The Province undertook a workplace safety inspection blitz last week with a wide variety of departments taking part in concert with the Health Unit Inspectors and Stratford Police Services.
Officers visited 137 big box stores and other essential businesses that were permitted to operate during the Provincewide shutdown (such as grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores and agricultural supply stores).
They found that only 64 percent of businesses inspected were compliant with public health requirements under the Reopening Ontario Act.
Officers issued 7 tickets and 9 occupational health and safety orders. The most common contravention was that the business did not have a Safety Plan.
The Covid-19 Workplace Safety Plan must be available to anyone who asks to see it and it is to be posted in a place where it can be seen easily. The plan is meant to put in place controls that help make the workplace safer for everyone. It does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act or the Employment Standards Act.
The next most common issue was related to capacity limits and screening of employees and patrons.
