Lift Truck Safety Training Blitz
Do you comply with these Ontario Regulations?
The following information is from the Ontario Ministry of Labour Website regarding
the current Safety Blitz that targets Industrial Workplaces
McGuinty Government Committed To Eliminating Workplace Injuries
January 28, 2009
NEWS
The Ontario government will continue its efforts to reduce workplace injuries by cracking down on hazards involving forklifts and lifting devices at industrial workplaces in February 2009, Labour Minister Peter Fonseca announced today.
Inspectors will focus on ensuring employers are inspecting and maintaining lifting devices in good condition, using competent persons to operate the equipment and ensuring that the equipment is being used in a safe work environment.
For each conviction, the court can impose a fine of up to $500,000 against a corporation convicted under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Individuals face a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.
This initiative is part of the province’s new Safe At Work Ontario blitz strategy, announced on July 23, 2008. Keeping more workers safe means increased productivity for Ontario’s economy and less strain on the health care system.
QUOTES
“Forklifts and other lifting devices are a significant cause of serious worker injury and deaths,” said Labour Minister Peter Fonseca. “The Government of Ontario and its workplace partners are committed to eliminating all workplace injuries, including those related to these lifting devices. Workers have a right to come home each day to their families, safe and sound.”
QUICK FACTS
The Ministry of Labour compliance program that ran from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2008 reduced the workplace injury rate by 20 per cent, or more than 50,000 incidents.
Thirteen workers died between 2003 and 2007 as a result of industrial incidents involving lift trucks, reach trucks, forklifts and tow motors, according to ministry statistics.
In total, there were 10,308 forklift–related incidents where there was a lost time injury between 1996 and 2008, an average of 793 incidents a year, according to the data compiled by the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO).
Because of the drop in the annual rate of lost–time injuries, employers have avoided about $5 billion in direct and indirect costs during the four years ending March 31, 2008. Reduced injuries also result in less strain on the health care system, and fewer workers off the job means increased productivity for Ontario’s economy.
Ontario employs 430 full–time occupational health and safety inspectors.
Forklift Hazards are the focus of increased enforcement
Does your workplace comply?
The following information is from the Ontario Ministry of Labour Website regarding
the current Safety Blitz that targets Industrial Workplaces
FORKLIFT HAZARDS FOCUS OF INCREASED ENFORCEMENT AT INDUSTRIAL WORKPLACES January 28, 2009
Ministry of Labour inspectors will look for hazards involving forklifts and other lifting devices during an enforcement blitz of industrial workplaces in February 2009.
The increased enforcement is part of the province’s Safe at Work Ontario strategy, launched in June 2008.
Forklifts and other lifting devices, used to raise or lower material and objects, continue to be a significant cause of serious worker injury and deaths. These devices are commonly found in many industrial sectors in Ontario.
Thirteen workers died between 2003 and 2007 as a result of industrial incidents involving lift trucks, reach trucks, forklifts and tow motors, according to ministry statistics. During this period, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board statistics showed the average forklift lost–time claim resulted in 67 days lost from work.
In total, there were 10,308 forklift–related incidents where there was a lost time injury between 1996 and 2008, an average of 793 incidents a year (almost 2 per day!), according to the data compiled by the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario.
These incidents were due to a number of factors, including:
lack of preventative maintenance and load capacity examinations;
lifting devices striking objects during operation such as racking systems; and
workers being struck by forklift trucks, other lifting equipment and improperly–secured loads.
Inspectors will take a “zero tolerance” approach to any contraventions found under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.
Blitz Focus
Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors will pay particular attention to industrial sectors where incidents most often occurred. These include:
Retailers
Wholesalers
Transportation
Automotive
Wood and Metal Fabrication
Food, Beverage and Tobacco
Office and Related Services (employment agencies that supply non-clerical labour to industrial workplaces)
Chemical, Rubber and Plastics
Ministry inspectors will also target workplaces:
Identified as being high–priority due to possible lifting devices and forklift hazards;
Known to have highly hazardous processes and equipment;
Where complaints have been received; and
Where there is a poor compliance history.
Priorities
Inspectors will focus on the following key priorities:
Lifting Device Inspection and Maintenance:
Inspectors will check to ensure employers are maintaining equipment in good condition to prevent mechanical or operational failures, undertaking repairs as necessary and examining lifting devices, according to legislated requirements, to determine their load capacity.
Operation of the Lifting Device by a Qualified Person:
Inspectors will check to ensure that workers having the training, knowledge and experience to operate lifting devices or, where workers are being instructed, that the workers are accompanied by a trained individual. Inspectors will review training records and question workers on their familiarity with the equipment being used in the workplace and possible hazards. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure workers operating lifting devices are up–to–date on required training.
Safe Work Environment:
Inspectors will ensure employers are taking every reasonable precaution to protect workers who are working in the area of forklifts and lifting devices. This may require the use of protective barriers, qualified signal persons, warning signs or other safeguards. Employers should conduct a comprehensive workplace assessment of vehicular and pedestrian traffic to determine the most appropriate safeguards to utilize in their workplace.
