Workplace Injury Rate Down By 20 Per Cent
June 11, 2008 12:45 PM
McGuinty Government Introduces New Plan To Build On Success
To build on this success, Ontario is launching a new four year plan--Safe At Work Ontario. The new strategic plan will emphasize both the safety of Ontario workers and the increased productivity that safe workplaces bring to Ontario's economy.
The Safe At Work Ontario plan allows ministry inspectors to be flexible and strategic in determining which businesses require their attention based on a number of factors including:
- Injury rates and associated costs
- A company's compliance history
- The presence of young workers.
The goal of the plan is to enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act while educating workers about the importance of workplace safety and lessening the burden on the health care system. To achieve this, inspectors will work with employers to develop a stronger health and safety culture.
QUICK FACTS
- A compliance program that ran from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2008 reduced the workplace injury rate by 20 per cent, or more than 50,000 incidents.
- Because of this drop in the annual rate of lost time injuries, employers have avoided about $5 billion in direct and indirect costs during the four years ending March 31, 2008. Reduced injuries also result in less strain on the health care system, and fewer workers off the job means increased productivity for Ontario’s economy.
- Ontario employs 430 full-time health and safety inspectors.
LEARN MORE
ontario.ca/labour
"The McGuinty government and its workplace partners are committed to eliminating all workplace injuries. Workers have a right to come home each day to their families, safe and sound."
– Brad Duguid
Minister of Labour
Communities
