New health and safety inspectors in Ontario

The Ontario government announced that more than 100 new health and safety inspectors graduated this week and will be visiting workplaces in construction, industrial and health care settings.

With the support of provincial offences officers, the inspectors will be deployed to help educate workers and businesses about the newly-launched vaccine certificate.

“As we fight the fourth wave of COVID-19, we need all hands on deck,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, in a statement. “With 100 more inspectors, these boots on the ground across our province will help keep workers safe and support businesses to remain open. Our government’s inspectors will be patient, lead with education, and be reasonable to business owners and frontline workers implementing the vaccine certificate.”

With the addition of the new graduates, Ontario now has a total of 507 labour inspectors.

The province has also launched the new Workplace Safety Plan Builder, a free interactive tool that the government says will make it easier for workplaces to create and update their COVID-19 safety plans. The tool was developed specifically to support small businesses and was designed with their input.

“Running a small business during COVID-19 is a challenge unlike any other,” continued Minister McNaughton. “Our safety plan builder is here to help our local merchants and shopkeepers create and adjust their plans with the click of a button, having confidence they’re following the latest health and safety measures for their employees and customers.”

Having a written safety plan is mandatory for businesses permitted to be open under the Reopening Ontario Act.