Final answer:
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is the regulatory body responsible for providing inspection services to ensure electrical safety in Ontario, imposing regulations, and investigating workplace accidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The organization responsible for providing inspection services to ensure electrical safety in Ontario homes, as well as commercial and industrial installations, is the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). The ESA is a regulatory body that enforces regulations to protect employees at work, investigates accidents in the workplace, and is also responsible for developing standards of safety for consumer goods, including electrical systems and devices. This also includes supervision of the transmission of energy forms, and regulation of civilian use of nuclear materials and facilities. It's important to note that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) does contribute to the development of international safety standards and guidelines, but the actual enforcement and inspections in Ontario are under the ESA's jurisdiction.
Regarding the use of plastic insulation on live or hot wires, it serves to prevent both shock hazards and thermal hazards, as it acts as an insulator reducing the likelihood of electrical shock or fires caused by overheating.