A series of zero-tolerance workplace safety inspections begin today in sectors and regions hardest hit by COVID-19.
Labour Minister Monty McNaughton said this ramped-up blitz will start with a focus on warehouses, food processors and manufacturers in Peel and Halton Regions.
However, he says there will be increased inspections and enforcement across the province.
“With more contagious variants identified in many parts of the province, it has never been more important that businesses have the appropriate health and safety protocols in place to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “We will have zero tolerance for those bad actors who break safety requirements as it puts the lives of workers and the public at risk. Our officers will not hesitate to issue tickets to those not following the rules.”
McNaughton said risk-based inspections of farms employing temporary foreign workers will also continue, while inspections will expand to construction sites.
The increased inspections and enforcement across the province will include:
- Enhanced education and outreach to the construction sector, a robust and expanding program for rapid antigen screening for COVID-19 in construction, along with a zero-tolerance approach to enforcement of COVID-19 safety requirements on construction projects.
- Continued risk-based inspections of farms employing temporary foreign workers, including working closely with Service Canada and local public health units to coordinate inspections and share information.
These inspections will focus on enforcing the COVID-19 safety requirements and violations may result in fines up to $750 for individuals and $1,000 for businesses. In addition, officers will be helping retailers understand the new requirements under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, to bring them into compliance, including the selling of only essential items. The government will work with local enforcement personnel to enforce and bring retailers into compliance where necessary.
If a violation is more serious, a person can be charged with failing to comply with an order under the acts. If convicted, the court can impose fines as high as $100,000 for individuals, and directors and officers of a corporation can be fined up to $500,000. Both could also receive terms of imprisonment of up to one year. The maximum fine for a corporation on conviction of an offence is up to $10 million.
For more details, please click here.
#UPDATE: Since the start of our #COVID19 workplace inspections, my Ministry has stopped unsafe work a total of 78 times to keep Ontario workers and customers safe. pic.twitter.com/SbUZQV8wns
— Monte McNaughton (@MonteMcNaughton) April 8, 2021
Our Ministry is launching zero-tolerance workplace inspections starting this Friday in Peel and Halton warehouses, factories and food processing plants. #WorkplaceInspections Learn more here: https://t.co/3fRtMZOIxk pic.twitter.com/5jOMtLH6ru
— Monte McNaughton (@MonteMcNaughton) April 8, 2021