Report listed in the OH&S Canada magazine (June 2017)
Original Report written by Jeff Cottrill – Editorial Assistant
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has launched a new Construction Health and Safety Action Plan in a bid to reduce injuries, fatalities and illnesses in the construction industry, Labour Kevin Flynn announced on May 11, 2017.
The plan, based on input from employers, workers and other stakeholders, outlines 16 recommendations to improve safety in the sector, according to a government statement.
“Construction deaths continue to be unacceptably high,” Flynn says. “We are committed to preventing tragedy, so construction workers can go home safe and sound at the end of each work day. To do this, we must all work together.”
Ontario Chief Prevention Officer George Gritziotis says the Action Plan will use “targeted enforcement, exploring opportunities to expand the application of tickets, enhanced worker awareness and training by building partnerships and ensuring effective outreach strategies” to ensure the safety of all construction workers in the province. “we are working towards full implementation,” Gritziotis adds.
A Ministry backgrounder states that the plan aims to achieve the following goals: provides easy access to h&s information via internet tools, applications and portals; raise awareness of construction hazards through multimedia campaigns and enforcement blitzes; consider possibilities of raising fines for oh&s offences in the industry; examine solutions for fall prevention, such as roof anchors; instill construction safety in school curricula and training programs; develop an accreditation program for safety-conscious employers with the assistance of stakeholders; and fill in information gaps in health and safety resources for both employers and workers.
The Ministry has already accomplished several of the recommended goals, such as radio, internet and transit-ad awareness campaigns about working at heights (WAH), training and inspection blitzes aimed at roofing projects and an advanced training program for construction supervisors in communicating safety information.
The Action Plan is a response to Premier Kathleen Wynne’s 2014-2015 mandate letter to Flynn, urging injury and illness prevention in the construction sector, the Ministry says.
Around 30 per cent of Ontario’s traumatic and disease fatalities related to work occur in the construction industry, the Ministry reports. As well, 36 per cent of traumatic fatalities in the province’s construction sector are due to falls from heights, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board says.
My opinion:
This report came out around two years from the time the Working at Heights (WAH) training and it looks like, at that time, the message for training and to ensure employer understanding of health and safety legislation, especially section 26 of Ontario ‘Construction Projects’ sector regulation 213/91. (All about Fall Protection), was not getting through.
How many times does one see a roofer not tied off? If that question was asked frequently enough, the answer would be MOST TIMES!
By the way, HRS Group Inc. has been an approved provider for WAH since the report (March 2017). We have been the big provider in the Peterborough area including teaching at the high school level. This allows HRS Group Inc. to meet part of the mandate issued by the government, uplevel school training for those students entering the construction sector.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs including ‘Fall Protection’ and ‘Working at Heights’. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.