Alert for OPC Clients Re: ERGONOMIC INSPECTIONS
April 10, 2006

Starting April 3rd, 2006 the O­ntario Ministry of Labour is deploying workplace inspectors across the entire province.  The Inspectors will be targeting 6,000 workplaces. The type of workplaces will include industrial & office/administrative environments with an emphasis o­n HOSPITAL in o­nTARIO.

Ministry of Labour spokesperson Belinda Sutton stated “the inspectors will be targeting high-risk workplaces in addition to providing information and discussing ergonomic hazards, identifying ergonomic-related issues and taking preventive steps”.

This blitz is part of the overall Ministry of Labour for O­ntario's “Pains & Strains Campaign” which has 6 objectives including: awareness; education; prevention; training; resource materials; expertise; & tracking of inspections in workplaces.

The Ministry of Labour for o­ntario developed an Ergonomics Advisory Panel which released its report in the fall of 2005.  This can be accessed via www.labour;gov.on.ca/english/hs/ergonomics.

All Compensation Boards, Ministry's of Labour  & the Federal Treasurey Board are all struggling with the increased costs & time away from work related to Musculoskeletal Injuries (often called RSI's).  Examples of these MSI's are mechanical low back injury (the run of the mill low back pain); Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Tennis Elbow to name a few.

The Ministry of Labour for O­ntario has made a public announcement that they want to decrease the number of MSI's by 20% by the year 2008.

All other compensation boards in Canada have similar agendas as does the Labour Code of Canada which oversees Occupational Health & Safety for all Federally regulated workplaces such as banks, transportation & oil/gas pipelines & federal agencies. Part II of the Federal Labour Code OH&S Act will include ergonomic standards which are due to be released 2006.  All employers in Canada will need to pay attention to these government intiatives & be prepared with a formal ergonomic program & ergonomically sound design, equipment & furnishings.

OPC Inc. continues to be the o­nly national ergonomic resource and o­nly firm who use the Ministry of Labour for O­ntario’s unpublished Ergonomic Guidelines with our client base.  We can provide consulting & educational services to help your firm/hospital/Industry achieve compliance.  Feel Free to contact us at 416-860-0004 so that we may be of assistance in answering any questions you have regarding this alert and the Ministry’s new initiative.





Official OPC and OPM Inc ERGOALERT© 2006. 
For regular Ergonomic, Health or Disability Management Alerts please contact OPC or OPM at info@OptimalPerformance.ca. For more information about our upcoming new Website and ErgoAlert© Service, please go to www.OptimalPerformance.ca.