Safety Blitz Targets Industrial Workplaces

As part of the province’s new Safe At Work initiative, the Ontario government is emphasizing the importance of workplace safety, particularly the need to reduce injuries involving forklifts and lifting devices. This means that companies operating such devices should expect to see more inspections from the Ministry of Labour in the near future.

Inspectors will be looking specifically at the condition of the lifting devices, as well as the competency of the persons operating the equipment to ensure that everything meets MOL regulations.

Corporations that do not meet these regulations can be fined anywhere up to $500,000 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. As well, individuals can be charged up to $25,000, 12 months imprisonment, or both.

To get a better understanding of the importance of workplace safety, take a look at these quick facts:

• Between 1996 and 2008, there were 10,308 forklift-related incidents where there was a lost time injury.
• Thirteen workers died between 2003 and 2007 as a result of incidents involving lift trucks, reach trucks, forklifts and tow motors.
• From April 1,2004 to March 31, 2008, the Ministry of Labour’s compliance program reduced workplace injury by a rate of 20% (more than 50,000 incidents).
• Currently, Ontario employs 432 full-time Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors that work to maintain safe workplaces by ensuring that companies meet MOL regulations.

Labour Minister Peter Fonseca’s opinion regarding the issue is as follows: “Forklifts and other lifting devices are a significant cause of serious worker injury and deaths. The Government of Ontario and its workplace partners are committed to eliminating all workplace injuries, including those related to these lifting devices. Workers have a right to come home each day to their families, safe and sound”.

Keeping a safe workplace is also important because more safe workers leads to greater productivity for Ontario’s economy and less strain on our health care system.

To ensure you are compliant with MOL regulations, call Liftow today to certify your Forklift operators, inspect your forklifts and avoid any of the fines mentioned above!

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