Be aware, Ontario workers and employers; Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MoL) is planning another blitz, and this time, they plan to focus on Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

This blitz, which is scheduled to run from September 1 to October 31, 2010, will concentrate on  several industries, including the construction and mining sectors.

The term “Musculoskeletal disorders” covers a wide variety of disorders, including repetitive strain injury, cumulative trauma, back strain and tendonitis. According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, such injuries represent 43% of all lost-time claims. In 2008, there were more than 33,000 lost-time claims attributed to MSDs, resulting in a loss of more than 1.2 million days and costing the province approximately $142 million. And unlike acute, traumatic or sudden injuries, MSDs tend to be slow and cumulative.

The construction aspect of the blitz will concentrate mainly on home building, and will focus on equipment maintenance and access to excavation sites, in order to make sure there are no obstacles, and that workers are walking while they carry materials.

When it comes to the mining industry, inspectors will examine large vehicle access and whether the equipment has enough clearance to compensate for body parts. They will also check to make sure that roadways in surface mines are well maintained, to minimize the whole-body vibration jarring that workers often suffer.

Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MOL) is stepping up its efforts to reduce workplace injuries by focusing on hazards in vehicle body repair facilities throughout the province. During this sweep, inspectors will visit about 800 vehicle body repair workplaces in York, Durham and Peel Regions, Dufferin and Simcoe Counties and the City of Toronto, checking for hazards in a number of key areas.

Inspectors will examine the use and maintenance of hoists, jacks and other lifting equipment, and look for evidence that such devices are being used properly, maintained adequately, and inspected regularly. They will also examine the use and handling of hazardous substances, and may receive assistance from occupational hygienists to assess worker exposure to hazardous substances. They will pay special attention to materials containing isocyanates, which are known to cause illnesses many years after initial exposure to them, and require a control program and specialized training for workers.

Assessments of workers’ training, and the effectiveness of health and safety procedures will be part of the sweep, and inspectors will also document infractions of environmental protection regulations and examine qualification certificates for workers who perform restricted activities, such as autobody and collision damage repairs. Engineering consultants will review compliance and advise inspectors concerning the storage and dispensing of flammable liquids. In addition, they will report any evidence of improper disposal of hazardous waste and illegal venting of vapours to the appropriate authorities.

Wage statements will be reviewed, and employers’ record-keeping will be assessed. They plan to assist some employers, especially those running smaller shops, to become more aware of their responsibilities under the Employment Standards Act.

This inspection initiative is meant to complement the blitz strategy employed by the MOL since June 2008. The philosophy of Safe At Work Ontario is based on the concept that keeping workers safe means increased economic productivity and less strain on the province’s health care system.

In Ontario, the annual rates of lost-time workplace injury dropped 20% between 2004 and 2008. That means 12,000 fewer injuries per year. Because of that drop, employers managed to save $5 billion in direct and indirect costs in that time.

Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MOL) is stepping up its efforts to reduce workplace injuries by focusing on hazards in vehicle body repair facilities throughout the province. During this sweep, inspectors will visit about 800 vehicle body repair workplaces in York, Durham and Peel Regions, Dufferin and Simcoe Counties and the City of Toronto, checking for hazards in a number of key areas.

Inspectors will examine the use and maintenance of hoists, jacks and other lifting equipment, and look for evidence that such devices are being used properly, maintained adequately, and inspected regularly. They will also examine the use and handling of hazardous substances, and may receive assistance from occupational hygienists to assess worker exposure to hazardous substances. They will pay special attention to materials containing isocyanates, which are known to cause illnesses many years after initial exposure to them, and require a control program and specialized training for workers.

Assessments of workers’ training, and the effectiveness of health and safety procedures will be part of the sweep, and inspectors will also document infractions of environmental protection regulations and examine qualification certificates for workers who perform restricted activities, such as autobody and collision damage repairs. Engineering consultants will review compliance and advise inspectors concerning the storage and dispensing of flammable liquids. In addition, they will report any evidence of improper disposal of hazardous waste and illegal venting of vapours to the appropriate authorities.

Wage statements will be reviewed, and employers’ record-keeping will be assessed. They plan to assist some employers, especially those running smaller shops, to become more aware of their responsibilities under the Employment Standards Act.

This inspection initiative is meant to complement the blitz strategy employed by the MOL since June 2008. The philosophy of Safe At Work Ontario is based on the concept that keeping workers safe means increased economic productivity and less strain on the province’s health care system.

In Ontario, the annual rates of lost-time workplace injury dropped 20% between 2004 and 2008. That means 12,000 fewer injuries per year. Because of that drop, employers managed to save $5 billion in direct and indirect costs in that time.

Just a reminder that the Ontario Ministry of Labour is in the process of conducting a province-wide mass inspection of heavy equipment at construction sites, looking for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, with a particular emphasis on violations that could result in workers being stuck, trapped and/or crushed. They will also be examining the working conditions around the vehicles, and evaluating the safety of those working near such equipment.

This might be a good time to review some of the hazards encountered while working on or near heavy equipment. Some of the most common hazards include;

� Operators and other workers being crushed, should the equipment overturn, or should workers find themselves caught between equipment and walls, or even two pieces of equipment;

� Electrocution upon contact with an overhead power line;

� And of course, it is possible to be run over by such equipment.

It’s also a good time to consider the basics, when it comes to preparing for the Ministry of Labor’s inspection blitz.

� Train operators to know their blind spots;

� Use a signaler where necessary, and be sure the signaler has been properly trained on standard hand signals;

� Plan a route through site, to lessen the need for equipment to back up.

� Make sure all operators are wearing seatbelts;

� Make sure all workers in the vicinity of the heavy equipment are wearing all personal protective equipment, and high visibility vests.

This safety blitz should not be taken lightly. If you think the odds are against you, consider this. During the last construction safety blitz last July, 98 Ministry of Labour inspectors made 539 visits to 513 projects. They issued 2,026 orders, with 241 of those being stop-work orders. They also issued 13 summonses and 41 tickets.

And keep in mind, corporations can be fined up to $500,000, and individuals can be fined up to $25,000 or up to 12 months in prison, or both, should you be found guilty of violating any provision of the OHSA.