High-risk construction trades target of month-long Ontario safety inspection blitz

Inspectors will check for hazards that cause slips, trips or falls

Inspectors in Ontario will be focusing on safety at high-risk construction workplaces during a province-wide enforcement blitz throughout March.

Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour will visit construction projects employing workers in high-rise formwork, low-rise formwork and masonry, siding and built-up roofing work.

"These workers lose more time at work due to injuries than workers in many other sectors,” said George Gritziotis, Ontario’s chief prevention officer. “Most of the incidents involve young workers. Our goal is to improve worker health and safety and prevent injuries and deaths at Ontario's construction sites."

During the blitz inspectors will check that:

•work areas are safe from hazards that cause slips, trips or falls

•workers are using fall protection systems properly and equipment such as ladders, platforms and scaffolds

In 2010, six workers died and 159 workers were seriously injured in the five targeted trades as a result of falls. Of those injured, nearly half were young workers, according to the Ministry.

The blitz will be in addition to regular inspections already undertaken by the Ministry of Labour.

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