Ontario MOL May Blitzes - Falls From Heights & Young Workers

Ontario Ministry of Labour plans 2 enforcement blitzes in May involving falls from heights, and young workers.

For the falls from heights inspection blitz, inspectors will look for hazards involving platforms, raised floors, mezzanines and ladders, check fall-arrest equipment and guardrails, and watch for dangerous practices (e.g., working on storage racks) and improper use of ladders.

This is the same blitz that occurred in November 2009 where inspectors visited 1,572 workplaces and issued 4,611 orders, including 149 stop-work orders. Falls represent more than 17% of lost-time injury claims, based on Workplace Safety and Insurance Board statistics.

May through August, Ministry of Labour inspectors will also visit workplaces with a high likelihood of hiring young workers, who are at greater risk of injury than other workers.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reports that an average of 42 young Ontario workers — aged 15 to 24 — are injured, made ill, or killed on the job every day. That's almost 2 young workers every hour of every day and every night, seven days a week. Between 2001 and 2008, 27 of these young workers were killed. The highest number of allowed lost-time claims occurs among young workers employed in occupations such as sales and service, transport/equipment operators, and labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities.


For assistance with your health and safety program please visit PHS Solutions or call 416-270-7689.

MOL Releases a Guide to Workplace Violence & Harassment

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has released a 50 page guide that explains what workers, supervisors, employers and constructors need to know about the workplace violence and harassment requirements in the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It describes everyone's rights and responsibilities and answers, in plain language, the questions that are most commonly asked about the requirements. Download a copy of from here