Throughout 2019 and 2020, the Ontario government has been overviewing the construction, mining, industrial and healthcare industries on an array of topics. Their plan has been active since April 1, 2019, and ends on March 31, 2020.
There will be two phases to each initiative, focusing on a different health and safety topic.
Phase 1
Education, Outreach, and Awareness.
a) Give workplace parties the tools and knowledge to comply with health and safety requirements.
b) Workplaces can prepare and access resources before the inspection blits begins.
Phase 2
Inspection Blitz
a) Inspectors conduct field visits to ensure employers are complying with OHSA regulations and raise awareness of non-compliance issues.
b) The inspectors will engage the workplaces to promote compliance and will provide support where appropriate.
Personal Protective Equipment Compliance Blitz
February 3 to March 13, 2020
This initiative will be taking place at the beginning of 2020, and will focus on all industries in Ontario. Through this compliance blitz, the ministry will be focusing on all aspects of Personal Protective Equipment, from properly fitting respirators, to the correct eye protection, and ensuring the proper hearing protection is used for the decibel level in your workplace.
Throughout 2017 the Ministry of Labour issued 7483 orders for lack of proper PPE on construction worksites alone. This is the second-highest violation type on construction sites, and the third-highest in any industry for the same year.
What should you focus on?
The PPE initiative will focus on the six main areas of PPE and that they are made readily available in the workplace and are used when required.
- Breathing Protection: Dust masks, respirators, proper cartridges and filters, and gas detection.
- Hearing Protection: Ear-plugs, ear-muffs, and measuring decibel levels.
- Protective Clothing: High-vis vests, gloves, hard hats, and cut-resistant clothing.
- Eye Protection: Face shields, goggles, and glasses.
- Footwear: Steel toes, electrically resistant boots, puncture-proof.
- Working at Heights Equipment: Lanyards, harnesses, tool lanyards.
Resources
For more information on this initiative click here.
For a list of available PPE click here.
For a list of available online training related to PPE click here.
For Working at heights training click here, and for Fall protection click here.