In every store, materials are received, moved, and sent out, a process known as material handling. However, this movement also brings potential risks to employees. A new inspection campaign from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) focuses on retail workplaces, ensuring they protect workers from material handling injuries. 

Beginning June 2, 2025, and continuing through March 2026, MLITSD ergonomists will visit retail workplaces. These inspections will cover businesses of all sizes and types, focusing on ensuring worker safety from hazards that occur during the handling and movement of materials, including:

• receiving
• unpacking
• storing
• transporting
• stocking
• point of sale
• customer assistance 
• delivery

These hazards can lead to injuries affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves (also called musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs), falls from ladders, and struck-by injuries. 

“The campaign was launched in response to the growing number of material handling injuries in retail environments,” says Laura Veldhuyzen, WSPS Specialized Consultant (Ergonomics). WSIB statistics show that within the retail sector, MSDs account for 30% of lost-time injury claims, and struck by injuries, 18%. “Between 2020 and 2024, the retail sector also had the second highest injury count for lost-time ladder-related injuries,” adds Laura.

MSDs can occur during manual material handling that involves heavy lifting, twisting and turning, overreaching, and repetitive work. Falls from ladders can occur when ladders are placed on an unstable surface, at the wrong angle, or when workers use improper climbing techniques or overreach. Struck by injuries may happen when shelving is unstable or overloaded, or when pedestrians and equipment are not kept away from each other.

The inspection process

“The ergonomist will start with a walk-through of your workplace to ensure your business is in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA),” says Laura. (See Section 25 (1) (b) and Section 25(2) (a), (d) (h)). The walkthrough may involve: 

• observing tasks as they are performed, such as lifting, moving, placing and retrieving materials
• taking measurements to determine MSD risk 
• reviewing work areas and tasks, including delivering, receiving, storage, and point of sale
• examining equipment used for transporting, moving and accessing loads

The ergonomist may also ask questions about:

Your Internal Responsibility System (IRS)

• Do you have a joint health and safety committee (JHSC) or a Health and Safety Representative?
• Are they carrying out required monthly workplace inspections, including documenting MSD hazards?
• Are you posting the required documents in an accessible place?

Previous workplace injuries

• Have workers experienced MSDs or other injuries?
• What tasks were involved that led to these injuries?

Policies and procedures

• What related health and safety policies and procedures do you have in place? Including:
  • MSD prevention
  • material handling
  • ladder use
  • storage practices
  • vehicle/pedestrian safety

Safety training

• What types of training do workers receive?

The MLITSD ergonomist will also ask to see documentation, including policies and procedures, and training records. “If the inspection reveals a contravention of the OHSA, the ergonomist can issue orders or require the workplace to reassess the risk of a particular hazard,” notes Laura. 

How to prepare for the inspection

Review your material handling activities, risks, and controls to ensure you have covered everything, suggests Laura. “If you spot red flags, take further action right away.” Here are Laura’s five tips:

1. Look for awkward posture, high force, repetitive movements, twisting and bending during material handling. Are workers struggling or looking strained? Have you provided training in safe material handling? Are items too heavy/awkward? Can you reduce the weight of the boxes to something more manageable? Or use carts to move materials.
2. Pay attention to housekeeping. “If there are no extra boxes or cases on the floor, workers won’t have to reach over them, and it allows for a better flow of goods,” notes Laura.
3. Make sure items are stored safely in the store and in the back. “If goods are stacked too high, they will be difficult to access and are more likely to fall and strike a worker,” explains Laura. “Too low, and the workers must bend repeatedly, putting strain on their backs.” Is the storage system stable?
4. Are workers using the proper type of ladder, and is it in good condition? Have they received training on ladder safety?
5. Monitor equipment/pedestrian interactions inside and outside in the parking lot and receiving areas. Are workers wearing high-visibility clothing? Do you have pedestrian walkways? 

Free resources and support

• Prepare for Inspections: Manual Material Handling (guide)
• Prepare for Inspections: Storage Systems (guide)
• Ergo Insights: Safe Manual Material Handling (guide)
• Ladder Safety (guide)
• Major Hazards in the Retail Sector (video)
• Safety Job Aid: Mobile Ladders and Platforms
• Safe lifting and pedestrian safety guides for workers, supervisors, and employers
• Ladder Safety in Retail & Restaurants (pre-recorded webinar)
• Preparing for a Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Inspection
• What to expect when a Ministry inspector comes to your workplace (article)
• Safely Using Portable Ladders (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
• MSD Prevention: Hands Below Head (CRE-MSD)

How WSPS can help

Consulting

WSPS expert consultants can help you identify and control MSDs and risks related to ladder safety and struck by injuries in your workplace. 

Training 

• Ladder Safety Online Training (eCourse, 1 hour) 
• Safe Lifting & Manual Material Handling Training (onsite instructor-led training, half day)

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.