Enforcement Blitz Targets Safety Gear

• Issued: October 28, 2010
• Content last reviewed: October 2010
• See also: Bulletin

Ministry of Labour inspectors will focus on safety gear worn by workers to protect them against hazards related to falls, visibility and atmospheric contaminants during increased enforcement in November 2010 at mining workplaces across Ontario.

The blitz is part of the province’s Safe At Work Ontario strategy, launched in June 2008.

More information about the mining sector plan for 2010-2011 can be found on the internet at: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/sawo/sectorplans/2010/mining/index.php

Non-compliance, poor practices and deficiencies involving personal protection equipment are a potential problem at any mine or mining operation in Ontario.

Personal protection equipment includes fall arrest harnesses, lanyards (a connecting line from the ladder to an anchor to protect the worker against falls), safety belts, shock absorbers, boot treads, safety glasses, gloves, hardhats and earplugs.

Since 2002, five workers have died in Ontario mining workplaces due to falls – four in underground mines and one at a surface mine. Between 2005 and 2009, 13 workers in mining workplaces were seriously injured due to falls.

Between 1996 and 2006, visibility of workers was likely a factor in more than half of 76 vehicle accidents that were reported to Workplace Safety North.

As well, between 2005 and 2009, 63 of 70 allowed fatal occupational disease claims involving mine workers were related to lung cancer, lung lining cancer, chronic airways obstruction and silicosis, according to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). This information suggests that it is important for employers to provide proper respiratory protection.

Inspectors will take a “zero tolerance” approach to any contraventions found under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

Blitz Focus

Ministry of Labour inspectors will target surface and underground mines:

• Identified as being high-priority due to the number of equipment-related falls, worker visibility and atmospheric contaminants issues.
• Known to have hazards present involving falls, visibility and atmospheric contaminants
• Where complaints have been received, and
• Where there is a poor compliance history.

Non-compliance, poor practices and deficiencies can include, but are not limited to:

• Fall arrest harness being in poor shape, poorly stored or not being worn near an open hole or other fall hazard
• Inadequately placed Lanyards (a connecting line from the ladder to an anchor to protect the worker against falls)
• Safety belt being too small for wearer
• Safety glasses not being worn
• Ear plugs not being worn, and
• Hard hat being old, damaged or having no striping or striping being too small, faded, dirty or worn.

Priorities

Mining inspectors will focus on the following three key priorities for personal protection equipment:

• Falling Hazards: Inspectors will audit worksites for compliance with the following requirements: that a fall arrest harness is being worn near open holes or other fall hazards and that the harness is in good shape and properly installed. Inspectors will also check that lanyards (a connecting line from the ladder to an anchor to protect the worker against falls) are present around open holes, are not knotted and are not being extended over sharp bends that can reduce strength and length. As well, inspectors will check safety belts and shock absorbers are the right size for workers. They will also check boot treads are not excessively worn or otherwise unsafe and the boots themselves are appropriate for the work situation.
• Visibility Hazards: Inspectors will check that hardhats, coveralls, jackets, oilers/raingear and vests have reflective striping and the striping is not too small, faded, dirty or worn. They will also check that hardhats are not too old or damaged and that cap lamps are in good shape and bright and being tested regularly with a “lux meter” (a device that measures the amount of light).
• Health-Related Hazards: Inspectors will check that respirators are being properly stored and are not damaged or neglected and that each device was properly fitted for each wearer. Inspectors will also check that safety glasses, gloves and ear plugs are being worn, that workers know when to wear double hearing protection and there are warning signs in high noise levels.

Safe At Work Ontario

Sector- and hazard-specific inspection blitzes are an important feature of Ontario’s Safe At Work strategy. There is no acceptable rate of injury in Ontario workplaces.

Safe at Work Ontario is the Ministry of Labour’s workplace health and safety strategy focusing on:

• Enforcement
• Compliance and
• Partnership

Since being launched in June 2008, the province’s team of more than 400 safety inspectors has made in excess of 140,000 workplace visits, issued more than 200,000 compliance orders (including more than 10,000 orders to stop dangerous work) and conducted 16 proactive inspection blitzes across all sectors.