Ministry of Labour inspectors continue to focus on hazards related to material handling in workplaces governed by Ontario’s health and safety regulation for industrial workplaces.

Ministry inspection campaign in effect

According to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development inspectors will be conducting proactive inspections in a year-long compliance campaign targeting workplaces engaged in priority sectors such as agricultural services, automotive, chemical, rubber and plastics, farming, industrial services, primary metals, and wood and metal fabrication. Other key sectors will include food, beverage and tobacco, government services (municipal services only), retail, tourism, hospitality and recreational services, transportation, and vehicle, sales and service. Inspectors are investigating if employers are complying with a broad range of legal obligations related to:

 

• lifting devices/mobile equipment/cranes
• workplace layout and design
• manual material handling
• storage systems
• automation
• machine guarding, blocking and lockout
• training and orientation provided by the employer (e.g., mandatory supervisor and worker awareness training)
• internal responsibility system (e.g., joint health and safety committee/health and safety representation, including Certification training compliance).

Meet legal obligations with training

Is your workplace ready for this kind of scrutiny? Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) can help. Over the coming months we have scheduled a number of training programs designed to help workers, supervisors and their representatives meet training obligations and identify, assess and control or better yet eliminate significant related hazards. Our course schedule includes: 

• Lockout
• Moving Machine Parts
• Racking and Pallet Hazards
• Heat and Cold Stress 
• Confined Spaces
• Worker Health and Safety Awareness
• Supervisor Health & Safety Training 
• Certification Part I, Part II and Refresher.

New and updated course offerings

Notable changes to these courses include those associated with our Heat and Cold Stress program, where delivery is designed to prioritize heat stress at this time of year and include the application of many heat stress tools such as those recently amended by the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.  

And new to these offerings is our three-hour Racking and Pallet Hazards inspired by, and program portions first piloted with, Ministry inspectors in the industrial division. Racking systems and pallets in the workplace can pose serious hazards that can result in rack collapse, load instability, goods spillage and struck by injuries. This program emphasizes the importance of regular maintenance, monitoring and inspection using workplace procedures and manufacturer’s specifications. It assists workers, supervisors and their representatives including those serving on joint health and safety committees to identify, assess and recommend effective controls to ensure proper loading and reduce or eliminate related hazards, including hazards that cause a rack to become unstable or defective. Program participants will also cover associated health effects and applicable legislation. 

Don’t see what you need in our schedule be sure to check out our online catalogue. Other courses we offer include Forklift Operator, Industrial Cranes — Rigging and Hoisting, and Manual Material Handling. We can bring many of our courses to your training facility, or if you don’t have one of your own, when our scheduled training isn’t running, we could consider running your course in our space when you have more than a few to train. 

Did you know WHSC operates five of our own training facilities strategically located across the province and works with community partners to run courses in several other locations? We get you the training you need where and when you need it. Our work is designed to support yours.   

Register for training, get ahead of a potential investigation

Need more information?
Contact a WHSC training services representative in your area.
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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