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When I first started covering OHS compliance more than 20 years ago, six-figure fines were relatively rare’occurring maybe 3 or 4 times per year. In 2021, there were no fewer than 28 OHS fines of at least $100,000 across Canada, including 3 fines of $500,000 or more.
Continuing recent patterns, Saskatchewan accounted for 4 of the 6 biggest OHS fines in Canada last year. Ontario handed out the most 6-figure fines with 9, followed closely by BC with 7. Safety training and machine and conveyor guarding were the most often cited violation with 5 apiece, with the latter producing 4 of the 6 highest fines of the year. Other common violations included powered mobile equipment, confined spaces and lockout.
| Rank | Fine | Jurisdiction | Defendant | OHS Violation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $575 000 | SK | EVRAZ Inc. NA | Machine Guarding |
| 2 | $500 000 | SK | Banff Constructors Ltd. | Safety training;
Materials handling |
| 2 | $500 000 | AB | Millennium Cryogenic Technologies | Confined spaces |
| 4 | $375 000 | ON | 2168587 Ontario Ltd., operating as Upper Crust | Conveyor guarding |
| 5 | $360 000 | SK | EVRAZ Inc. NA | Conveyor guarding |
| 6 | $399 444 | BC | 7-Eleven Canada, Inc., 7-Eleven Food Stores | Workplace violence;
Working alone; Safety training |
| 7 | $350 000 | SK | BLS Asphalt Inc. | Machine guarding;
Safety training |
| 8 | $339 444 | BC | Lafarge Canada Inc | Confined spaces |
| 9 | $325 000 | ON | 2168587 Ontario Ltd., operating as Upper Crust | Column 5 Value 9 |
| 10 | $254 697 | BC | Petronas Energy Canada Ltd. | First aid;
Materials handling; Traffic safety |
