Ontario Promises Stronger Enforcement After Blitz
One of the largest safety blitzes ever conducted by the province's Ministry of Labour resulted in 784 stop-work orders and 121 summonses issued for fall hazards on hundreds of construction sites.
One of the largest safety blitzes ever conducted by the Ontario, Canada, Ministry of Labour, a three-month campaign to inspect for fall hazards during which 2,821 construction sites were visited, resulted in 784 stop-work orders for fall hazards, 117 tickets issued for fall hazards, and 121 summonses issued to employers, supervisors, and workers, the ministry announced May 13 as it released a report summarizing the results.
At the same time, the provincial government announced it is taking more steps to improve safety of construction work there, including stronger enforcement directed at repeat offenders and shutting down sites if workers' lives are in danger; focusing more on training and supervision during inspections; working with partners in a public campaign to increase awareness of enforcement and safety in different languages; and offering a toll-free hotline for workers and the public to report unsafe practices.
During the campaign, inspectors issued 853 orders (25 percent of the total issued) for guardrail deficiencies, 101 (3 percent) for elevated work platforms, 442 (13 percent) for fall protection systems, 296 (9 percent) for worker training and records, and 294 (9 percent) for ladder deficiencies.
Workers and supervisors are not aware or adequately trained on fall-related hazards and general safe work practices, the ministry's report states.