Ontario. Factory Inspection Branch

• Factory Inspection Branch

The origins of the Factory Inspection Branch date to 1888 when the first Factories Act was passed. The inspectors were under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture until 1915. The term "Factory Inspection Branch" appears to have been first used around 1913. In 1915, the branch was moved to the Department of Public Works, and, in 1916, to the Trades and Labour Branch in that department. In 1919, it became the Factory Inspection Branch of the Department of Labour.

In 1960 responsibility for the approval of factory and commercial building plans and drawings was split off into the Engineering Services Branch; the two branches were recombined in 1964 to create the Industrial Safety Branch.

The Factory Inspection Branch had responsibility for administering and enforcing the Factory, Shop and Office Building Act through inspection. Working conditions in factories, shops, bakeshops, restaurants and office buildings were regularly inspected to determine if employers were providing proper protection relating to the health, safety and welfare of persons employed in these establishments.

The Branch also investigated industrial accidents, occurences of occupational disease, had responsibilty to ensure regulations under the Departmment of Labour Act for those working in compressed air, tunnel or dam environments.

Up to 1960, the Branch also had responsibility for the approval of drawings and specifications of industrial or commercial buildings, before that responsibility was given to the Engineering Services Branch.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Annual Reports for the Department of Labour; RG 7 inventory

Archivist(s):
John Dirks