2022 Due Diligence Cases Scorecard
Due diligence defences worked in only 3 of 18 OHS cases in 2022. EMPLOYER WINS ON DUE DILIGENCE (3 cases) Ontario: Failure to Furnish Cold Water Protective Devices Not Unreasonable What Happened: It’s […]
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Contractor Management: How to Secure Safety Buy-in
Demand for safety in the workplace has never been higher. In the wake of high-profile accidents and increasing regulation, companies are under immense pressure to create and maintain a safe […]
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The 13 Most Important OHS Cases of 2022
Technically, courts and legislatures are supposed to make the laws while courts, arbitrators and tribunals (which we’ll refer to collectively as “courts”) are supposed to simply interpret it. This is […]
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5 Winter Weather Hazards & How to Guard Against Them
How to ensure worker safety and manage liability risks during the winter. Cold weather, ice and snow creates a number of safety and liability management challenges for OHS coordinators. Ensuring that […]
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Bringing Children to the Workplace Policy
One way employers can support the parental needs of employees with young children is to allow them to bring their kids to work. Such a policy has become increasingly common […]
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How to Fix Your Hazard Assessments to Make Them Work
Date: October 12 Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM PST Speaker: Daniel Clark, Clark Health and Safety Themes -A complete hazard assessment program is a cornerstone to a safety management system. Having the documentation is place is […]
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Supervisory Due Diligence: Satisfying Your Responsibility For Occupational Health & Safety
Date: November 9 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PST Speaker: Andrew C. Wood, Harris & Co. Supervisory Due Diligence: Satisfying Your Responsibility For Occupational Health & Safety The presentation is intended to assist supervisors […]
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Federal Government Launches New Greenhouse Gas Offset Credits System
Companies can earn credits toward compliance with GHG emissions reduction targets. After years of preparation, the federal government finally launched the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations on June 8, […]
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OK to Use Surveillance Tape to Prove Worker Faked Her Injuries
An avionics installation worker got fired for faking the injuries she supposedly suffered as a result of slipping on black ice in the company parking lot. Exhibit A was the […]
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Worker Accused of Sexual Assault Can’t Sue Accuser for Defamation
A Canada Post worker accused a fellow letter carrier of sexual harassment and assault. After an internal investigation, a union disciplinary panel dismissed the charges. But the battle was far […]
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Union Loses Bid to Overturn Mandatory Vaccination Policy for Lack of Notice
Sec. 54 of the Labour Relations Code requires employers to give at least 60 days’ notice before introducing a policy “that affects the terms, conditions or security of employment” of […]
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Disabling Braking Device Is Just Cause to Fire Transit Worker
A rapid transit worker with 8 years of service and no disciplinary record was fired for disabling a safety braking device called a deadman switch. The union claimed the discipline […]
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Auto Technician Wasn’t Fired for Complaining about Indoor Smoking
An automotive technician repeatedly complained to his employer about the smoking taking place in the repair shop. But his complaints went unheeded and the technician felt he had to quit […]
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Minor Chemical Spill Isn’t Serious Enough to Justify Post-Incident Drug Testing
A worker had to undergo post-incident testing after a chemical spill in the bed of the truck she was driving caused some minor equipment damage. The test came back positive […]
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When Is a Worker Guilty of an OHS Violation?
Workers have not only OHS rights but also OHS duties. Under the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) theory on which Canadian OHS laws are based, all persons that have a stake in […]
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4 Critical Questions to Ask When Transporting Dangerous Goods
Various regulatory bodies and different jurisdictions makes it challenging to remain in compliance while transporting dangerous goods. It's been said that no matter what you do for work, the most dangerous […]
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A Primer on Engineering Controls
As a concept, engineering controls are relatively simple. They are the preferred methods of hazard control that function by separating worker from hazard. Seems simple enough, right? Just the same, it creates some confusion […]
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New OHS Work Refusal Reassignment Laws Take Effect in BC
Responding to work refusals in BC just got trickier. While the right to refuse dangerous work is an essential safety protection, it can also be highly disruptive. Responding to a work […]
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Reassigning Work Subject to an OHS Work Refusal – Know The Laws of Your Province
Most jurisdictions require a written response within 30 days of receiving a JHSC recommendation. Workers’ rights to refuse dangerous work would be meaningless if employers could just simply reassign refused work […]
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Work Refusal Notification Form
You’re not allowed to assign somebody to perform work that’s currently subject to another worker’s work refusal unless and until you notify the worker to whom you propose to assign […]
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Preventing Back Injuries with Ergonomics – At Home & At Work
Date: Oct 5, 2022 Time: 9:00AM-10:30AM (PST) Speaker: Rachel Mitchell, R.Kin., CCPE, Manager Ergonomics Services ERGO Inc. Low back pain is a common issue that most people experience at some point in their lives, with an increased […]
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Rigging for Turn Arounds & Shut Downs
Date: September 28, 2022 Time: 9:00AM-10:30AM (PT) Speaker: Tony Ragusa, Cranemasters On plant shutdowns, it is common for riggers to move loads in areas where there is restrictive movement and space. It is in situations like these […]
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Keeping Virtual Workers Safe & Healthy with Ergonomics
Many organizations have welcomed employees back to the office while incorporating a hybrid working model so that employees can work virtually from home a couple of days per week. Employers […]
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