With seasonal festivities and holidays just around the corner, it’s that time of year again to consider the proactive steps employers can take to ensure the health and safety of employees who attend office parties or other celebrations…
Practice Area: Occupational Health
Ontario Announces New Sexual Violence and Harassment Intervention Training for Bartenders and Servers
On September 8, 2016, significant amendments to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) outlined in the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment) came into force…
Reminder: New Employer Workplace Harassment Obligations Now in Force
Effective today, significant reforms to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) are coming into force which place additional duties on employers with respect to the prevention of workplace harassment. As previously reported, these changes were outlined in Bill 132, Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2016…
Employer Workplace Harassment Obligations Coming Into Force September 8, 2016
On September 8, 2016, changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act are coming into force which place additional duties on employers with respect to the prevention of workplace harassment. As previously reported, these changes have been brought about by Bill 132, Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence…
Ministry Releases Code of Practice to Guide Employers in New Workplace Harassment Obligations
On September 8, 2016, changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) will come into force. The amendments require employers to develop policies and programs to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment, in the workplace. The Ministry of Labour has now finalized its “Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment under Ontario’s Occupational Health and…
Summer ESA and OHSA Inspection Blitzes to Focus on New and Young Workers
Among other recently announced initiatives, the Ministry of Labour is conducting two province-wide enforcement and prevention inspection blitzes…
New Regulations Outline Details of Requirements Under Ontario’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Legislation for Colleges and Universities
The Ontario government has filed two regulations mandating the content of sexual violence policies which colleges and universities must develop and implement pursuant to the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2015 (“Act”).
Ontario Safety Blitzes To Target Workplaces and Sectors with Vulnerable Workers
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has announced that it will do over 20 targeted blitzes at Ontario workplaces from May 2, 2016 to March 31, 2017. The Ministry will investigate potential violations of employment standards and occupational health and safety laws at targeted workplaces which include food services, retail stores, construction sites, mines and, in…
Ontario Proposes Regulatory Amendments to Prohibit Use of Medical Marijuana Vaporizers in Workplaces
On March 10, 2016, the Ontario government introduced Bill 178, Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act, 2016. If passed, Bill 178 would amend the Smoke Free Ontario Act to provide for prescribed products and substances, in addition to tobacco. Among other things, Bill 178 would prohibit a person from smoking a prescribed product or substance or holding…
New OHSA Noise Protection Regulation Coming Into Force July 1, 2016
On July 1, 2016, noise protection requirements will be extended to all Ontario workplaces pursuant to O. Reg. 381/15 made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The noise protection requirements currently found in the following regulations will be revoked effective July 1, 2016: Regulation 851 – Industrial Establishments (s. 139) (O. Reg. 382/15) Regulation 854…