TORONTO, Ont. – The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) announced on April 12 that it was planning to conduct an 11-month series of workplace safety inspections. More than 20 targeted blitzes across the province are anticipated for the period from May 2 to next March 31, an MOL news release stated. Inspectors will visit workplaces in industries with vulnerable employees and/or a history of safety violations, such as construction sites, mines, retail stores and food services. The officers will be looking for violations of occupational health and safety regulations and employment standards, as well as those concerning the pay and work hours of temporary foreign workers, young workers and employees of past offenders. “Targeted blitz programs like these increase awareness, compliance and overall safety among workers and employers throughout the province,” Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn said in a media statement. “Our goal at the Ministry of Labour is to ensure that workers in Ontario are treated fairly by their employers and return home safely at the end of the day.” The day after it announced the blitzes, the MOL posted an online checklist for employers to help them evaluate how well they are complying with oh&s requirements in the province.