Inspection Blitz: Electrical Safety At Industrial Sector Workplaces

Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors checked specifically for electrical hazards during an enforcement “blitz” of provincially regulated industrial workplaces in November 2008.

Workplace inspection “blitzes”

Workplace inspections by the Ministry are announced in advance, and results are posted on the Ministry's website. During such blitzes, inspectors take a “zero tolerance” approach to contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.

The blitzes are designed to raise awareness of known workplace hazards and compliance with safety regulations. The overall goal is to promote a long–lasting increase in compliance, and a decrease in the rate of injuries.

The ministry does not limit its inspections to workplaces with injuries; it also focuses on workplaces with higher risks of injuries by using predictive indicators such as inherent hazards and poor records of compliance with safety regulations.

Because many workplace injuries and fatalities can be traced to a few root causes in each sector, Ministry of Labour inspectors conduct proactive blitzes to raise awareness of — and increase compliance with — health and safety legislation and regulations in these critical areas.

Inspectors' findings determine the level of engagement and frequency of subsequent inspections for individual workplaces. Ministry of Labour inspectors often refer employers to Health and Safety Associations (HSAs) for additional assistance and training.

Click here to read more about this inspection blitz.