Ontario Ministry of Labour has posted their annual sector-specific enforcement plans for 2011-2012 identifying hazards specific to workplaces in different sectors - industrial, health care, construction and mining sectors, professional and specialized services and outline what inspectors will be looking for in each sector during an inspection.

These inspections are heightened enforcement campaigns (blitzes) that are intended to promote compliance in the workplace across the province of Ontario, but does not mean that inspectors will not be looking at other infractions. A few of the areas they will be focusing on are:

Workplaces must comply with the OHSA and its regulations. This includes ensuring a strong Internal Responsibility System (IRS) is in place, fostering a sustained culture of workplace health and safety.

The IRS gives everyone within an organization direct responsibility for health and safety as an essential part of his or her job. It does not matter who or where the person is in the organization, they achieve health and safety in a way that suits the kind of work they do. Each person takes initiative on health and safety issues and works to solve problems and make improvements on an ongoing basis. They do this both singly and co-operatively with others. Successful implementation of the IRS should result in progressively longer intervals between accidents or work-related illnesses.

Bill 168 Violence and Harassment in the Workplace (2010 Amendment to OHSA) requires employers to develop workplace violence and workplace harassment policies, procedures and programs as well as assess the risks of violence in the workplace by completing a risk assessment, addressing the risks by putting controls in place and taking every precaution reasonable to protect workers from domestic violence that may occur in the workplace.

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) occur suddenly, gradually, aftr prolonged or repeated exposure to hazards such as excessive force, awkward posture or repetitive motion causing injuries and disorders of the muscles, tendons and nerves. These hazards can occur in any type of workplace and account for upwards of 44 % of all lost-time injury claims in Ontario. Due to the high percentage of claims in this area, inspectors will be focusing on prevention and control of MSD hazards during proactive inspections.

Infection Prevention and Control is another area that workers are continually at risk from exposure to infectious diseases in the workplace. Employers must develop measures, procedures and controls to protect workers health and safety from exposure to infectious diseases. Inspectors will be reviewing the controls, practices and procedures that are in place in workplaces to ensure they are adequate measures to prevent the risk of exposure.

Further to the four areas outlined above, the inspectors will continue to target and focus on enforcement and intervention. Don't wait until you have an inspector visit your workplace, complete a thorough audit of your facilities and find out where you can improve your Health and Safety bringing it above the minimum standards of compliance.

For more information and details about your sector specific enforcement campaigns go to - Safe at Work Ontario Sector Plans http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/sawo/sectorplans/index.php