The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act has always had teeth — employers found in violation have faced Ministry of Labour orders, stop-work orders, and court-imposed fines. But enforcement through the courts is slow, costly, and often unpredictable. Starting January 1, 2026, the Ontario government introduced a faster, more direct enforcement mechanism: Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs). Under this new system, Ministry of Labour inspectors can issue financial penalties directly — without laying charges or going to court — for contraventions of the OHSA, its regulations, or inspector orders. For Ontario employers, this is one of the most significant changes to workplace safety enforcement in years. Understanding how AMPs work and what triggers them is now essential knowledge for every employer and supervisor.
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Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) took effect January 1, 2026 — inspectors can now issue fines on the spot for OHSA contraventions without going to court, making compliance more urgent than ever
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Under O. Reg. 365/25, AMPs are prescribed for specific contraventions — the penalty framework is designed to promote rapid compliance rather than simply punish; once an AMP is paid, the government cannot also prosecute for the same contravention
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Traditional OHSA fines remain in place and are substantial: court-imposed fines for individual employers and supervisors can reach $500,000 per offence; for directors and officers, the maximum is $1,500,000 per offence
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Common Ministry of Labour 'set fines' for workplace safety ticket offences run in the $550–$650 range per violation — these can multiply quickly across a workplace during a single inspection blitz
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Ministry inspectors can still issue stop-work orders at any time for imminent hazards — AMPs are an additional tool alongside existing powers, not a replacement
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The most effective defence against AMPs is the same as always: a documented, functioning health and safety management system — inspectors are far less likely to issue penalties to employers with clear evidence of ongoing compliance efforts
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Ontario has been conducting targeted inspection blitzes in high-risk sectors throughout 2026 — construction, manufacturing, and mining are all priority areas; do not wait for an inspection to discover your gaps
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If you receive an AMP or an MOL order, you have appeal rights under the OHSA — but the best strategy is always prevention; a proactive compliance review is significantly less expensive than a penalty or a stop-work order
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