It would be a mistake to dismiss the idea of your worksite being a target for a Ministry of Labour (MOL) safety inspection just because your employees are not performing manual labour or operating dangerous machinery.
Every year, the MOL publishes a schedule of their safety blitz inspections for different industries. You can find the full schedule here. It does not say where or exactly when these will occur, but it does share the general “theme” and timeline of that season’s inspections.
The info below can help you learn more about how to prepare for MOL inspections in an office environment:
COMMON OFFICE WORKSITE HAZARDS
ERGONOMICS ISSUES CAUSING STRAINS, SPRAINS, AND OVEREXERTION:
- Height of work surface
- Repetitive motion/trauma
- Reaching/twisting
- Improper/unnecessary lifting
STRUCK BY AND STRUCK AGAINST:
- File cabinets
- Shelves
- Stored and stacked materials
- Door clearances
- Blind corners
- Desk and file cabinet drawers
SLIPPING, TRIPPING, AND FALLING:
- Floors and stairways
- Highly polished surfaces
- Handrails
- Illumination issues
- Treads
THE TOP “STOP WORK ORDERS” FROM MOL RESULTED FROM FAILING TO:
- Ensure the safety of floor surfaces
- Ensure safe material handling
- Condition of a portable ladder
- Provide adequate guardrails
TOP 4 TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR WORKERS AND PREPARE FOR A MOL INSPECTION
- Understand the causes of slips, trips, and falls. See our previous article on strategies to prevent slips, trips, and falls on our industrial staffing website.
- Learn from previous year’s blitz results.
- Conduct a hazard assessment and implement a plan of action. Download this free checklist and do a self-assessment of the work environment: compile an inventory of locations, work practices, and equipment that could pose a risk of injury. Know where the hazards are and start controlling them.
- Educate workers. Display a slips, trips, and falls poster – click here to download a FREE poster for worker safety boards! Add prevention strategies to team meetings before, during, and after the blitz. This will encourage people to work safely and alert their supervisor to any hazards they encounter.
