Ontario Compliance Alert: MOL Unveils Its 2019 OHS Inspection Targets
Memo to Ontario Employers:
Every April 1, the start of its new fiscal year, the Ministry of Labour kicks off a new round of targeted OHS inspections. Last week, the MOL finally revealed its slate of targets of so-called Provincial Initiatives for 2019. Unlike Blitzes, Provincial Initiatives unfold in 2 phases:
- Phase 1: MOL assistance and outreach with safety associations representing the target sector; and
- Phase 2: Focused inspections to verify compliance with applicable OHS requirements.
Here’s the 2019 schedule by dates, target sector and issues inspectors will focus on:
Ontario MOL’s 2019 Provincial Initiatives OHS Inspection Schedule
| Focus | Target Sector(s) | Dates |
| High risk traumatic hazards’slips, trips and falls | All | April 15 ‘ July 12, 2019 |
| Healthy workers in healthy workplaces ‘ musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards | All | Oct. 1 ‘ Dec. 27, 2019 |
| Suspended access equipment | Construction | Aug. 6 ‘ Sept. 27, 2019 |
| PPE | Construction | Feb. 3 ‘ March 13, 2020 |
| Workplace violence prevention | Health Care | Aug. 19 ‘ Sept. 27, 2019 |
| Group homes | Health Care | Feb. 3 ‘ March 13, 2020 |
| New and young workers | Industrial | July 15 ‘ Aug. 30, 2019 |
| Machine guarding | Industrial | Feb. 17 ‘ March 31, 2020 |
| Ground control | Mining | Aug. 6 ‘ Sept. 27, 2019 |
| Emergency preparedness self-audit | Mining | Feb. 3 ‘ March 27, 2020 |
| Municipalities (ergonomics) | Cross-sector | April 1, 2019 ‘ March 31, 2020 |
The MOL hasn’t yet announced the 2019 Blitz schedule. We’ll let you know when it does.