What is a Safety Blitz?
An ongoing and integral part of the Ministry of Labour’s (MOL) strategies in Ontario, Canada, is contained in a Construction Electrical Safety Blitz that was completed in the late fall of 2016. The MOL preamble and a link with the results released in April 2017 can be found here:
https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/sawo/blitzes/construction.php
What Inspectors Looked For
“Incidents while performing electrical work can result in critical injuries and even death to workers at construction sites. These hazards can be prevented by following safe work practices and procedures.
Between November 1 and December 31, 2016, Ministry of Labor (MOL) inspectors conducted an enforcement blitz at construction sites across Ontario. They focused on electrical hazards as well as ergonomics-related hazards involving specific tasks that could lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or falls as a result of the unsafe use of ladders when doing electrical work.
The blitz was part of an overall strategy to eliminate injuries and fatalities while completing electrical work at construction projects.
Goals & Results
The goals of the blitz were to:
- raise awareness of safety hazards when working near live electrical power lines and electrical equipment
- ensure workplace parties were complying with the law
- prevent injuries that could arise from unsafe work practices”
The results reveal the need for employers to comply more vigilantly with PPE requirements at constructions sites. The blitz also indicates that employers need to comply with fall protection requirements to protect workers.
The Ministry of Labour has worked to improve compliance by conducting blitzes targeting falls hazards in the construction sector in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
