In a precedent-setting decision issued in 2017, Justice Vallee of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that an employee named Constable (Cst.) Merrifield was entitled to damages because he was harassed in the workplace by his superiors at the…
Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are the number one workplace injury in Canada. They account for the most lost-time injury claims and the most lost-time workdays. In 2017, MSDs cost Ontario employers $72 million in claim related expenses and resulted in 462,000…
New workers are three times more likely to be injured on the job than more experienced workers. In 2017, there were six traumatic fatalities and 7,956 lost-time claims reported among employees aged 15-24. These are just the reported claims—some injuries…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…