Health and safety enforcement inspections in Ontario: 2022 recap

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development recently released details for each health and safety enforcement inspection it carried out in 2022. There were over 80,000 compliance orders issued. For each one, the report includes details such as:

• the contravener’s name,
• workplace address, and
• the specific section of the Occupational Health and Safety Act or regulations that were contravened.

How the data can be used

The information in this comprehensive list of inspections offers a variety of uses:

• Use it to understand the most common compliance concerns in your sector or industry.
• Use it as part of your selection process for hiring contractors or subcontractors, or in your contractor management program.
• Use the postal codes to find common enforcement patterns in locations where you manage multiple workplace locations.
• If you recently joined your company in human resources or as a health and safety manager or VP, it can help you understand whether your company has had past compliance issues.

Here are some key findings from the report.

Reason for inspector visit

• Proactive inspection 53%,
• Investigations 45%,
• Consultations 1%.

Legislation cited

• 43% of orders were issued under Reg. 213 – Construction,
• 37% under the Occupational Health & Safety Act,
• 11% under Reg. 851 – Industrial Establishments.

Top sections cited

• 213: Construction Projects
  – section 22 – hard hats
  – 4,608 orders
• Occupational Health & Safety Act
  – Section 25(1)(b) –  maintenance of equipment, material, and protective devices
  – 2,891 orders
• 851 – Industrial Establishments
  – Section 51(1)(b) – lifting devices and maximum load
  – 1,902 orders

Top 3 sectors

• Residential construction represented 35% of orders,
• Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) construction 8%,
• Roofing contractors 2%.

Workplace parties involved

• 43% of orders were issued to the employer,
• 39% to the Constructor (or general contractor),
• 14% to the secondary employer.

Other noteworthy findings

• 40 companies had more than 50 orders issued to them in 2022, while 1 company had over 700 orders alone.

Compliance orders may not provide a complete picture of health and safety risks in a workplace.

The data should be interpreted with care. Some orders may be for relatively minor infractions, like failing to post a policy. Also, orders represent conditions or circumstances that an inspector sees only on the day of the visit, potentially leaving other hazards undetected.

Read WorkBright’s article: Preparing for a visit by an inspector from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development – WorkBright

For expert assistance with health and safety compliance or to establish proactive measures and systems for managing health and safety, reach out to WorkBright™. We are here to help you ensure a healthy, safe and compliant work environment and provide comprehensive solutions tailored to your specific needs.