Ontario employers must find room on their bulletin boards by October 1, 2012 to display a new Ministry of Labour poster entitled “Health and Safety at Work: Prevention Starts Here.” The poster was developed in response to a recommendation of the Expert Advisory Panel to review Ontario’s occupational health and safety system and summarizes key…
Practice Area: Occupational Health
Fall 2012 Safety Blitzes Announced by Ontario Government
The Ontario government has announced the launch of four targeted safety blitzes at workplaces across the province this Fall. The planned blitzes will focus on: supervision at construction sites (September and October); machine guarding hazards and repetitive strain injuries in manufacturing and industrial workplaces (October and November); infection prevention and control in health care workplaces…
Court Imposes Criminal Code Fines for Workplace Accident
In a recent case, R. v. Metron Construction Corporation, the Ontario Court of Justice imposed one of the first sentences rendered under the Bill C-45 amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada. Those amendments impose criminal liability on organizations (including companies) for the actions of their “representatives” or “senior officers” and require that anyone who…
Nadine Zacks Quoted in OHS Insider
Hicks Morley’s Nadine Zacks was quoted in the July 26, 2012 edition of OHS Insider. In an article entitled, “Nadine Zacks Discusses Blue Mountain & Incident Reporting in Ontario,” Nadine explains the significance of the Blue Mountain decision for employers in Ontario. She indicates that this case effectively changes the incident reporting requirements. View Article
MOL Safety Blitz Targets Construction Sites and Surface Mines
The Ontario government has announced that during the months of July and August 2012, the Ministry of Labour (“MOL”) will perform safety blitzes of construction sites and surface mines across Ontario. MOL inspectors will: check construction sites for hazards involving tower and mobile cranes; target activities involving the transportation of stone, sand, gravel and other…
Amendments to Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Proposed
On June 16, 2012, the federal government published draft regulations made under the Canada Labour Code which propose amendments to, among other things, the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Generally, the proposed amendments would repeal the requirement for organizations to seek the approval of the Minister of Labour to deliver first-aid courses. This would…
Reaching Out – First Edition
Dear Friends, The Social Service Sector Practice Group is pleased to introduce its first FTR Now edition of Reaching Out. Reaching Out is our Social Service Update designed to provide you with legal updates on new and developing cases, trends and topics that are relevant to your sector and which provide you with information and…
Ontario Employers Required to Post New OHSA Poster
The Ontario government has announced that employers are now required to post a new workplace poster, “Health & Safety at Work – Prevention Starts Here,” pursuant to their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This requirement will be enforced by Ministry of Labour inspectors beginning on October 1, 2012. The poster was developed…
OHSA Designated Substances, Exposure Limits Regulations Amended
On June 12, 2012, the Ontario government filed two regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. O. Reg. 148/12 (Designated Substances) adds “or to a physician designated by the Provincial Physician” to subsections 30(2) and 31(2) of O. Reg. 490/09, effective immediately. It further substitutes a new Table 1 (Exposure Limits) prescribing Agents and…
Changes to WSIB Insurance Fund to Come into Force January 2013
The Ontario government has proclaimed subsections 1(2), 2(2), 3(2) and 5(1) of Schedule 21 of the Helping Ontario Families and Managing Responsibly Act, 2010, which amends the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, into force on January 1, 2013. Among other things, the amendments provide for changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s insurance…