Protection Blitz on in Ontario

A new safety blitz, currently underway, is designed to ensure workers on industrial and construction sites throughout Ontario are using the proper fall protection systems and protective gear and that ladders and mobile platforms are being properly used.

Announcing the ramping up of efforts in this area, the province’s Ministry of Labour says that in 2011, such injuries accounted for around one-fifth of all Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claims for lost-time injuries.

In that year, according to MOL statistics as reported in Daily Commercial News, falls from heights at construction sites accounted for around 41 per cent of deaths and 60 per cent of injuries.

“Slips, trips and falls continue to pose a serious hazard for workers in the industrial and construction sectors and remain the number one cause of critical injuries and fatalities,” Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Labour said in a statement. “Our government is committed to preventing injuries and deaths of all workers at Ontario workplaces.”

Provincial Chief Prevention Officer George Gritziotis agreed, saying the past decade has seen a number of serious incidents involving work and that the province was working to prevent injuries and death.

According to the statement, inspectors will visit a range of industrial and construction sites across Ontario and will ensure that:

• Employers have policies, programs and safe work practices in place to protect workers from slip, trip and fall hazards
• Workers work in a safe manner on ladders, mobile stands and platforms and are properly trained and supervised
• Workers use appropriate fall protection systems, personal protective equipment and other safety devices
• Floors and other surfaces are kept clear of obstructions

The statement says ministry inspectors have conducted more than 345,000 field visits and 49 inspection blitzes across Ontario workplaces since 2008.

In that time, more than 560,000 compliance orders have been issued.

Winter is considered an especially hazardous time from the viewpoint of injuries caused by slips, trips and falls because of snow.

By Andrew Heaton