The province is ramping up workplace inspections to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton says more than 100 new occupational health and safety inspectors have been hired to ensure businesses are adhering to provincially-mandated COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
“As we continue to move forward, we’re increasing our efforts,” McNaughton says. “On Monday, more than 100 new occupational health and safety inspectors started their training. They are learning the ropes now and will be in the field in the weeks ahead.”
Over the next few days, the Ministry will be increasing inspections and educational campaigns for small business owners in York, Windsor-Essex, and Waterloo.
McNaughton says the penalties for failing to keep staff and customers safe can be steep.
“We’ve issued about 400 tickets ranging from $750-$1000. Those are the tickets and fines that are issued on the spot. But we do have other investigations going on that take some time, those fines can be as serious as $1.5 million.”
In all, more than 13,374 COVID-related workplace inspections have been carried out since the start of the year, with 9,480 orders issued.
