Laid Off Ironworker Loses His OHS Reprisal Case

Frustrated by repeated denials of time off to care for his ailing father, an ironworker finally asked that he be laid off. At least that was the employer’s version of the story; the ironworker claimed he was laid off for pointing out that fall protection on the worksite didn’t comply with required CSA standards and reporting an injury. After going through all of the evidence, the OHS evidence sided with the employer and tossed the ironworker’s reprisal claim. The Alberta Labour Board found the ruling reasonable and refused to overturn it [Pelletier v. Kiewit Energy, Board File OHS 2020-19, May 12, 2021].