Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development runs focused health and safety compliance campaigns each year, and the current 2026–27 program runs from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. These campaigns direct proactive, focused inspections toward sectors and hazards that present elevated risks, including construction, industrial and retail workplaces, health and community care, farming and agriculture, education, and mining. Being named a priority sector does not mean a particular employer is being targeted — inspections happen with or without notice, and every workplace still owns the same obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. That is exactly why a practical internal review is useful: it lets you confirm your program is current, your records are in order, and any gaps are corrected on your own timeline, before an inspector ever arrives.
- 1
Mark the campaign window: Ontario's 2026–27 health and safety compliance campaigns run from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, so there is still time to review your program and correct any gaps on your own initiative
- 2
Construction projects — including single- and multi-family residential — should review fall protection, site housekeeping, equipment condition, and traffic-control practices, and confirm applicable training and records are current for everyone on site
- 3
Health and community care employers should confirm the Internal Responsibility System is working in practice, with workers and supervisors engaged and Joint Health and Safety Committee or Health and Safety Representative processes functioning as required
- 4
Industrial, retail, farming and agriculture, and education employers should review their actual workplace hazards, confirm required records are maintained, and verify safeguards and safe work practices are being followed day to day
- 5
Mining employers should verify energy isolation and lockout procedures are documented, followed in the field, and that workers performing them are trained and competent
- 6
Where occupational hygiene noise or ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) hazards are relevant — including in retail settings — put practical controls in place and document how exposure risks are assessed and reduced
- 7
Pull together a short inspection-ready document list: your health and safety policy, training records, completed workplace inspections, and corrective-action tracking, then correct any gaps you find rather than waiting for an inspector to point them out
Need Expert Help?
Monarch Health and Safety Group helps Ottawa and Ontario businesses stay compliant and build stronger safety cultures.
Book an Inspection Readiness Review — Free ConsultationGet the Free Ontario Safety Kit
Checklists, templates & compliance guides — delivered free.
More Safety Guides
Ontario's 2026 OHSA Changes: Administrative Monetary Penalties and What They Mean for Your Business
5 min read
Compliance & AuditsOntario Washroom Cleaning Records in 2026: What Employers and Constructors Must Keep
4 min read
COR™ CertificationWhat Is COR™ Certification and Does Your Business Need It?
4 min read