INSPECTIONS TO FOCUS ON WAREHOUSES, DISPENSARIES IN PEEL

The next phase of Ontario’s workplace “inspection blitz” is expected to focus on warehouses and distribution centres in Peel region, a COVID-19 hot spot with a high number of essential workers. Labour Minister Monte Mcnaughton said inspections, which began Wednesday, would target more than 100 distribution centres. employers who don’t follow public health guidelines, such as physical distancing, screening for infection and mask-wearing, and fail to keep workers safe will be ticketed or shut down, he said. “beefing up enforcement over the next number of weeks is vital,” he said. Peel region has maintained high rates of infection since last fall, though daily reported cases have declined since January. The region, which includes brampton and Mississauga, is home to a number of large distribution workplaces and factories, including several Amazon warehouses. The local health unit has reported 257 workplace COVID-19 outbreaks since the pandemic began, with 21 total outbreaks at distribution centres.