What’s New (May 2015 newsletter from the Ministry of Labour)
May 2015 | Issue #60
Ontario Holding Public Consultations to Strengthen Labour Laws
Ontario is moving forward with public consultations on issues and trends that affect workers and employers across the province in the modern workplace. Public consultations about how the Labour Relations Act, 1995 and Employment Standards Act, 2000 could be amended to keep pace with the changing needs of workers and employers will begin on June 16 in Toronto and will continue throughout the summer in communities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Guelph, Windsor and London.
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New Law Requires Employers To Provide Poster To Employees
As of May 20, 2015, employers will be required to provide their employees with a copy of the current employment standards poster that outlines some of their employment standards rights and responsibilities.
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New Mining Guidelines
Do you work in an underground or surface mine? The ministry has produced new mining guidelines on providing safe and reliable braking systems on vehicles; on requirements and hazards involving tire and wheel assemblies, and on the sampling of diesel particulate matter.
- Read Guidelines On Braking Systems
- Read Guidelines On Tire/Wheel Assemblies
- Read Guidelines On Sampling DPM
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New Video: Inspection Of Mine Development At A Soft Rock Salt Mine
Learn what the ministry looks for during an inspection of a mine development at a soft rock salt mine, as an inspector visits a salt mine in Goderich, Ont., in this new video.
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Blitzes Target Precarious Work For Employment Violations
The ministry is focusing on core employment standards during concurrent blitzes at workplaces across Ontario from May to July. The blitzes are focusing on new, young and vulnerable workers engaged in precarious employment, and temporary foreign workers engaged in all types of employment arrangements.
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Spring Blitz Targets Construction Site Traffic
Ontario is targeting the dangers of working around vehicles and large pieces of mobile equipment during a two-month enforcement blitz at construction sites this spring. In May and June 2015, ministry inspectors are checking that employers are properly assessing and addressing hazards, and protecting the safety of workers.
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New Small Businesses And The Internal Responsibility System
From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, ministry inspectors are visiting new small businesses with fewer than 50 workers in industrial workplaces. They are checking whether these workplaces are complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, and whether they have a functioning Internal Responsibility System (IRS), and the resources to comply.
Learn About Resources For Small Businesses >
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Summer Blitz Targets New And Young Worker Safety
For the eighth year in a row, the Ontario government is focusing on the safety of new and young workers in a summer enforcement blitz. Inspectors are focusing on industrial workplaces where many new and young workers are employed.
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Consultation On Changes To Designated Substances Regulation And Codes
The ministry is proposing changes to the Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09) and the codes for medical surveillance, respiratory protection and measuring (air sampling). The proposal would update and incorporate the respiratory protection and measuring provisions requirements for designated substances into O. Reg. 490/09. It would also update and consolidate the medical surveillance provisions into a new Code for Medical Surveillance.
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Gender Wage Gap Strategy
The Gender Wage Gap Strategy Steering Committee will conduct province-wide consultation sessions in 2015. The committee will develop recommendations to help create a strategy aimed at closing the gender wage gap through the actions of business, government, labour and all Ontarians.
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Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
WHMIS is a Canada-wide system designed to give employers and workers information about hazardous materials used in the workplace. WHMIS is changing to adopt new, international standards for classifying hazardous chemicals and providing information on labels and safety data sheets. The new standards are being phased in across Canada between February 2015 and December 2018.
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