What Does the OLRB Teachers Pandemic Decision Mean for OHSA Appeals?
By: Ryan J. Conlin and Jeremy Schwartz Historically, workers’ compensation law placed a highly restrictive definition on traumatic mental stress injuries, which meant as a practical matter very few stress claims […]
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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 […]
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Nov 17 – Hand Chain and Lever Hoist Safety
Recorded Date: November 17, 2021 Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM PST Speaker: Rick Sikora - Cranemasters Recording: To access the recording of this webinar, please go here. Manually operated lever and chain hoists are […]
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Information You Must List in Accident Reports: Know the Laws of Your Province
Don’t use legally required incident reports to “tell the story of the accident”. OHS laws require employers to report serious workplace accidents, injuries and illnesses to the government. Not filing a […]
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Accident Investigation & Reporting Policy Language
Don't let your OHS accident report become Exhibit A in your own prosecution. Here’s a model policy explaining what to list in an accident report. This should be part of a […]
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Avoid Incriminating Yourself When Reporting Work Incidents to OHS Officials
Don’t use legally required incident reports to “tell the story of the accident.” OHS laws require employers to report serious workplace accidents, injuries and illnesses to the government. Not filing a […]
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Scorecard of OHS Fines for Failing to Report Incidents and Injuries
Violating OHS accident reporting rules can set your company back tens of thousands of dollars. OHS laws require employers to report serious workplace accidents, injuries and illnesses to the government. Not […]
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Crane Inspections: Know the Laws of Your Province
OHS crane inspection rules vary by province. While all jurisdiction require employers to ensure that cranes are properly inspected in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications, CSA and other applicable standards, there are […]
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Cranes, Hoists and Slings Safety Policy
A template you can adapt to prevent costly crane accidents and OHS violations.
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Mobile Crane Daily Log Book Annual Review Record
Crane logs must not only be kept but also reviewed at least once a year. Many jurisdictions require employers to ensure that specific log books for each crane used at the […]
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How to Comply with New Ontario OHS Incident Reporting Requirements
Be sure the incident reports you submit to the MOL list all the required information. New OHS incident reporting rules took effect in Ontario on July 1, 2021. Here’s a look […]
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Should You Appeal an OHS Order?
Not appealing an OHS order may come back to haunt you if you’re charged with a violation. A worker breaks his arm at an Ontario construction site where workers of different […]
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Employer Must Pay $150K for Supervisor’s Attempt to Falsify Injury Report
A worker with no safety training accepted a co-worker’s dare to climb a 14-foot-high chain hoist. Sure enough, he got hurt and needed emergency surgery. But it was what happened […]
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Foundry Fined $70,000 for Separate Safety Incidents
The first incident carrying a $50,000 price tag occurred when a worker’s hand got entangled during the cleaning of a walking beam used to move castings from one facility to […]
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How to Keep OHS Investigators from Using Your Internal Safety Records to Prosecute You
Don’t build the legal case against your own company when auditing your OHS programs. One of your primary functions as OHS coordinator is to investigate workplace incidents and identify what and […]
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Memo to Counsel to Establish Solicitor-Client Privilege
Using privilege to shield internal OHS audits and investigations from disclosure. One of your primary functions as OHS coordinator is to audit the effectiveness of your company’s current health and safety […]
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Acknowledgement of Workplace Harassment Training Form
OHS laws require employers to ensure that all workers, supervisors and managers receive awareness education and training on workplace harassment when they first start employment and on a regular basis […]
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Workplace Harassment Prevention Game Plan
The employer’s duty to prevent workplace harassment has evolved from an HR to a wider health and safety imperative. The duty began with human rights laws which ban not only […]
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Workplace Harassment Investigation Checklist
OHS laws require employers to do a full, fair and thorough investigation of workplace harassment complaints. Some jurisdictions, including the federal, require the investigator to possess professional qualifications and recognized […]
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Workplace Harassment Complaint Form
OHS laws require employers to provide a clear and accessible method for workers to submit complaints about the workplace harassment they experience or witness. In addition to being required by […]
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Farm Company Fined $20,000 for Not Reporting Worker’s Hospitalization Injury
A farm worker had to be hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries as a result of getting pinched between a skid shack and the bucket of a tracked hoe. In addition […]
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Patient Care Service/Unit Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
This Template and appendices are provided to assist in the development of Department/Unit Level Emergency Response Plan (ERP). An ERP is generally required for each Administrative and Patient Care work […]
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Delay in Reporting Work Injury Nearly Costs Worker His Workers Comp Benefits
On Sept. 4, a truck driver in a stone quarry twists his knee while climbing out of the vehicle. Not wanting to miss any work, he takes anti-inflammatory drugs and […]
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Contractor Fined $97,956 for Failing to Inspect Work Site for Hazardous Materials
Failing to have a competent person inspect the site and perform a hazardous materials survey before beginning post-fire renovation activities was the offence committed by a restoration contractor. In addition […]
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Safety Training and Documentation Compliance Game Plan
Providing training without keeping the right documentation won’t ensure OHS compliance. Do you provide safety training to your workers? If and when government OHS inspectors pay a call to your workplace, […]
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OHS Training Log
Keep detailed records of the safety training you provide to each worker. In addition to documenting that you provide required OHS training, maintaining a training log like the one below enables […]
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Four Key Considerations When Drafting An Investigation Report
Consider this all too familiar scenario: An employer receives a complaint that an employee is allegedly bullying and harassing a co-worker. As part of the investigation, the employer interviews both the […]
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Can OHS Inspectors Use Physical Force to Do Their Job?
Where courts draw the line between OHS enforcement powers and physical assault Like other government enforcement officials, OHS and environmental inspectors may use a limited degree of force to perform their […]
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Workplace Investigations: Focusing on Fundamentals
Date: September 9, 2020 Presenter: Anthony Panacci, Associate, Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP Download Slides Below About the Webinar HR and LR professionals are being called upon to navigate issues and processes relating to workplace […]
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Employer Incident Investigation Report (EIIR)
If a workplace incident results in an injury, or could have caused a serious injury, employers have certain responsibilities. Incident investigations help identify the cause and hazards, while finding ways […]
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