Prepare for upcoming Ministry inspection initiatives
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Ministry) has revealed its plan for workplace safety campaigns in 2025-2026. These initiatives include inspections that aim to improve safety and reduce hazards in various industries across the province.
The campaigns target specific sectors to raise awareness of workplace health and safety hazards and promote compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Ministry will address specific hazards of focus for each industry sector from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. While Phase 1: Education and outreach began April 1, Phase 2: Focused inspections and enforcement is scheduled to begin June 2, 2025.
Safety campaign for Ontario mining sector: Slips, trips and falls
The mining environment is hazardous due to its challenging terrain, heavy equipment, and often wet or slippery conditions. Workers face uneven surfaces, debris, and exposure to environmental elements, all of which increase the risk of falling.
To support mining firms across Ontario, Workplace Safety North (WSN) has launched a series of tools to raise awareness on specific hazards affecting equipment operators, maintenance crews, surveyors and geologists, and other mining workers. Two information posters are currently available for download, and a Safety Spotlight video provides additional insights into how to address these hazards.
A joint webinar between WSN, Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), and the Ministry highlights the compliance initiative for the mining sector this year. More tools will be made available throughout the initiative.
Safety campaign for industrial sector: Material handling
Manual material handling poses significant health and safety risks across Ontario's forest products sectors, including logging, paper, printing, and corrugating industries. Incidents often result from improper lifting techniques and inadequate training. Additionally, manual handling can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) from performing repetitive tasks and maintaining awkward postures. Employers are urged to implement controls to mitigate these risks and protect worker health.
WSN offers a range of services to assist Ontario's forest products industries in addressing manual material handling hazards. These include training courses on safe lifting techniques and ergonomics, workplace assessments to identify and mitigate risks, and development of customized safety plans. WSN also provides access to numerous resources, including safety talk templates, information sheets, inspection checklists, and safety guidelines to support these industries.
Resources and compliance support – Mining
Slips, trips and falls prevention for mining maintenance – WSN
Slips, trips and falls prevention for mining plants – WSN
Safety spotlight video: Slips, trips and falls – WSN
Webinar: Prepare for Ontario workplace inspections on slip, trip and fall hazards – WSN, IHSA, Ministry
Resources and compliance support – Forest products
Safe use of flat-bed die press – WSN
Safe use of rotary die-cutter press – WSN
Video: Erase the hazard – Musculoskeletal disorders – WSN
Ergonomic safety talks – WSN
Ergonomics in the workplace – Ministry
Related
Working at Heights Safety Training – WSN
Working at Heights Refresher Training – WSN
Course spotlight video: Working at Heights Safety Training – WSN
Ergonomic Assessments – WSN