Ontario plans winter safety blitzes targeting workplace hazards

Inspectors will focus on underground mines, construction sites and health-care workplaces

Ontario will conduct three heightened enforcement blitzes at workplaces across the province this winter, according to the Ministry of Labour.

Inspectors will visit:

 underground mines to check on diesel emissions and other hazards that could affect air quality in January and February

 industrial and construction workplaces to check for slips, trips and falls hazards in February and March

 health-care workplaces to check on workplace violence and harassment in February and March.

During blitzes, inspectors will check on condition and maintenance of safety equipment, worker training, the use of safety equipment and other potential health and safety hazards to help prevent workplace injuries.

The blitzes aim to:

• raise awareness of health and safety in the workplace

 prevent injuries and illnesses that could arise from unsafe work practices

 check that workplaces are complying with the law.

The blitz is part of the Ontario government's Safe at Work Ontario enforcement strategy to increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

Since 2008, ministry inspectors have conducted more than 345,000 field visits, 47 inspection blitzes and issued more than 560,000 compliance orders in Ontario workplaces.

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