Board Second-Guesses OHS Officer for Not Ordering Crane Inspection

A fabric plant mechanic called the OHS division to complain that the ‘home-made’ manually operated temporary lifting devices used at the facility hadn’t been certified by a crane inspector as the OHS regulations require. The OHS officer sent to investigate the site concluded that the devices were safe and refused to order the plant to have them inspected. But in an unusual move, the Nova Scotia labour board overruled the OHS officer and issued the order. The officer wasn’t an expert in hoists and should have gotten expert advice before concluding that the hoists were safe and didn’t need to be inspected [Alders v Andritz Fabrics and Rolls Ltd., 2021 NSLB 71 (CanLII), September 29, 2021].