New workers are 3 times more likely to be injured on the job than more experienced workers. In 2017, there were 6 traumatic fatalities and 7,956 lost-time claims reported among workers aged 15-24. These are just the reported claims, some…
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PEI’s Eric Donovan Act – What it Could Mean for Ontario Employers
In Ontario, the Human Rights Code (the “Code”) entitles employees to a workplace that is free from harassment, when that harassment is based on an enumerated ground (i.e. a protected characteristic). The Code statutorily mandates that an employer needs to…
Owner Receives Jail Time for Failure to Comply with OHSA
On May 9, 2019, Steven Bell, the owner of a Belleville roofing company, was sentenced to seven days in jail for failure to comply with Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations. On July 22, 2017, while…
How Much Do You Know About the OHSA?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations (OHSA) is a fundamental piece of legislation set out to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job. Every year, there are nearly 200,000 workplace injury claims made in Canada. This…
Requirements and Best Practices for JHSC Meetings
Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) meetings are an integral part of an effective health and safety program. They give members the opportunity to discuss safety concerns, workplace inspections, policies and procedures, accidents and incidents, and implementation plans. For the…
Update: Proving “Due Diligence” in Cases Involving Fatalities
In February 2018, we provided an update on an important legal precedent relevant to employers across the province. The article discussed certain charges laid against a construction employer by the name of Cobra Float Services (“Cobra”), and its subsequent attempt…
How Often Are JHSC Members Elected?
Having an effective Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is crucial for maximizing workplace health and safety. A reasonable question that many employers and HR managers ask is “how often are JHSC members elected?” The quick and easy answer is…
Changes to Come for Ontario’s Skilled Trades
As many of you know, on November 21, 2018 the Provincial government enacted Bill 47, making a number of sweeping changes to Ontario’s labour and employment-related legislation. Included in those changes were fundamental alterations to the Ontario College of Trades…
Why Safety is “Third” in the Workplace
Every so often we come across an article, blog, or video that mirrors our own beliefs when it comes to how we view safety. Recently, I came across an article and a video of Mike Rowe from the show Dirty…