In response to COVID-19, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development plans to adjust the current 2020-21 health and safety compliance initiative schedule. Further updates will be provided as necessary.

We thank you for your continued efforts in keeping workplaces safe in Ontario during this time.

Overview

Health and safety inspection initiatives are part of the province’s Safe At Work Ontario compliance strategy.Health and safety inspection initiatives are part of the province’s Safe At Work Ontario compliance strategy.

These initiatives are announced to sectors in advance. However, individual workplaces are not identified in advance.

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

As part of the Safe At Work Ontario strategy, 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.

Radiation protection officers will support the construction, health care, industrial and mining sector initiatives, including two all-sector initiatives for:

  • motor vehicle and mobile equipment hazards
  • Healthy workers in healthy workplaces occupational health initiative

Radiation protection initiative – veterinary clinics

Phase 1: Compliance assistance

Dates: September 2, 2020 – November 2, 2020

Partner(s): Radiation Safety Institute of Canada (RSIC), Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA)

Phase 2: Focused inspections

Dates: October 1, 2020 to November 2, 2020

Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development radiation protection officers will perform an administrative review and physical inspection(s) for each veterinary clinic visited. The administrative review will focus on the training of staff in the use of equipment, while the physical inspection will focus on the equipment within the clinic (for example x‐ ray machines).

Rationale

Veterinarians and vet techs in Ontario continue to be among the x-ray workers who receive the highest radiation dose annually. Between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2019 inspectors issued over 890 orders to veterinary clinics. Over 40% of all orders written were related to providing information and instruction regarding x-ray protection. This indicates that many veterinary clinics are not ensuring that x‐ ray workers are educated in how to protect themselves from radiation exposure – including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), dosimetry and other engineering and administrative controls. This could be an opportunity to assist veterinary clinics in coming into compliance with the other administrative requirements of the OHSA. Radiation protection officers will have packages with information regarding radiation safety and other small business resources.

Initiative focus

Radiation protection officers will check that employers provide information, instruction and supervision to workers who may be exposed to ionizing radiation.

Resources and compliance support