A workplace safety blitz sponsored by Canada’s equivalent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in inspectors writing 3,263 orders for violations, including 130 stop work orders, according to a report issued last week.
Investigators from the province of Ontario’s Ministry of Labor conducted 841 inspections at 701 workplaces between Sept. 15 and Oct. 26 as part of a province-wide safety blitz that came in response to a rash of workplace accident reports.
An avareage of 4.65 orders were issued per workplace, which included manufacturing facilities, warehouses and construction sites. As of Dec. 19, 2014 of the orders had been complied with, or about 75%.
The most commonly issued orders were for:
- Failing to maintain equipment, materials and protective devices in good condition
- Failing to ensure that lifting devices are examined annually to determine their capability to lift their maximum load as rated
- Failure to take reasonable precautions for the protection of workers
The inspection blitz was part of Ontario’s “Safe at Work Ontario” compliance strategy, according to online reports.
The inspectors were enforcing Canada’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. In particular, they were looking to make sure forklifts and other lifting devices are properly rated for their loads, that workers are provided safe access to work areas, and that workers are performing tasks safety in order to prevent falls.
They were also ensuring that materials handling equipment is being properly maintained and is being used correctly, and that equipment, products and supplies are being stored safely. Other inspectors reviewed business’s training and supervision programs, and whether a well-functioning internal responsibility system was in place.