OHS Insider » Insider Insights

Tolerating Bullying in the Workplace Puts the Company at Risk of Liability

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:57:55 +0000

On Feb. 8, 2010, an Australian café, its owner, its manager, a waiter and a chef were convicted under Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act for viciously bullying a 19-year-old worker both physically and emotionally to the point where she jumped off a building to ...

Previous Training Is No Substitute for Site-Specific Safety Procedures

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:56:37 +0000

Workers from an HVAC contractor pressurized pipes with nitrogen gas to check for leaks before installing a cooling system. A welder wrongly believed the test was over and the pipes were no longer depressurized. As he bent over a pipe, a sudden release of gas ...

How ‘Newness’ Increases Safety Risks

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:51:12 +0000

Many factors influence the risk of injury and illness in a workplace, such as the industry, nature of the work and type of equipment and materials used. Every safety coordinator is surely familiar with these factors. But recent research has identified another risk factor that’s ...

Update: Are Mental Stress Claims Covered by Workers’ Comp?

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:58:35 +0000

Work-related stress is as old as work itself. But recognition of stress as a workplace hazard is a recent phenomenon. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, common sources of workplace stress include fear of job loss and layoff; increased work hours; staff cutbacks, which ...

GHS Resources

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:50:24 +0000

Links to government and other websites that have detailed information.

WHMIS V GHS COMPARISON

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:50:24 +0000

a comparison chart of the label and safety data sheet requirements in the GHS and WHMIS

GHS TERMINOLOGY

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:50:24 +0000

Here are some of the key terms in the GHS...

ACCOMMODATION vs UNDUE HARDSHIP

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:50:21 +0000

5 things employers generally don't have to do to accomodate employees.

2008 ANNUAL INDEX

admin — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

This Index lists all articles published in the Insider from Jan. 2008 to December 2008.

Supreme Court Draws a Line on Accommodating Non-Culpable Absenteeism

admin — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000

Excessive absenteeism is grounds for dismissal. But when the absence isn’t the employee’s fault, discipline is problematic. And if the “non-culpable” absenteeism is due to a disability, the employer must accommodate the employee to the point of undue hardship. The big question: How does the employer know when the point of undue hardship has been reached? A brand new ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada provides important new guidance on this question. Here’s a look at the case and its implications for employers seeking to accommodate employees with disability-related absences.