submitted by Tony Moscioni:
GOVERNMENT BEEFS UP ENFORCEMENT Last week, the Provincial government announced that it would hire 200 new enforcement staff over the next two years. It will begin immediately by recruiting 100 new inspectors -- a major expansion to the current force of 230 inspectors.
"It's a bold move, and it's the right move," said Don Dickie, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO). CSAO and the construction industry's labour-management network have long advocated for more inspectors.
"Without question, increased enforcement means a decrease in death, illness, and injury in the construction industry," said Dickie.
The government's goal is to cut workplace injuries by 20% in four years by targeting workplaces with poor health and safety records. The government has identified 6,000 such firms.
The cost of the 100 new inspectors will be $14 million annually, charged to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). But the government estimates that the reduction in injuries will save the WSIB about $300 million.
