Ontario Health and Safety Compliance: What Inspectors Are Actually Enforcing
Each year, inspectors from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) visit workplaces to inspect and enforce compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.
WorkBright analyzed inspection results to uncover the most common compliance gaps found by the MLITSD in 2024. This information will help workplaces strengthen their health and safety measures and stay aligned with legal requirements.
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Health and Safety Compliance: Reasons Why Inspections Were Carried Out
In 2024, health and safety inspectors with the MLITSD carried out 50,734 workplace visits across the province to enforce the OHSA and regulations.
56% were proactive. These may be routine and part of scheduled visits or targeted campaigns
44% were investigations triggered by complaints, critical injuries, or fatalities.
How many health and safety compliance orders were issued?
MLITSD inspectors have the power to order a workplace party to correct non-compliance. Each order highlights a gap and provides valuable insight that workplaces can use to strengthen health and safety compliance.
MLITSD inspectors issued 88,070 health and safety compliance orders to workplaces in 2024.
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Which Laws Were Cited Most Often?
Every health and safety compliance order issued, references a specific section of the OHSA or its regulations. The most frequently cited OHS laws in 2024 were:
39%
Construction Projects (O.Reg. 213)
38%
Occupational Health and Safety Act
13%
Industrial Establishments (O.Reg. 851)
4%
Awareness Training Regulation (O.Reg. 297)
2%
Mines and Mining Plants Regulation (O.Reg. 854)
4%
Other*
The “Other” category includes: WHMIS, Health Care and Residential Facilities, Biological or Chemical Agents, Designated Substances, Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations, Noise, Roll-Over Protective Structures, X-Ray Safety, Confined Spaces, Notices and Reports under OHSA Sections 51–53.1 (fatalities, critical injuries, illnesses, and other incidents), Diving Operations, Needle Safety, Naloxone Kits, Oil and Gas Offshore, and Window Cleaning.
We engaged Mike at WorkBright™ to gain expert insights into health and safety at our company. He met with our senior management team to understand our operations, conducted a thorough review of our health and safety documentation, and performed an on-site workplace observation. Mike provided a clear roadmap for continuous improvement, reinforcing our commitment to the health and safety of our employees.
Who Received Orders?
Orders can be issued to any party defined in the OHSA. In 2024, the breakdown of orders showed:
52% of all orders were issued to Primary Employer
34% of all orders were issued to the Constructor
12% of all orders were issued to a Secondary Employer
2% of all orders were issued to other parties, such as owners, suppliers, licensee and workers.
Types of Health and Safety Compliance Orders Issued
Inspectors issue different types of orders depending on the seriousness of the contravention and risk. Of the 88,070 orders issued in 2024, the following types of orders were issued by the MLITSD to workplaces.
53% were Time-Based Orders. These are issued when a violation must be corrected by a set date.
27% were Forthwith Orders. These are contraventions that must be corrected immediately during the visit.
9% were Time Unknown Orders. These are violations that have been identified without determining a correction date.
5% were Requirement Orders. These are legal directions to provide information or cooperate.
6% were Stop Work Orders. These are the most serious orders issued when conditions pose an immediate risk to workers. Work must stop until the contravention is corrected.
Sector and Industry Analysis
To make this health and safety compliance data more practical, WorkBright has developed an interactive tool that lets you:
- Select your sector
- Drill down by industry using North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes
- See the top 5 orders issued in your industry, including the exact OHSA sections, subsections and clauses most frequently cited.
Health & Safety Orders Explorer
Total Orders for the Sector in 2024
0
Total Orders for the NAICS
0
Top 5 Orders for the NAICS
| Act/Regulation & Section | Orders |
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Health and Safety Compliance
Health and safety inspectors are highly trained and bring valuable experience from observing hazards and control measures across numerous workplaces. Understanding how health and safety is enforced and getting ahead of compliance avoids workplace incidents, prevents disruptions to operations from shutdowns, and ultimately reduces the risk of harm to your workers.
WorkBright Can Help
WorkBright is a provider of expert health and safety consulting services to organizations across Ontario. We offer occupational hygiene, COR consulting support, OHS Gap Assessments, eLearning and more.
Build a Healthier and Safer Workplace today.
Learn more about WorkBright’s services.
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