The Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development announced an inspection blitz on construction sites across the province on February 4.

Inspectors have been directed to target workers’ use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including high-visibility clothing, skin protection, face shields, eye protection, and hearing protectors.

Without this equipment, says the ministry, workers can suffer cuts, punctures, chemical burns, electric shocks, exposure to excessive noise or vibration, and many other harmful risks. The ministry issued 7,483 orders from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 for lack of personal protective equipment on projects. This was the second highest Occupational Health and Safety Act violation in construction workplaces for 2017.

"We're doing this to save lives," said Minister Monte McNaughton. "One death on a jobsite is one too many. I want everyone in this province to know we're doing our best to ensure that their loved ones come home safe after a hard day's work." 

The blitz, which runs until March 13, 2020, follows four weeks of outreach to the construction sector to educate and assist in safety compliance. 

In addition to construction sites, inspectors will also visit roadwork projects.

"Everyone has a role here," said McNaughton. "Employers have to provide equipment to their workers and workers have to wear it properly."

The blitz is part of the government's Safe At Work Ontario strategy. The goal is to improve worker health and safety by helping employers comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, 25 percent of Ontario workers in the construction industry felt their workplace was not safe during the previous 12 months compared to 19 percent across all sectors.