Hazards & Operations that Require Special OHS Training
The OHS laws impose 2 kinds of safety training requirements. The first is a general requirement that employers provide whatever training workers need to do their jobs safely. The second […]
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Notice of Projects for Construction Work – Know The Laws Of Your Province
OHS laws require written notice before undertaking potentially hazardous construction projects. Construction sites are among the most dangerous. Work injury rates higher for construction than in most other industries; and the […]
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The Top 5 Workplace Summer Safety Hazards (and What You Can Do About Them)
It's time for warm weather, long weekends, and backyard cookouts. But the summer season also brings unique workplace hazards. Staying safe during the hot weather means understanding and managing the risks. […]
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CANADIAN MINING COMPANY UNDERESTIMATES SCALE OF CATASTROPHE
A Canadian company, Trevali Mining Corporation owns the Perkoa Mine in Burkina Faso that has been in the spotlight since April 16 when a flood trapped 8 workers underground. It […]
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Workplace Fatigue Risk Management System Game Plan
While workplace fatigue has been around as long as workplaces have existed, the problem has assumed a new urgency. Labour shortages and rising wages are creating intense pressure on workers […]
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Work Refusals Special Report
Refusing to perform assigned work is normally an act of insubordination for which a worker can be disciplined. But OHS laws create a special exemption that allows workers to refuse […]
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Are Companies Liable for Environmental Offences of a Rogue Employee?
Should a company be liable for an environmental offence committed by an individual or group of employees acting on their own, either deliberately or carelessly, and without the company’s authorization […]
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Fatigue Management Policy
BENEFITS Worker fatigue may not seem like a workplace safety issue but it is. For example, fatigue can lead to safety incidents because exhausted workers may have slowed reaction times or […]
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Alberta, Canada Human Rights Tribunal Reminds Employees They Have Duties In The Workplace Accommodation Process
In Zupcic v Saputo Foods Limited, 2022 AHRC 13 (Saputo), the Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta (Tribunal) dismissed an employee's complaint that that she was discriminated against in employment on the ground […]
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Whom To Call To Report a Spill or Discharge
Every jurisdiction has an “emergency spill hotline” that you can call to report a spill or release of a hazardous substance. Here’s where to report such incidents in each part […]
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Ask The Expert: Which Hazardous Spills Must You Report to the Government?
QUESTION Which kinds of chemical spills do we have to report to the Ministry of Environment? ANSWER It depends on the kind of spill and jurisdiction you’re in. EXPLANATION Companies that discharge or spill products […]
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How to Create a Hazardous Spills Response Plan
After accidentally dropping a pallet containing a toxic cleaning agent and causing a spill, workers dilute the spilled solution with water and flush the contaminated water down a storm drain. […]
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Hazardous Spill Reporting Form
As with any health and safety incident, prompt reporting of spills is crucial to effective response. Here’s a template you can adapt to capture the essential details about the spill […]
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Hazardous Spills Response & Reporting Policy
How to Use the Tool Here’s a Spill Response and Reporting Policy that you can use to ensure that your employees report and respond to spills appropriately. This policy, which is […]
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Hazardous Spills Reporting Compliance Game Plan
You’ve just discovered an oil slick under one of your trucks. It looks like an oil leak. The truck has been sitting in a gravel lot for at least 3 […]
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Know The Laws Of Your Province on Spills Reporting
Environmental laws require companies involved in discharging or spilling substances that have the potential to harm the environment to report the incident to the government. But the laws vary significantly […]
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Spring Cleaning: Out With The Old COVID-19 Regulations
On April 14, 2022, the Ontario Government filed O. Reg 346/22: Revoking Various Regulations, which, effective April 27, 2022, will revoke almost all remaining COVID-19-related regulations and orders under the Reopening Ontario […]
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Key Trends In Arbitration Awards Pertaining To Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
Since late fall 2021, we have seen a steady flow of arbitration awards emerge in Ontario and British Columbia that consider issues relating to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in the […]
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Court Of Appeal Certifies WestJet Sexual Harassment Class Action
In Lewis v. WestJet Airlines Ltd.1, the British Columbia Court of Appeal certified a class action concerning the alleged workplace sexual harassment of female flight attendants at WestJet Airlines. The decision […]
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Worker’s Memorial Day
Every year, on April 28, the world recognizes Workers Memorial Day. Today is the day we pay our respects to those who lost their lives on the job, and recognize the […]
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Reflect on the Workers Lost on This National Day of Mourning
I have no idea what your schedule looks like for Wednesday, but I strongly urge you to ensure it allows for some reflection. Take a moment to pause and think […]
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When Environmental Laws Collide with Aboriginal Rights – Quiz
Canadian law recognizes certain otherwise illegal activities that are part of Aboriginal rights Laws purporting to limit the use of land, water and natural resources to preserve the environment may conflict […]
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Time Limits for an OHS Prosecution – Know The Laws Of Your Province
Ontario, the Maritimes and Quebec have the longest time window for prosecution As with other kinds of legal proceedings, the government has only a limited amount of time to prosecute […]
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Making the Business Case For Workplace Health & Safety Investments
It’s easy to get focused on immediate safety goals in your workplace, such as giving safety orientations to workers you’ve just hired, complying with new requirements in the OHS laws […]
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Canada to Impose Mandatory Climate Disclosures on Banks and Insurers
On April 7, 2022, the federal government of Canada released its Budget 2022 (Budget), which includes significant measures by the Canadian government to build its Net-Zero Economy and to fight climate change. […]
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COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: Early Employer Successes In Round Two
A number of arbitration awards dealing with COVID-19 vaccination policies were released in late 2021 and early 2022. While most of these policies were upheld, it remained to be seen […]
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Arbitrator Decides Employer Could Terminate Employee Who Refused Government-Ordered Vaccination
On April 4, 2022, in Fraser Health Authority v British Columbia General Employees' Union, 2022 CanLII 25560, Arbitrator Koml Kandola of the British Columbia Labour Relations Board dismissed the union's grievance respecting […]
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