65 stop work orders for Ontario slips, trips, and falls safety blitz

Jul. 21, 2015 – Ontario inspectors issued 65 stop work orders during a recent enforcement blitz to prevent slips, trips, and falls at workplaces in the industrial sector.

From February 2 to March 15 of this year, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors visited 946 workplaces across the province, some of which were visited several times.

“Slips, trips and falls can result in serious injuries or death, but they are preventable. This blitz educated both employers and workers about their rights and responsibilities, and addressed infractions that could lead to injuries,” said Kevin Flynn, Ontario minister of labour. “We must all work together to ensure workers are safe on the job.”

The inspectors issued 3,603 orders for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations. The stop work orders were issued in response to health and safety issues, including:

• portable ladders that had bent or damaged legs or rungs, or were missing non-slip footing;
• fixed position access ladders without side rails to protect workers from falling; and
• failing to ensure guardrails were provided around openings in floors to protect workers from fall hazards.

A stop work order requires work to stop on a specific piece of equipment, machine, device, or process until the hazard has been addressed.

As of June 9, 2015, more than 85 per cent of the orders issued during the blitz were complied with.