Site Inspections
Red Flags on Site: What Ministry of Labour Inspectors Are Targeting This Year
Inspectors are not only checking for basic PPE anymore. They are looking closely at the newer and more tightly enforced obligations under O. Reg. 213/91, the Regulation for Construction Projects.
This article focuses on the field items Ontario contractors should audit immediately if they want to be ready for a Ministry inspection without scrambling through clipboards, gloveboxes, or email chains. It is general information, not legal advice for a specific enforcement issue.
1. Mandatory on-site AED rules
One of the biggest updates catching contractors off guard is the requirement for an on-site automated external defibrillator on certain projects.
The threshold
If a project is expected to last three months or longer and regularly employs 20 or more workers, the constructor must have a functional, Health Canada-approved AED on site.
What inspectors will check
They will want to see that the AED is accessible, clearly marked, maintained, and supported by at least one worker on site during working hours who is trained in CPR and AED use.
The record trail matters
AED maintenance checks, training records, and even equipment placement information need to be documented. If the device is present but the proof is weak, you are still showing a control gap.
2. Washroom facility maintenance and record-keeping
Site sanitation has moved from a loose expectation to a documented compliance point that inspectors can test quickly.
The 6-month documentation rule
Constructors must keep and display records showing washroom cleaning, servicing, and sanitizing activities for the past six months, or for the life of the project if it has been running for less time.
Menstrual product requirements
On projects lasting longer than three months with 20 or more workers regularly on site, constructors must provide menstrual products in accessible locations with reasonable privacy and hygienic conditions.
What fails fast during inspection
If the sanitation log is missing, unsigned, or obviously stale, that is an easy enforcement point. A washroom that looks acceptable is not enough if the record trail behind it is weak.
3. Fall protection triggers and real-time training proof
Falls remain one of the biggest sources of serious injury on Ontario construction projects, so fall protection is still one of the first things an inspector looks at when stepping onto a site.
The inspection target
Inspectors do not stop at seeing a harness on a worker. They may review lanyard condition and expiry, anchor point setup, and whether the specific protection system on site matches the hazard and work plan.
Working at Heights proof on demand
If workers are exposed to fall hazards, inspectors can ask for valid Working at Heights training proof immediately. That means your crew needs real-time access to current credentials, not a promise that the office can send them later.
The digital access advantage
Ontario allows certain required postings and safety information to be made available electronically, but workers need to know how to access them and be able to pull them up fast on their devices. A portal no one can actually use will not help you during an inspection.
Move from reactive scrambling to visible due diligence
When an inspector shows up, they are looking for control, not excuses. If your team is digging through truck visors for a ticket, searching emails for a cleaning log, or guessing who last checked the AED, you are signaling that the site is being managed reactively.
The stronger model is a central operational vault where training certificates, safety policies, site logs, equipment checks, and inspection records all live in one organized system. When the records are searchable and export-ready, you can turn a high-pressure inspection into a routine demonstration of due diligence.
- AED records: maintenance logs, training confirmations, and placement details
- Sanitation records: washroom servicing history and current restocking evidence
- Fall protection records: current Working at Heights proof and equipment checks
- Digital posting access: workers know where the records live and how to access them immediately
SEO setup for this page
This article is structured to target the following search phrases directly:
- Ontario Ministry of Labour construction inspection checklist
- O. Reg 213/91 amendments
- mandatory AED construction site Ontario
- construction washroom log requirements
- working at heights training proof on site
The live slug for this landing page is /blog/ontario-ministry-of-labour-construction-inspection-compliance.
Quick answers site teams search for
Do inspectors really ask for AED proof?
Yes. Once the project hits the threshold, inspectors can focus on the device, training, maintenance evidence, and whether workers know where it is.
Are washroom logs now an inspection item?
Yes. A stale or missing sanitation record is an easy compliance failure because it is visible, date-based, and simple to verify on site.
Is fall protection just about wearing harnesses?
No. Inspectors can also review training proof, equipment condition, anchors, and whether the full setup matches the work being done.
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