As part of the Ontario Ministry of Labour's Construction Sector Compliance Plan 2019-2020, from August 6, 2019 until September 27, 2019, Ministry of Labour Inspectors will be conducting "focused inspections" of suspended access equipment. Suspended access equipment includes suspended work platforms and boatswain's chairs. The MOL states that the rationale for these inspections is to check industry compliance following changes in 2017 to the Construction Projects regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The 2017 changes included new training requirements for those who use, install and inspect suspended access equipment, and enhancements to the design, operational, technical and engineering requirements for the equipment.

The MOL states that the inspections will be focused on the following sectors:

  • industrial, commercial and institutional building construction;
  • residential building construction; and
  • civil engineering and roadwork.

When conducting these inspections, MOL Inspectors will be specifically checking to ensure that:

  • suspended access equipment has been designed, constructed, inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and in particular, sections 137-142 of the Construction Projects regulation; and
  • workers have received appropriate training.

The MOL Construction Sector Compliance Plan 2019-2020 can be accessed here.

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