Blitzes aim to enhance workplace safety for vulnerable workers
Ontario is poised to launch more than 20 targeted blitzes across the province, beginning next month.
Ministry of Labour employment standards officers will visit food services, construction sites, retail stores, and mines looking for potential violations of Ontario’s employment standards and occupational health and safety laws.
The safety blitzes are part of the province’s enforcement strategy to increase compliance with the Employment Standards Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“Every worker has the right to work in a healthy, safe, and fair workplace. Targeted blitz programs like these increase awareness, compliance and overall safety among workers and employers throughout the province,” Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn said in the news release.
There will be a focus on sectors will vulnerable workers, such as young workers or temporary foreign workers, as well as employees of repeat violators.
Violations affecting the pay, overtime, and work hours of these at-risk groups will be investigated, as well as violations such as fall and electrical hazards or chemical handling.
“Ontario has one of the best safety records in Canada, and we should all be proud,” Flynn said.
“Our goal at the Ministry of Labour is to ensure that workers in Ontario are treated fairly by their employers and return home safely at the end of the day.”
The blitzes will being May 2 and run until March 2017.
