Ontario to launch new safety blitzes

Get ready to get inspected: Ontario is launching targeted safety blitzes at manufacturing facilities in October and November.

 The McGuinty government announced the blitzes on Wednesday, and plans to target four different industries across the province this fall. In addition to inspecting machine guarding hazards and repetitive strain injuries in manufacturing and industrial workplaces, the blitzes will also target construction sites, heath care and mining.

During these blitzes, inspectors will check on the 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.

“Our goal is to protect the health and safety of Ontario workers at construction, industrial, health care and mining workplaces. We believe every worker has the right to return home safe and sound at the end of each work day,” Ontario Minister of Labour Linda Jeffrey said in a statement.

“We’re working to improve health and safety and prevent injuries and deaths at Ontario workplaces. These blitzes will help raise awareness of the some of the hazards that can lead to tragedy,” added George Gritziotis, the province’s chief prevention officer.

The blitzes are part of Ontario’s enforcement strategy to increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations. This past summer, blitzes also targeted new and young workers, temporary help agencies and construction traffic, tower cranes and pits and quarries.

Since 2008, ministry inspectors have conducted more than 345,000 field visits, 43 inspection blitzes and issued more than 560,000 compliance orders in Ontario workplaces.