Preparing for a Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Inspection

From April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will conduct an campaign to raise awareness of material handling hazards faced by workers in industrial workplaces and ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

Focused inspections of workplaces will occur between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, targeting workplaces where materials, articles or things are lifted, carried, or moved, therefore putting workers at risk of being injured by their movements. Various sectors where fatalities and critical injuries have occurred will be visited, including:

• agricultural services
• automotive
• chemical, rubber and plastics
• farming
• food, beverage and tobacco
• government services (municipal services only)
• industrial services
• primary metals
• retail
• tourism, hospitality and recreational services
• transportation
• vehicle, sales and service
• wood and metal fabrication

Inspectors will focus on the following key priorities:

• lifting devices/mobile equipment/cranes
• workplace layout and design
• manual material handling
• storage systems
• automation
• machine guarding, blocking and lockout
• training and orientation provided by the employer (e.g. supervisor and worker awareness training)
• administration/internal responsibility system (e.g. joint health and safety committee/health and safety representation)

How WSPS Can Help

Supports to help you prepare:

• Safety Connection: MLITSD Materials Handling Campaign 2025-2026 (free webinar, jointly presented by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety & Prevention Services; recording to be made available soon)
• MLITSD Material Handling Inspections - Frequently Asked Questions
• Prepare for Inspections: Manual Material Handling (guide)
• Prepare for Inspections: Lifting Devices, Mobile Equipment or Cranes (guide)
• Prepare for Inspections: Workplace Layout and Design (guide)
• Prepare for Inspections: Automation (guide)
• Prepare for Inspections: Storage Systems (guide)
• Material Handling Identification Toolkit
• Material Handling resources for workers, supervisors and employers (worker resources in 6 languages)
• Proper Lighting in Industrial Work Environments (guide)
• Lighting Risk Identification (checklist)
• Online Instructor-led Training Courses (ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, machine & robot safety, warehouse safety & racking)
• Consulting Services: Ergonomics
• Consulting Services: Machine Safety & Robotics
• Consulting Services: Racking, Warehousing and Distribution Safety

From April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) Occupational Hygienists will conduct a campaign focused on reducing worker exposure to chemical agents in the workplace by ensuring compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

Focused inspections of workplaces will occur between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. MLITSD Hygienists will visit workplaces in all sectors to ensure compliance with R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 833, Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents in all workplaces where this regulation applies. Specifically, they will ensure that workers are not exposed to hazardous substances exceeding the occupational exposure limits. During inspections, they will assess worker exposures by identifying the hazards, observing work practices, and evaluating effectiveness of controls. Existing exposure data may be reviewed and/or a requirement for air sampling may be issued to assess exposures and ensure that workers are adequately protected.

How WSPS Can Help

Supports to help you prepare:

• Safety Connection: MLITSD Occupational Hygiene Campaigns 2025-2026 (free webinar, jointly presented by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety & Prevention Services; recording to be made available soon)
• Safety Connection: Air Assessments - What Are They & MLITSD Campaign Compliance (webinar recording coming soon)
• Safety Connection: Managing Chemicals - Keeping Workers Safe Step by Step (free webinar)
• Safety Connection: Burning Questions - Managing Flammable & Combustible Liquids (free webinar)
• MLITSD Occupational Hygiene Campaigns Toolkit
• Article: Are your workers exposed to dangerous designated substances? Here’s how to find out.
• Safety Check: Chemical Safety Tips for Workers
• Guide: Protecting Against Respiratory Hazards
• Safety Connection: Respiratory Protection in the Workplace (Provincial) (webinar recording)
• Quick Safety Tips Video Series: Designated Substances
• Consulting: Occupational Hygiene – Assessments and more

From April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026, Ministry of Labour Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) hygienists will conduct a campaign focused on Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) compliance.

Focused inspections of workplaces will occur between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. MLITSD Hygienists will visit workplaces in any sector where workers work with or may be exposed to hazardous products to ensure compliance with R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 860, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). Specifically, they will determine if retraining is required, checking that hazardous products in the workplace have labels and safety data sheets compliant with the amended Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR).

How WSPS Can Help

Supports to help you prepare:

• Safety Connection: MLITSD Occupational Hygiene Campaigns 2025-2026 (free webinar, jointly presented by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety & Prevention Services; recording to be made available soon)
  
• Safety Connection: Air Assessments - What Are They & MLITSD Campaign Compliance (free webinar; recording to be made available soon)
• Safety Connection: Managing Chemicals - Keeping Workers Safe Step by Step (free webinar)
• Safety Connection: Burning Questions - Managing Flammable & Combustible Liquids (free webinar)
• MLITSD Occupational Hygiene Campaigns Toolkit
• Information Sheet: WHMIS – Hazardous Projects Regulation Amendment – March 2024
• Article: Beyond generic WHMIS. Is your workplace compliant?
• Small Biz Safety Bytes Video: Chemical Safety (WHMIS)
• Quick Safety Tips Video Series: WHMIS
• WHMIS Training and Resources
• Consulting: Occupational Hygiene – Assessments and more

From April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026, Ministry of Labour Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) ergonomists will conduct a campaign to raise awareness of hazards related to the handling and movement of materials within the retail space - receiving, unpacking, storing, transporting, stocking, point of sale, customer assistance and delivery - and ensure compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

Focused inspections of workplaces will occur between June 2, 2025, and March 2026.

Inspectors will focus on the following key priorities:

• musculoskeletal disorder prevention
• stuck-by risks
• falls from ladders associated with manual material storage and retrieval

How WSPS Can Help

Support to help you prepare:

• Safety Connection: MLITSD Retail Ergonomics Campaign (free webinar, jointly delivered by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Workplace Safety & Prevention Services; recording to be made available soon)
• Ergo Insights: Safe Manual Material Handling Guide
• Major Hazards in the Retail Sector (video)
• Prepare for Inspections: Manual Material Handling (guide)
• Prepare for Inspections: Storage Systems (guide)
• Material Handling resources for workers, supervisors and employers (worker resources in 6 languages)
• Quick Safety Tips: Safe Lifting (video series)
• Ladder Safety Toolkit
• Mobile Ladder Platforms (job aid)
• Palletizing Ergonomics (video)
• Safe Lifting & Manual Materials Handling Training
• Ladder Safety Training (eCourse)
• Consulting Services: Ergonomics

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) will be conducting inspections of tender fruit growers in southern Ontario starting in May 2025; a decision driven by past incidents, inspections and orders, and a desire to reduce future injuries and fatalities.

Focused inspections of workplaces will occur between May 1 and July 31, 2025. Regions being targeted include Brant, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Norfolk and surrounding areas.

How WSPS Can Help

• Free Webinar: Tender Fruit Growers MLITSD Initiatives (April 16, 2025, jointly delivered by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Ontario Tender Fruit Growers and Workplace Safety & Prevention Services)
• How does safety rate on your farm? (checklist)
• Agriculture: Small Business Checklist (1-5 employees)
• Agriculture: Small Business Checklist (6-19 employees)
• Agriculture: Small Business Checklist (20-49 employees)
• Resource Hub: Fruit & Vegetable Farmers (various resources)
• Agriculture Safety Resources - English, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese