Ministry of Labour's safety blitz targets greenhouse work platforms

Thursday, April 28, 2016

by PAM WRIGHT

Safety in the agricultural workplace — with a focus on rail mounted elevated work platforms — is the target of a Ministry of Labour safety blitz slated to begin this fall.
 
Used primarily in greenhouses, the platforms, also called pipe rail trolleys, have been involved in a number of worker injuries.

Ministry of Labour spokesperson Janet Deline said by email Wednesday the machines have been known to tip over when they are in the raised position.

Workers have fallen from them, Deline said, and part of the trolley can sometimes land on top them.

“The tip overs occurred due to improper use of the equipment or un-level pipe rails,” Deline said.

A pipe rail trolley is a moveable elevating work platform that runs on steel pipe rails. The pipe rails are located on the ground between the rows of plants and serve as heating pipes.

The trolleys are specialized equipment and can be described as a scissor lift on rails.

The injuries are behind the probe, Deline said, but noted the ministry does not track the incidents specifically.

Starting in October and continuing through the winter, provincial officials will examine how well farm workplaces comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations (OHSA), along with adhering to the Employment Standards Act.

 The initiative is part of the provincial government’s goal of improving health and safety practices for all Ontario workers, Deline said.

“We want to make sure everyone is able to come home safe at the end of the day,” Deline said.

Worker training, installation, maintenance and how the platforms are used will be part of the safety audits. Deline said ministry officials will be targeting their inspections on workplaces likely to use these devices.

Under the OHSA, employers in Ontario, including farmers, are required to take every precaution reasonable to protect workers and should preform a risk assessment of the hazards.

Employers must provide training, supervision and instruction to all workers regarding any policy or program changes at their workplace.

Wage statements, unauthorized deductions, record keeping, hours of work, breaks, overtime pay, minimum wage, holiday and vacation pay will also be examined.

The agriculture portion of the year-long ministry blitz will run for six months ending in March 2017. BF