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Safety Blitz Focuses on Forklifts

After the recent deaths of 4 workers, killed after falling 13 stories from scaffolding, the McGuinty government has once again committed to eliminating workplace injuries.

Workplace injuries and deaths have been on the rise in recent years. The numbers are staggering. According to the Workers Compensation Board, it is estimated that approximately 3 deaths happen every single day. Approximately another 972,407 are injured or become ill each year.

Between January and August 2009, 5 workplace deaths involved the use of lift trucks, reach trucks, forklifts, and tow motors according to ministry statistics.

For the second year in a row, the Ministry of labour will hold a month long forklift and lifting device enforcement blitz. Inspectors will visit industrial workplaces during February to ensure lifting equipment is being:

Inspected and maintained in good condition
Operated by well trained employees and;
Used in a safe work environment.

New to the blitz this year, there will be an emphasis on supervisor and operator training. Inspectors will be talking with operators and their supervisors to determine their level of understanding and competency on workplace hazards. As well, all policies related to lifting devices, including emergency procedures will be under review. Inspectors may also be monitoring for other workplace hazards and will perform inspections after hours and on weekends.

The ministry hopes that by taking a proactive approach that this blitz will raise awareness for and increases compliance with health and safety legislation, thus reducing workplace injuries.

QUICK FACTS

At least 18 workers have died since 2003 as a result of incidents involving lift trucks, reach trucks, forklifts and tow motors.
In total, there were 9,455 forklift-related incidents involving a lost time injury between 1996 and 2008, an average of 727 incidents a year, according to the data compiled by the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario.
Ontario employs 430 full-time occupational health and safety inspectors. Liftow Limited offers a variety of training courses to ensure that you are compliant with the latest regulations. Keeping more workers safe means increased productivity and less time lost due to workplace injury.
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