Safety News Archives
Randy Dignard, President of Industrial Safety Trainers Inc. Makes Front Page News
An influential leader in the Health and Safety industry and progressive advocate for the worker, the story of how Industrial Safety Trainers Inc. came to be makes the front page of the Huronia Business Times.
Click here to read the full article.
ORDERS ARE BEING ISSUED!
The Ministry of Labour is cracking down on businesses that do not have a Program in place that addresses Violence in the Workplace
It only took three short weeks since Bill 168 became a law for us to receive our first call from a business that had been issued orders to abide with the new regulations as they pertain to Violence in the Workplace.
The client was given less than a month to comply with three specific orders from the Ministry.
The direct orders from the Ministry of Labour are worded as follows:
“At the time of inspection, a risk assessment on workplace violence had not been done. An employer shall assess the risks of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work.”
“At the time of inspection, there were not policies on violence prevention and harassment in place. An employer shall, (a) prepare a policy with respect to workplace violence; (b) prepare a policy with respect to workplace harassment; and (c) review the policies as often as is necessary, but at least annually.”
“At the time of inspection; there was not a program in place to implement the policy on workplace violence. An employer shall develop and maintain a program to implement the policy with respect to workplace violence required under clause 32.0.1 (1) (a).
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Have you conducted a Risk Assessment on workplace violence?
Have you developed Policies and Procedures on violence prevention?
Do you have a program in place to implement your policies on workplace violence?
Industrial Safety Trainers offers a series of informative workshops designed to help businesses meet compliance to this new law. Alternatively we also offer a consulting service where a Senior Consultant comes in to your place of business, conducts a Risk Assessment, and develops the policies and procedures for your current Health and Safety Program.
Click here for more information.
STILTS ARE NOW ALLOWED IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Ontario is improving efficiency and competitiveness in the construction industry by allowing the limited use of stilts while ensuring that workers are protected from injury.
The province is amending the Construction Regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to allow stilts to be used in residential construction beginning January 1, 2010. Stilts will be permitted for use by workers installing insulation and vapour barriers and finishing drywall. Workers may use stilts only after they have completed special training and only with specific safety measures in place.
Other amendments to the Construction Regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act provide stakeholders with more flexibility regarding wooden guardrail systems while maintaining fall protection for workers.
Ministry Of Labour Announces Their New Safety Blitz for February - Forklifts and Other Lifting Devices
On February 2nd the Minister Peter Fonseca of the Ministry of Labour attended Industrial Safety Trainers training centre to announce the newest safety blitz for February.
The inspectors will be traveling around the province for lift truck related infractions. The blitz was prompted in part by results of a similar blitz in February 2009: inspectors visited 1,295 workplaces and issued 4,172 orders — 50% more orders per visit than usual for the ministry’s Industrial Program in that fiscal year.
See the New Ministry Of Labour video on what the inspectors will be looking for during their forklift safety blitz
