The thought of a surprise visit from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) is usually fraught with anxiety. But, since the MLITSD and the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) share a common goal, a visit from the MLITSD shouldn’t be a source of concern.
One of the ways that the MLITSD helps organizations work toward safety objectives is to perform both scheduled and unscheduled inspections. Unscheduled inspections are officially known as health and safety compliance initiatives, but you may know them simply as blitzes. Compliance initiatives are part of the MLITSD’s ongoing workplace compliance initiatives, and they’re usually aimed at specific sectors, industries, or practices.
A worker member of the JHSC (preferably certified) is entitled to accompany the inspector throughout the inspection.
MLITSD Rights Under the Act As per the Occupational Health and Safety Act (The Act), s.54, any MLITSD Inspector may:
Enter a workplace at any time without notice
Use equipment or machinery
Take photographs and/or samples
Ask questions of anyone
Need to test objects and devices
Do you have an Occupational Health and Safety Act? Order one today!
Compliance Initiatives: Happening Now
Workplace violence prevention during transition and transfer of care
Sector: Healthcare
Phases: Two
When: Phase 1 is happening now. It started in 2022 and will continue through March 31, 2023. Phase 2 starts on January 4, 2023, and it will continue through March 31, 2023.
Details: Phase 1 is an outreach, education, and awareness campaign period running in compliance support with the Public Health and Safety Association. Phase 2 focuses on inspections.
Warehousing (Ergonomics)
Sector: Specialized professional services initiatives
Phases: Two
When: Phase 1 is happening now. It started in April 2022 and will continue through March 31, 2023. Phase 2 started in July 2022, and it will continue through March 31, 2023.
Details: Phase 1 is an outreach, education, and awareness campaign period running in compliance support with the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services. Phase 2 focuses on inspections.
Workplace violence in education
Sector: Industrial initiatives
Phases: Two
When: Phase 1 is happening now. It started in April 2022 and will continue through March 31, 2023. Phase 2 starts on February 1, 2023, and it will continue through to March 31, 2023.
Details: Phase 1 is an outreach, education, and awareness campaign period running in compliance support with the Public Health and Safety Association. Phase 2 focuses on inspections.
Respiratory protection (Hygiene)
Sector: Specialized professional services initiatives
Phases: Two
When: Phase 1 is happening now. It started in April 2022 and will continue through March 31, 2023. Phase 2 starts on January 4, 2023, and it will continue through to March 31, 2023.
Details: Phase 1 is an outreach, education, and awareness campaign period running in compliance support with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), Public Service Health and Safety Association (PSHSA), Workplace Safety North (WSN), and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS). Phase 2 focuses on inspections.
Asbestos in building structures (hygiene)
Sector: Specialized professional services initiatives
Phases: Two
When: Phase 1 is happening now. It started in April 2022 and will continue through March 31, 2023. Phase 2 starts on January 4, 2023, and it will continue through to March 31, 2023.
Details: Phase 1 is an outreach, education, and awareness campaign period running in compliance support with the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), Public Service Health and Safety Association (PSHSA), Workplace Safety North (WSN), and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS). Phase 2 focuses on inspections.
Learn more about Ontario’s provincial compliance initiatives and see the schedule.
Compliance initiatives are part of the MLITSD’s ongoing workplace compliance initiatives, and they’re usually aimed at specific sectors, industries, or practices.
Greeting the MLITSD: The Role of the JHSC When you see an MLITSD Inspector approaching your workplace, welcome them. Get the inspection started on the right foot by being helpful, friendly, and confident that your workplace is compliant with all applicable legislation. A worker member of the JHSC (preferably certified) is entitled to accompany the inspector throughout the inspection. The purpose of this is to foster the idea of working together. In addition to the worker member who accompanies the inspector, other employees, managers, or the employer may also actively participate in the inspection by answering questions, sharing knowledge, and producing any documents the inspector requests. LEARN MORE ABOUT JHSC TRAINING
Commonly requested documents include:
JHSC meeting minutes
Inspection reports
Health and safety policies and procedures
Health and safety program audits
First-aid records
Training records
Hygiene test results
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
Accident/Incident reports
Inspectors may also ask to see demonstrations of work processes or see machinery in action. Be prepared to comply.
When the MLTDS Leaves In the event the Inspector found a deficiency and wrote an order, the JHSC will be instrumental in advising on a plan to achieve compliance. Then, once compliant, a worker and management member of the JHSC must sign a notice of compliance and send it to the MLITSD within three days. Section 59 of the Act outlines the process. The JHSC must receive a copy of the MLITSD’s report containing the findings of their inspection regardless of if there were orders. The JHSC should meet to go over the findings and discuss aspects of the inspection that went well. They should also go over areas of improvement, even if there were no orders. See upcoming JHSC training dates in your area!
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