What we aim to do

Each year we schedule compliance initiatives and/or campaigns in specific sectors to:

We announce the focus of the campaigns/initiatives ahead of time. However, individual workplaces that will be inspected are not notified in advance.

Health and safety in the workplace

Occupational health and safety inspectors will proactively:

  • raise awareness about hazard in the workplace
  • increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations

Compliance campaigns and initiatives

Health and safety compliance campaigns and initiatives focus on specific hazards or topics. Campaigns run for a minimum of 12 months. Initiatives run for a shorter amount of time and are scheduled as needed.

Campaigns and initiatives have two phases.

Education, outreach and awareness

During phase 1 the ministry focuses on education, outreach and awareness:

  • We work with health and safety associations to raise awareness and provide resources, training and education to workplace parties (for example, employers, labour associations and workers) on that initiative’s focus.
  • The goal is to give workplace parties tools and knowledge to comply with health and safety requirements.
  • Workplaces can prepare and access resources or get help before the inspection campaign starts.

Inspection blitz

During phase 2 the ministry conducts a focused inspection blitz:

  • Inspectors conduct field visits to check that employers are complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, and to raise awareness about specific issues at the workplaces they are visiting.
  • Inspectors will engage with workplaces to promote compliance.
  • Health and safety associations will continue to provide compliance support.

Employment standards in the workplace

Inspections also take place to check that employers across the province are upholding employment standards. For example, employment standards officers inspect workplaces regarding:

  • minimum wage
  • hours of work
  • overtime pay
  • public holidays
  • paid vacation

They focus on sectors where:

  • there’s a history of violations
  • vulnerable workers are employed such as:
    • new and young workers
    • temporary foreign workers
    • workers in non-standard or precarious work
  • the number of people working is on the rise

Health and safety campaigns in 2023–2024

Campaigns are organized by sector, with a separate section for campaigns that fall under the areas of expertise of our Specialized Professional Services Unit:

Construction

Learn more about these campaigns and get resources to help comply with the law.

Falls from heights in single family residential

April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Campaign includes:

  • education, outreach and awareness supported by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association
  • focused inspection blitz

Struck-by equipment in specific settings

April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Campaign will focus on:

  • single family residential
  • multi-family residential
  • industrial
  • commercial
  • road/sewer/water

It will include:

  • education, outreach and awareness supported by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association
  • focused inspection blitz

Health care

Learn more about these campaigns and get resources to help comply with the law.

Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)

Phase 1: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Education, outreach and awareness supported by the Public Services Health and Safety Association

Phase 2: June 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Focused inspection blitz

Industrial

Learn more about these campaigns and get resources to help comply with the law.

Material handling

Phase 1: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Education, outreach and awareness supported by Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Phase 2: May 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Focused inspection blitz

Mining

Learn more about these campaigns and get resources to help comply with the law.

Training (Common Core and Specialty Modules)

Phase 1: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Education, outreach and awareness supported by Workplace Safety North

Phase 2: June 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Focused inspection blitz

Specialized Professional Services

These campaigns are led by the ministry’s Specialized Professional Services Unit. The Specialized Professional Services (SPS) Unit provides technical support and expertise to Ministry regional staff in the industrial, construction, mining and health care programs. Learn more about these campaigns and get resources to help comply with the law.

Respiratory Protection Program

Phase 1: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Education, outreach and awareness supported by:

  • Infrastructure Health and Safety Association
  • Public Services Health and Safety Association
  • Workplace Safety North
  • Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Phase 2: July 4, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Focused inspection blitz

Asbestos in building structures (hygiene)

Phase 1: April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Education, outreach and awareness supported by:

  • Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA)
  • Public Service Health and Safety Association (PSHSA)
  • Workplace Safety North (WSN)
  • Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS)

Phase 2: July 4, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Focused inspection blitz

Read the reports

We report the results of compliance initiatives, usually within 90 days.

2022–2023

Health and safety

2021–2022

Health and safety

2020–2021

Health and safety

2019–2020

Health and safety

Employment standards

2018–2019

Health and safety

Employment standards

2017–2018

Health and safety

Employment standards