Are You In the MOL’s Inspection Bull’s Eye?
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has been blitzing employers for three years. “Blitz” is the nickname of the targeted inspection program the MOL carries out with regard to particular industries and high priority issues. The first blitzes concentrated on workplace safety and health; but last year, the MOL also started doing ESA blitzes to determine if employers are complying with their wages and hours obligations.
Recently, the MOL unrolled its blitz schedule for both programs through the end of the year. So if you’re in Ontario, you should see if you’re on either blitz list and, if so, make the necessary preparations.
OHS BLITZ SCHEDULE
|
Focus |
Sector |
Date |
| Vulnerable Workers | Industrial, Health Care: New and Young Workers | May – August 2013 |
| Excavation | Construction | May 2013 |
| Internal Responsibility System | Mining | July – August 2013 |
| Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) | Health Care | September – October 2013 |
| Fall Hazards | Construction | September – October 2013 |
| Ground Control | Mining | October – 2013 |
| Recycling and Waste Management | Industrial Health Care | November – December 2013 |
| Locking and Tagging in Mine Hoisting Plants | Mining | January – February 2014 |
| Construction in Active Workplaces | Construction/Industrial | January 2014 |
| Warehousing | Industrial | February – March 2014 |
ESA BLITZ SCHEDULE
|
Focus |
Sector |
Date |
| Vulnerable Workers | Salons, spas, nail salonsManufacturing and distributionFast food, restaurantsConstruction sitesFarming
Recreation: gyms, pools, bowling alleys Recreation centres |
May – August 2013 |
| Retail Services | Gas stationsRetail chainsConvenience store franchises/chainsOther retail/grocery | October – December 2013 |
Recent Ontario OHS and ESA Developments