Workplace compliance initiatives
Get the schedules for workplace compliance initiatives.
What we aim to do
Each year we schedule compliance initiatives in specific sectors to protect workers' rights under both the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act, and enhance employers' awareness of their responsibilities.
We announce the focus of the initiatives ahead of time. However, individual workplaces that will be inspected are not notified in advance.
Health and safety in the workplace
Occupational health and safety inspectors carry out their initiatives to:
- raise awareness of hazards
- increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations
Provincial health and safety compliance initiatives focus on specific hazards or topics and have two phases.
During phase 1 of the initiatives the ministry focuses on education, outreach, and awareness:
- we work with health and safety associations to raise awareness and provide resources, training and education to workplace parties (for example, employers, labour associations and workers) on that initiative’s focus
- the goal is to give workplace parties tools and knowledge to comply with health and safety requirements
- workplaces can prepare and access resources or get help before the inspection campaign starts
During phase 2 the ministry conducts a focused inspection blitz :
- inspectors conduct field visits to check that employers are complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, and to raise awareness about specific issues at the workplaces they are visiting
- inspectors will engage with workplaces to promote compliance
- health and safety associations will continue to provide compliance support
Employment standards in the workplace
Inspections also take place to check that employers across the province are upholding employment standards. For example, employment standards officers inspect workplaces regarding:
- minimum wage
- hours of work
- overtime pay
- public holidays
- paid vacation
They focus on sectors where:
- there’s a history of violations
- vulnerable workers are employed such as
- new and young workers
- temporary foreign workers
- workers in non-standard or precarious work
- the number of people working is on the rise
Provincial health and safety compliance initiatives in 2022-23
All-sector compliance initiatives
| Compliance focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| High risk traumatic hazards – Struck-bys, motor vehicle and mobile equipment hazards | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness April 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022 Compliance support with all health and safety associations Phase 2: Inspection blitz May 1, 2022 to June 26, 2022 Focused inspections |
| Healthy workers in healthy workplaces – occupational disease | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness October 3, 2022 to December 30, 2022 Compliance support with all health and safety associations Phase 2: Inspection blitz October 31, 2022 to December 30, 2022 Focused inspections |
Construction initiatives
| Compliance focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Excavations and utility contacts | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness September 5, 2022 to November 4, 2022 Compliance support with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association Phase 2: Inspection blitz October 3, 2022 to November 4, 2022 Focused inspections |
Health care initiatives
| Compliance focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Safe transition/transfer of care | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness June 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 Compliance support with the Public Health and Safety Association Phase 2: Inspection blitz Part 1: September 1, 2022 to October 3, 2022 Part 2: January 4, 2023 to March 31, 2023 Focused inspections |
Industrial initiatives
| Compliance focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Temporary help agencies | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness May 2, 2022 to August 31, 2022 Compliance support with:
Phase 2: Inspection blitz June 29, 2022 to August 31, 2022 Focused inspections |
| Workplace violence in education | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 Compliance support with the Public Services Health and Safety Association Phase 2: Inspection blitz February 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023 Focused inspections |
| Material handling strategy | May 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 Compliance support with the Public Health and Safety Association Focused inspections by MLTSD inspectors |
Mining initiatives
| Compliance focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Storage, use and handling of explosives in surface and underground mines | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness July 15, 2022 to September 30, 2022 Compliance support with Workplace Safety North Phase 2: Inspection blitz August 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 Focused inspections |
Specialized Professional Services Initiative
| Compliance focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Warehousing (ergonomics) | Phase 1: Education, outreach and awareness April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 Compliance support with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Phase 2: Inspection blitz July 4, 2022 to March 31, 2023 Focused inspections |
| Respiratory protection (hygiene) | Phase 1: Compliance assistance April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 Compliance support with:
Phase 2: Inspection blitz January 4, 2023 to March 31, 2023 Focused inspections |
| Asbestos in building structures (hygiene) | Phase 1: Compliance assistance April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 Compliance support with:
Phase 2: Inspection blitz January 4, 2023 to March 31, 2023 Focused inspections |
Provincial employment standards compliance initiatives in 2019-20
| Initiative | Focus and timing |
|---|---|
| Protecting vulnerable workers | September 1, 2019 - February 14, 2020 The ministry will inspect workplaces and educate employers about their obligations under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) and Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act (EPFNA). Employment Standards Officers (ESOs) will focus on:
|
Read the reports
We report the results of compliance initiatives, usually within 90 days.
2020-2021
Health and safety
2019-2020
Health and safety
- ground control
- suspended access equipment
- new and young workers
- slips, trips and falls
- workplace violence prevention
Employment standards
2018-19
Health and safety
- new small business registrations and internal responsibility system
- machine guarding
- warehouse and big box retail
- mobile equipment
- reversing equipment
- new and young workers
- working at heights
- conveyor guarding
- 10-month health care sector initiative
- 3-year health care sector initiative
Employment standards
2017-18
Health and safety
- personal protective equipment and high visibility clothing
- machine guarding and electrical hazards
- falls
- residential projects
- new and young workers
- occupational disease
- supervisor awareness and accountability