Ontario conducts a safety blitz this month in mines across the province
Ontario is increasing enforcement of personal protection equipment in mining workplaces, Minister of Labour Peter Fonseca announced last Friday.
“Even one injury is one too many," said Fonseca. "We’ll go a long way towards (protecting miners) by cracking down on non-compliance, poor practices and deficiencies involving personal protection equipment."
Ministry of Labour inspectors will visit underground and surface mines in November to check on equipment worn by workers to protect them against hazards related to falls, worker visibility and atmospheric contaminants. The blitz will ensure safety gear is in good condition and being used correctly in order to prevent falls, collisions involving workers and vehicles and health-related hazards.
Since 2002, five workers have died in Ontario mining workplaces due to falls. Between 2005 and 2009, 13 workers in mining workplaces were seriously injured due to falls.
The blitz is part of the government’s Safe At Work Ontario strategy to keep workplaces safe and productive.
