Ontario will blitz workplaces across the province looking for hazards involving manual materials handling that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In February 2012, Ministry of Labour inspectors will target workplaces in the construction, health care, industrial and mining sectors.
They will focus on the manual lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying of materials that can lead to MSDs such as injuries to muscles, tendons, nerves and spinal discs. They will also check on the handling of clients in health care workplaces. Ministry inspectors will visit workplaces in all sectors, including construction, health care, industrial and mining. They will check for MSD hazards involving materials that are lifted, lowered, carried, pushed or pulled by hand. Inspectors will also check for MSD hazards involving the handling of clients at health care workplaces.
Blitz Focus
· Construction Sector: Inspectors will check on masonry, rod working, roofing, and electrical work in the homebuilding (low-rise and high-rise) and the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sectors. They will focus on the moving and storage of materials, housekeeping, access and egress to work locations, work being done on ladders and maintenance of vehicles, machinery, and equipment that could lead to extra physical demands.
· Healthcare Sector: Inspectors will check on tasks such as lifting and lowering of items, pushing and pulling of objects as well as the use and maintenance of carts in support service areas such as housekeeping, food preparation and maintenance. They will also check on the lifting, repositioning and transferring of patients.
· Industrial Sector: Inspectors will check on tasks such as lifting and lowering of items, handling of materials on ladders, and pushing and pulling of objects. They will also check on whether work carts are being safely transported and whether storage areas are being organized and stocked properly to avoid unnecessary handling of items.
· Mining Sector: Inspectors will check on how items are being stored and transported, how items such as supplies and equipment are being handled, and whether devices are being used to assist in the handling of objects.
For help dealing with this or any other safety blitz feel free to contact E.K. Gillin & Associates Inc. at any time.
