Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says keeping employees safe is his top priority.
Today he said the Province is launching big box store inspection blitzes in places like Toronto, Hamilton, Durham, Peel and York this weekend and they’ll soon expand province-wide.
“Fifty health and safety inspectors will be joining local bylaw and police officers,” he said. “I want big box stores to pull up their socks and follow the rules. If not, my message is clear – you’ll be shut down.”
McNaughton says the Province has already closed 55 unsafe workplaces and won’t hesitate to close more.
Inspectors will focus on workplaces in the following sectors:
· Workplaces with reported COVID-19 outbreaks
· Manufacturing
· Warehousing
· Distribution centres
· Food processing
· Publicly accessible workplaces deemed essential, such as grocery stores
Ministry inspectors will also continue their focused onsite inspections at long-term care homes and retirement homes using a new data-sharing initiative with the Ministry of Long-Term Care and the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority.
Individuals and businesses who are not following the rules can be fined.
The set fines are:
-
- $750 for not following the rules;
- $1,000 for preventing others (including employees or other workers) from following the rules.
- Maximum fines can be up to $100,000 for individuals and $10 million for a corporation.
- Failure to follow the rules could also result in prosecution or even a year in jail.
The blitzes begin in connection with the Province’s new stay at home order and state of emergency lockdown rules announced this week.
Health and safety is our top priority.
Our inspectors are visiting workplaces every day and have shut down 55 worksites for unsafe conditions. Employers must do their part if they want to remain open. pic.twitter.com/V5cWZ6WASd
— Monte McNaughton (@MonteMcNaughton) January 14, 2021