A recent survey from Threads of Life reveals that the greatest challenge to improving workplace health and safety is a lack of time for training, with 49 percent of respondents identifying it as the top barrier. The survey, conducted from February 26 to March 11, 2024, involved over 1,000 business leaders and decision-makers. This issue…
A construction site in North York became the scene of a fatal accident on Wednesday evening when an excavation pit collapsed, killing one worker and severely injuring two others. Emergency crews were called to Bayview Avenue and Ruddington Drive just before 5:30 p.m. The collapse occurred during a sewage pipe inspection, where the workers attempted…
On November 27, 2024, the Ontario government introduced the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 (Bill 229). Bill 229 proposes amendments to various employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. Key proposed amendments are addressed below. Employment Standards Act, 2000 If passed, Bill 229 would: Occupational Health…
Why employers should have ‘a robust internal investigation protected by privilege’ Across Canada, courts are sharpening their focus on workplace safety, ushering in a new era where criminal negligence charges increasingly follow workplace fatalities. Following the OHS Law Masterclass this week, one legal expert warns the implications for supervisors, managers, and directors are profound. Tony…
N.B. Power is facing five charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act following the death of power-line technician Colin Hume, who fell during post-storm restoration work in Curryville, New Brunswick, two years ago. Hume, 47, was fatally injured when a power pole broke while he and another employee worked in a wooded area. The…
Toronto plans to modify its heavy-duty vehicles with side guards to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety. These devices, mounted between truck axles, prevent people from being pulled under wheels during collisions. Mayor Olivia Chow, highlighted the life-saving potential, saying, “It means saving lives. It means less tragedy.” City staff estimate the guards could reduce cyclist…
WorkSafeBC has accused EllisDon, the main contractor at Vancouver’s Oakridge construction site, of a “systemic failure to manage workplace health and safety,” according to court documents. An official document cited multiple safety violations, including inadequate control of worksite hazards and failure to manage exclusion zones effectively. The investigation follows a series of serious incidents, including…
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is battling for the end of mandatory sick notes for short-term illnesses in workplaces and schools. They claim that requiring notes for minor health issues places unnecessary pressure on Canada’s healthcare system, which is a problem due to not having enough family doctors. According to the CMA, removing the need…
The Ministry of Labour has fined a Guelph business $50,000 after an employee was critically injured while making cabinet drawers. According to a news release from the ministry, BND Woodworking Inc. failed to ensure equipment, materials, and protective devices provided by the employer were maintained in good condition. The release said a blade cover on a…
Sourced from and All credits to: Canadian Occupational Safety (thesafetymag.com)Article written by: Shane Mercer “This is a watershed moment,” proclaims Cheryl Edwards, partner at Matthews Dinsdale & Clark LLP on a phone call shortly after the penalties against Eastway Tank, Pump & Meter and its owner Neil Greene were announced in an Ottawa courtroom on…