THE EMPLOYERS' EDGE
Spring Blitz Targets 5 Construction Trades
Spring is in the air, and so is the buzz around construction sites again as the industry gears up for another season of work. In keeping with the Ontario government’s commitment to Safe at Work Ontario, a new month long safety blitz commenced on March 1st. The focus of the Ministry of Labour Inspectors will be on the “high-risk” trades. Specifically, inspections will focus on those engaged in high-rise, low-rise formwork, masonry, siding and roof work.
As a worker, supervisor, employer or constructor on a construction site you will want to ensure:
That hazards that can cause slips, trips and falls have been assessed, and mitigated;
That information, supervision and training has been provided on equipment that leads to falls such as ladders, platforms and scaffold;
That a review of surfaces that can cause tripping hazards is done on a daily basis (housekeeping); and
That workers have and are properly using fall protection systems.
You should expect that Inspectors will take a zero tolerance approach to any breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Construction Regulations. The inspectors will be looking to see if the correct, safe equipment is being used, and they will review sites for housekeeping issues which often lead to trip and fall hazards. As well, you should be prepared to show training records, appropriate certificates, supervision, safety information and safety talks, and specific new worker and young worker training. In these cases, it really is worth the paper it is written on.
Please Note: This blog has been prepared as an informational service for our clients and other interested parties. It is not intended to constitute legal advice, a complete statement of the law or opinion on any subject. Although we endeavour to ensure the accuracy of the content, no one should act upon the information provided without a thorough examination of the law after the facts of a specific situation are fully considered.