This October and November inspectors from the ontario Ministry of Labour will check on machine guarding and lockout hazards at manufacturing workplaces in the province.

They will also check on hazards involving musculoskeletal disorders, chemical and noise exposure and workplace violence and harassment.

The safety blitz is part of the McGuinty government’s Safe at Work ontario enforcement strategy to increase compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.

The inspectors will be making sure lockout procedures are being followed; equipment is in good condition; workers are trained and supervised on lockout procedures and checking on exposed moving parts and in-running nip hazards on machines.

Inspectors will be targeting workplaces that have a history of injuries related to machine guarding, lockout and other hazards or wher complaints have been received.

Since 2008, ministry inspectors have made over 345,000 field visits, 46 inspection blitzes and issued more than 560,000 compliance orders in ontario workplaces.

In 2009, the WSIB also received 361 claims for workers who had limbs amputated by moving parts of machines.