuries and deaths. Falls can result from improperly set up or poorly maintained ladders, scaffolding and suspended access equipment. Workers can also be at risk if they aren’t wearing fall protection equipment or are not properly connected to a safe anchoring system. All falls must be addressed to protect workers, including tripping hazards due to poor “housekeeping” or open holes hundreds of meters deep.

The blitz also targeted hazards in the mining sector that can lead to MSD. MSDs are the leading type of injury in the mining sector and, in 2015, accounted for 36% of all lost-time injuries (Source: WSIB Enterprise Information Warehouse). Workers in the mining sector can develop MSDs if manual materials handling duties (lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and carrying) are not performed in a safe manner or if they are exposed to hand-arm vibration.

Blitz focus

Inspectors checked on specific safety issues, such as:

• Employer duties: Inspectors checked that employers had policies and procedures in place to protect workers from falls and MSD.
• Safe work: Inspectors checked that employers had conducted risk assessments and had practices in place to minimize fall and musculoskeletal disorder hazards.
• Equipment: Inspectors verified that measures existed to protect workers from falls off ladders, mobile stands and platforms.
• Guardrails and barricades: Inspectors checked that openings and elevated platforms were properly protected with guardrails, toe boards and other barriers to prevent falls. They also checked that controls and guarding devices were appropriate for the hazard and mining method.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Inspectors checked that PPE was provided and used in the workplace. This included checking for footwear, head protection, fall protection systems and anchor points that were engineered for the work.
• Training: Inspectors verified that workers who work at heights had received training (e.g. training to recognize falls hazards and use of appropriate protective measures).
• Slips and trips: Inspectors checked that slips and trips hazards were being controlled or minimized and that access to workplaces was adequately protected to prevent slips, trips and falls. They also checked that travelways were being maintained to eliminate tripping hazards. They also verified that water accumulations concealing tripping hazards were removed from the workplace and that slippery surfaces were made safe.
• MSD: Inspectors checked that manual materials handling duties (lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and carrying) were being done in a safe manner and that precautions were being taken to protect workers exposed to hand-arm vibration.

Inspection activity summary

Visits to mines and mining plants, October 2 – November 30, 2017

• 93 field visits and 57 field visits in a support role^{footnote i[i]}
• 62 workplaces visited
• 470 orders and requirements issued
• 457 orders issued for a number of violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, including 38 stop work orders
• 13 requirements issued to provide an inspector with information related to the workplace
• an average of 7.58 orders and requirements issued per workplace visited
• an average of 5.05 orders and requirements issued per visit

Most frequently issued orders/requirements

The most frequently issued orders/requirements were for failure of an employer to:

• guard a conveyor pinch point that extended at least 0.9 meters from the pinch point [Regulation for Mines and Mining Plants s. 196(3.1)] – 66 orders or 14% of the total orders and requirements issued
• take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker [Occupational Health and Safety Act 25(2)(h)] – 45 orders or 9.6% of the total orders and requirements issued
• ensure equipment, materials and protective devices provided by an employer were maintained in good condition [Occupational Health and Safety Act 25(1)(b)] – 39 orders or 8.3% of the total orders and requirements issued
• ensure a constructor, licensee or employer submitted to the Ministry of Labour a compliance plan prepared in the manner, and including such items, as required by the order [Occupational Health and Safety Act 57(4)] – 37 requirements or 7.9% of the total orders and requirements issued
• stop work at a workplace as indicated in an order until the order to stop work was withdrawn or cancelled by an inspector after an inspection [Occupational Health and Safety Act OHSA 57(6)(b)] – 27 orders or 5.7% of the total orders and requirements issued
• provide a suitable protective barrier on the open side of a ramp haulage road in a surface mine [Regulation for Mines and Mining Plants s. 116(2)] – 19 orders or 4% of the total orders and requirements issued
• conduct a risk assessment of a workplace for the purpose of identifying hazards that may expose a worker to injury or illness [Regulation for Mines and Mining Plants s. 5.1(1)] – 18 orders or 3.8% of the total orders and requirements issued
• provide safe access to a workplace by a walkway, stairway or ladderway [Regulation for Mines and Mining Plants s. 46(1)] – 13 orders or 2.8% of the total orders and requirements issued
• develop and maintain a written traffic management program in consultation with the workplace’s Joint Health and Safety Committee or health and safety representative if any [Regulation for Mines and Mining Plants s. 105.1(1)] – 12 orders or 2.6% of the total orders and requirements issued
• produce to an inspector any drawing, specifications, licence, document, record or report [Occupational Health and Safety Act 54(1)(c)] – 12 requirements or 2.6% of the total orders and requirements issued
• stop work on any place, equipment, machine, device, article, thing, process or material until the order was complied with [Occupational Health and Safety Act 57(6)(a)] – 11 orders or 2.3% of the total orders and requirements issued
• ensure a machine that has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any person was fenced or guarded [Regulation for Mines and Mining Plants s. 182(2)] – 9 orders or 1.9% of the total orders and requirements issued
• provide a safe means of access where workers were required to work, operate, maintain or service equipment [Regulation for Mines and Mining Plants s. 46(2)] – 8 orders or 1.7% of the total orders and requirements issued

Observations

The blitz results indicate workers continue to be exposed to hazards involving slips, trips and falls as well as MSDs.

Heightened awareness of any hazard can bring change. All workplace parties must continue to be diligent and not allow complacency to creep into their daily routines. The risk of MSDs, slips, trips and falls can be prevented by raising awareness and taking proper precautions.

Conclusion and next steps

Slips, trips and falls continue to be a cause of worker injury at mines and mining plants.

A key to workplace health and safety in Ontario is the internal responsibility system (IRS). The ministry will continue to raise awareness of falls hazards during inspections, and encourage workplace parties to work together to identify and control hazards involving MSDs, slips, trips and falls.

To this end, the OHSA lays out the duties of employers, supervisors, workers, constructors and workplace owners. Workplace parties’ compliance with their respective statutory duties is essential to the establishment of a strong IRS and the control of hazards in the workplace.