The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) has announced that
inspectors will be conducting safety inspection blitzes on
"Slips, Trips and Falls (ladder safety and fall protection
hazards)" in February/March of this year, focusing on
industrial and construction sector workplaces.
If an MOL inspector observes a violation of the Ontario
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) or its
regulations during a safety inspection, the inspector may issue an
order for compliance. Depending on the type of order, the employer
may be required to stop work, achieve compliance immediately, or
achieve compliance within a certain time frame after the
inspection. The MOL may prosecute any person for violating OHSA or
its regulations, or for failing to comply with an order of an
inspector. If convicted of an offence under OHSA or its
regulations, an individual can be fined up to $25,000 and/or
imprisoned for up to 12 months, and a corporation can be fined up
to $500,000.
