This is going to be another hot and humid week across Southern Ontario, and the province's new Labour Minister is warning both workers and workplaces to take precautions.
Monte McNaughton is still getting comfortable in his new role but said he is taking a special interest in work conditions for young workers, and that includes protecting them from the heat.
McNaughton was sworn in last month, and the province is undertaking a blitz this summer of workplaces in a bid to lower the number of injuries and deaths suffered on the job by young workers.
"We take health and safety very seriously," he said. "This is a top priority for me. I'm not going to tolerate injuries or lives lost on the job. It's unacceptable."
Between 2014 and 2018, 24 young workers died on the job in Ontario.
"To me, that is an astounding number," said McNaughton.
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In the summer, heat stress can be a particular problem for those who work outside, but there are things employers should be doing to ensure employees are kept safe.
"Employees and employers need to ensure that people are dressing right for the job. They stay hydrated. They take breaks," said McNaughton, who is also the MP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. "But, most importantly, that everyone looks out for each other."
The Labour Ministry does investigate injuries and deaths in the workplace. Those investigations can result in orders that must be followed by employers and possible fines.
