Forklift safety blitz this month

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF LABOUR

************************* McGuinty government committed to eliminating workplace injuries

Ontario is making workplaces safer by focusing on hazards involving forklifts and lifting devices

Ministry of Labour inspectors will visit industrial workplaces during increased enforcement in February 2010.

They will ensure lifting equipment is being:

- Inspected and maintained in good condition

- Operated by well trained employees; and

- Used in a safe work environment.

The blitz will be conducted in addition to the ministry's recently announced fall hazards blitz during which inspectors will continue to visit construction sites to check for hazards involving suspended platforms.

The blitzes are being conducted as part of the government's Safe At Work Ontario strategy.

Keeping more workers safe means increased productivity for Ontario's economy and less strain on the health care system.

Quick facts At least 18 workers have died since 2003 as a result of incidents involving lift trucks, reach trucks, forklifts and tow motors.

In total, there were 9,455 forklift-related incidents involving a lost time injury between 1996 and 2008, an average of 727 incidents a year, according to the data compiled by the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario.

Ontario employs 430 full-time occupational health and safety inspectors.

Learn more Read more about Ontario's Safe at Work Ontario strategy to improve workplace safety. Enforcement blitz targets forklift hazards.

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