WORKPLACE INSPECTION BLITZES

The Ontario Ministry of Labour regularly conducts workplace inspection blitzes. Each year the Ministry announces the focus of its blitzes and initiatives and posts the schedules online. However, the individual workplace is not provided advance notice that it will undergo an inspection. The purpose of Ministry inspections is to ensure compliance with employments standards and health and safety.

Employment Standards

The usual safety blitzes are targeted at industries with a history of violations or workplaces with vulnerable workers such as young or foreign workers. The focus is usually on standards regarding:

• minimum wage
• hours of work
• overtime pay
• public holidays
• paid vacation 

During the previous employment standards inspection blitz, the Ministry made 103 inspections and reported that 75% of employers were not complaint with the most common monetary violations with respect to public holidays, overtime, and vacation with pay. The Ministry has the power to issue compliance orders and fines.

 

The next round of workplace employment standards inspection blitzes include the following:

 

Business Type	Ontario Location	Dates
Independent grocery stores	Central East and West	Oct 1/17 to Jan 31/18
Kiosks in shopping malls	Eastern	Nov 1/17 to Jan 31/18
Professional services – dentists, law firms, etc.	Northern	Oct 1/17 to Dec 31/17
Seasonal businesses	Western	Nov 1/17 to Jan 31/18

 

Health and Safety

The Ontario construction industry can expect the following health and safety blitzes:

 

Construction Industry
Focus	Dates
Residential projects	Sep 1/17 to Nov 30/17
Falls- ladder safety	Oct 1/17 to Nov 24/17
Noise	Apr 1/17 to Mar 31/18
WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information)	Apr 1/17 to Mar 31/18
“Struck by” hazards	May 1/17 to Mar 31/18
Fall Protection	May 1/17 to Mar 31/18

 

For more information and to determine if your business or industry will be subject to workplace inspection blitzes or initiatives go to the Ministry’s website.

 

The employment lawyers at Dale & Lessmann LLP would be pleased to speak to you regarding your company’s statutory compliance requirements as well as any other employment and business related issues.

 

 

FREE Statutory Requirements for Employers in Ontario To obtain a copy of a detailed Paper on this topic, please send an email to cwallis@dalelessmann.com using your company email.

 

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Christina J. Wallis is a Partner lawyer practising civil litigation with a focus in Employment Law at Dale & Lessmann LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a full service business law firm. To speak to Christina please call 416-369-7832 or send an email message to her at cwallis@dalelessmann.com.