NEW ROUND OF WORKPLACE INSPECTION BLITZES April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019

The Ontario Ministry of Labour regularly conducts workplace inspection blitzes. Each year the Ministry announces the focus of its blitzes and initiatives and posts the schedules online. However, individual workplaces do not receive advance notice of an inspection. The purpose of Ministry inspections is to ensure compliance with employments standards and health and safety.

Employment Standards

Industries with a history of violations or workplaces with vulnerable workers such as young or foreign workers are the usual targets of safety blitzes. The focus is usually on standards regarding:

·         minimum wage

·         hours of work

·         overtime pay

·         public holidays

·         paid vacation

During the previous employment standards inspection blitz, the Ministry conducted 1,654 field visits and visited 1,442 workplaces. The ministry issued 5,516 orders and requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, including 206 stop work orders. The Ministry has the power to issue compliance orders and fines.

Employment Standards

The next round of workplace employment standards inspection blitzes include the following:

Business Type	Ontario Location	Dates
Construction	Ontario	May 1 to Aug 31, 2018
Smaller/independent retailers	Central East	Sep 1 to Dec 31, 2018
Retail trade (non-restaurant or grocery stores)	Central West	Oct 1 to Jan, 2019
Small retail/grocers	Eastern	Jun 1 to Sep 28, 2018
Hotel/motel accommodations	Northern	Aug 1 to Oct 31, 2018
Golf courses	Western	Jun 1 to Sep 30, 2018

Health and Safety

Ontario businesses can expect the following health and safety blitzes:

Blitz Focus	Ontario Location	Dates
Working at heights – fall protection training	Ontario	Phase 1:  May 1 to May 31, 2018 Phase 2: Jun 1 to Jun 30, 2018
Reversing Equipment on construction projects	Ontario	Phase 1:  Sep 1 to Sep 30, 2018 Phase 2: Oct 1 to Oct 31, 2018
Industrial – new and young workers	Ontario	May 1 to Aug 31, 2018
Industrial – machine guarding	Ontario	Feb 1 to Mar 29, 2019
“Big Box” retailers	Ontario	Oct 1 to Nov 23, 2018
Construction – internal responsibility system	Ontario	Jun 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Industrial – internal responsibility system – newly registered small businesses	Ontario	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Health Care – internal responsibility system – workplace violence prevention	Ontario	Phase 1: Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019 Phase 2: Jul 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Health Care – high hazards	Ontario	Apr 1 to June 30, 2018
Chemical manufacturing, chemical handling	Ontario	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
WHMIS	Ontario	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Ergonomics related to falls (ladders, stairs, access platforms)	Ontario	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Musculoskeletal disorder prevention in metal fabrication	Ontario	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Municipalities	Ontario	Phase 1: Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019 Phase 2: Apr 1, 2019 to Mar 31, 2020
Industrial & construction workplaces that use temporary help agencies	Central East	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Road construction projects	Central West	May 1 to 31, 2018
Temporary labour agencies	Central West	Jun 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Chainsaw operation and maintenance	Eastern	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Quarry blasting operations	Eastern	May 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Utility work	Eastern	May 1 to August 31, 2018
Sawmills, etc.	Northern	May 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Golf courses	Western	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Temporary and foreign workers	Western	Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019
Hotels	Western	Phase 1: Apr 1, 2018 to Mar 31, 2019 Phase 2: Apr 1, 2019 to Mar 31, 2020

For more information and to determine whether your business or industry will be subject to workplace inspection blitzes or initiatives go to the Ministry’s website.

The employment lawyers at Dale & Lessmann LLP would be pleased to speak to you regarding your company’s statutory compliance requirements as well as any other employment and business related issues.

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Christina J. Wallis is a Partner lawyer practising civil litigation with a focus in Employment Law at Dale & Lessmann LLP Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a full service business law firm. To speak to Christina please call 416-369-7832 or send an email message to her at cwallis@dalelessmann.com.