More than 800 workplaces received work orders during 2-month blitz
A two-month long enforcement blitz in Ontario focusing on conveyor belts has resulted in more than 3,000 work orders.
Guarding was the biggest problem identified during inspections, which took place from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, according to the Ontario Ministry of Labour.
The orders were issued against 833 workplaces. Of the 3,092 orders, 944 involved machine guarding. The second most common order was for maintaining equipment and the third was taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers.
Between 2005 and 2008, two Ontario workers died and 48 were seriously injured in conveyor incidents.
“Conveyor-related injuries occur less often than other types of injuries, which could contribute to a lack of awareness.” said Michael Wilson, machine guarding specialist for Workplace Safety and Prevention Services. “However, these injuries are often more severe.”
During the blitz, inspectors issued orders at almost twice the typical rate for the industrial sector health and safety enforcement program. The ratio of stop-work orders per field visit was also twice the typical rate, one in 10 of every order issued against mobile equipment, according to Health and Safety Ontario.
Inspectors checked that conveyors had proper guarding devices, the conveyors area were locked out when needed and conveyor workers were protected from developing musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs), according to Health and Safety Ontario.
Ministry inspectors visited workplaces that typically use conveyors, including farming operations, automotive plants, food and beverage manufacturers and saw mills.
The blitz targeted establishments known to have conveyors, known to have hazardous processes and equipment where complaints have been received and where there is a poor compliance history, according to Health and Safety Ontario.
