Number of deaths increased 50 per cent in 2003, province forms action group to come up with solutions
The Ontario government is forming a safety action group in response to what it calls an “alarming increase” in the number of construction deaths in the province.
Chris Bentley, Ontario’s Labour Minister, is setting up a health and safety action group. Starting with construction, it will enlist experts from various sectors to identify best practices, programs and policies and then join with employers, unions and workers to implement recommendations as quickly as possible.
“Construction fatalities increased 50 per cent in Ontario in 2003,” said Bentley. “There were 30 construction deaths last year, the highest level in more than a decade. Across all sectors almost 100,000 people suffered injuries severe enough to force them to miss time at work. Another 185,000 workers were injured but remained on the job. This must stop. There is tremendous room for improvement if we harness existing knowledge. We must develop a co-ordinated strategy involving training, education, legislation and enforcement.”
The first meeting of the construction panel will be held on Feb. 12. The group will begin by examining health and safety in the construction, health and manufacturing sectors. Other panels will be assembled as required, Bentley said.
Other measures
Bentley said the Ontario government has already taken a number of measures designed to improve health and safety, including:
•the hiring of 25 new workplace health and safety inspectors who are being trained so they can start work across Ontario;
•494 proactive inspections of construction sites in the Toronto area since mid-December; and
•inspections of 11 Toronto-area hospitals focused on infection control and other worker health and safety measures. Inspections are ongoing across Ontario.
