Ontario’s Ministry of Labour has released its schedule of inspection initiatives for 2019. These inspections involve consideration of both health and safety and employment standards compliance in the workplace. The Ministry focuses on sectors where (a) there is a history of violations, (b) vulnerable workers like new and young workers, temporary foreign workers and precarious worker are employed, and (c) there has been an increase in the number of people employed.
This is the schedule released by the Ministry:
All-sector initiatives
| Initiative focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| High risk traumatic hazards – slips, trips and falls | Phase 1: March 18 – July 12, 2019
Compliance assistance with all health and safety associations Phase 2: April 15 – July 12, 2019 Focused inspections |
| Healthy workers in healthy workplaces – musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards | Phase 1: September 1 – December 27, 2019
Compliance assistance with all health and safety associations Phase 2: October 1 – December 27, 2019 Focused inspections |
Construction initiatives
| Initiative focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Suspended access equipment | Phase 1: July 2 – September 27, 2019
Compliance assistance with Infrastructure Health and Safety Association Phase 2: August 6 – September 27, 2019 Focused inspections |
| Personal protective equipment (PPE) | Phase 1: January 6 – March 13, 2020
Compliance assistance with Infrastructure Health and Safety Association Phase 2: February 3 – March 13, 2020 Focused inspections |
Health care initiatives
| Initiative focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Workplace violence prevention | Phase 1: July 22 – September 27, 2019
Compliance assistance with Public Services Health and Safety Association Phase 2: August 19 – September 27, 2019 Focused inspections |
| Group homes | Phase 1: January 20 – March 13, 2020
Compliance assistance with Public Services Health and Safety Association Phase 2: February 3 – March 13, 2020 Focused inspections |
Industrial initiatives
| Initiative focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| New and young workers | Phase 1: May 1 – August 30, 2019
Compliance assistance with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services and Workplace Safety North Phase 2: July 15 – August 30, 2019 Focused inspections |
| Machine guarding | Phase 1: January 20 – March 31, 2020
Compliance assistance with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services Phase 2: February 17 – March 31, 2020 Focused inspections |
Mining initiatives
| Initiative focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Ground Control | Phase 1: July 15 – September 27, 2019
Compliance assistance with Workplace Safety North Phase 2: August 6 – September 27, 2019 Focused inspections |
| Emergency preparedness self-audit | Phase 1: December 16, 2019 – March 27, 2020
Compliance assistance with Workplace Safety North Phase 2: February 3 – March 27, 2020 Focused consultations and compliance assistance |
Cross-sector initiatives
| Initiative focus | Phases and timing |
|---|---|
| Municipalities (ergonomics) | Phase 1: April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2020
Compliance assistance with Public Services Health and Safety Association Phase 2: April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020 Focused inspections |