Adhering to new training program and provider standards, MOL approves Ontario's largest private health & safety training provider
LONDON, ON, April 15, 2015 /CNW/ - The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) recently mandated new Working at Heights training that demands all training providers to apply to a rigorous four-part application process culminating with approval from George Gritziotis, Chief Prevention Officer. Targeting construction workers and supervisors that are regulated by the Section 26.2 (1) of O. Reg. 213/91 (Construction Projects), and potential training providers, the Ontario Regulation 297/13 standard came into effect as of April 1, 2015. Ontario's largest private health & safety training provider, Occupational Safety Group Inc. has been granted approval under this new standard.
Falls from heights are the leading causes of death and critical injuries in the construction sector. The rollout of these new training requirements follows the Dean Report that focused on the Metron Incident when on December 24, 2009, an elevated platform collapsed and resulted in four workers falling 13 stories to their death.
"We are pleased that the Ontario government has taken action to regulate this important training. Our hope is that the new training standard will make a significant difference in reducing the number of people that are either killed or injured when working at heights on the job in Ontario," said Todd Bond, Chief Operating Officer for Occupational Safety Group Inc.
Another factor that has brought this new change is Ministry of Labour blitzes where ministry inspectors issued 584 stop work orders, and 6,458 work orders under the OHSA during 2,038 visits to 1,670 workplaces last summer. The top three violations resulting in work orders concerned failure to use personal protective equipment, failure to erect guardrails, and failure to use other forms of fall protection when guardrails were not reasonably possible. (Source: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/sawo/blitzes/blitz_report63.php)
Challenged to act, the Ministry has followed through with new training standards and targeting training providers to be assessed to improve quality of training. It is anticipated that this new approval process will be implemented across all health & safety training in future years.
SOURCE Occupational Safety Group
For further information: Michele Feeser, Manager of Marketing & Communications, t: 519.850.4000 x 229, m: 519.495.8808
Share this article