Heads Up —Regulatory Modernization Act Poised to Take Effect
No place for unscrupulous operators to hide
By Heidi Croot
Those with long memories will recall the Regulatory Modernization Act, 2006, Bill 69, passed by the Ontario Legislature and receiving Royal Assent on May 17, 2007. The Act, which is expected to be implemented in 2009 (probably this spring), will make it possible for inspectors from 13 different regulatory ministries within the Ontario government to make referrals to one another if they see a contravention of another ministry’s legislation while in your workplace. Why is this good for reputable operators?
A business that is negligent in one area is probably negligent in others. The Regulatory Modernization Act levels the playing field for reputable operators by making it more difficult for unscrupulous operators to avoid registration and licensing, mistreat their employees, and duck their obligation to run systems that are up to legislative specs—all just to make an extra buck.
Here’s how it will work:
A typical restaurant must comply with Ministry of Environment regulations in how it vents its cooking exhaust and disposes of old grease; with Public Health regulations in how it handles and prepares its food; and with Ministry of Labour regulations in how it implements its health and safety program—to name just three. If, say, a Public Health inspector visits the restaurant to make sure hand-washing stations are set up properly, and notices while there that a food mixer is not guarded and the floors are slippery, the inspector will refer those findings to the Ministry of Labour, who will send an MOL inspector to the restaurant who can write up a health and safety order.
Stay tuned for more information when implementation of the Act is formally announced.
The Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) is your WSIB-approved provider of health and safety solutions, and your trusted advisor in developing a prevention program for your organization that will help keep new and young workers healthy and safe. Call OSSA at 1-888-478-6772 or email info@ossa.com.
That microwave ovens adjustments and repairs should only be done by a properly qualified service provider. Refer to OSSA Safety Check sheet on Microwave Ovens for more information.