Ontario Village Pays $75,000 Fine in Death of Volunteer Firefighter During Ice Water Training Exercise
This is the week for blog posts on volunteer fire departments. The situation involving the Village of Point Edward, near Sarnia, was […]
Prosecutions / Charges
Volunteer Fire Department’s Actions Being Scrutinized by Court under OHSA: 2 of 3 Remaining Charges Dismissed
In an unusual case, the Ontario Ministry of Labour has charged a small town’s volunteer fire department with safety offences […]
“But They Charged the Wrong Company!” Sorry, You Will Still Have to Go Through a Trial
In a case involving an environmental prosecution, an Ontario justice of the peace has concluded that a “wrong company has […]
Inspector’s Request for Documents was not “Unreasonable Search and Seizure”
An Ontario Justice of the Peace has rejected a roofing company’s argument that a Ministry of Labour inspector’s request that […]
Safety Co-Ordinator who “Assumed a Passive Role” Convicted under OHS Act
An Occupational Health and Safety Co-ordinator has been found guilty of a violation of Nova Scotia’s Occupational Health and Safety […]
Acquittal of U.S. Corporate Counsel Shows Importance of Outside Advice in Safety Investigations
A U.S. judge has acquitted an in-house lawyer on obstruction charges, in part because she consulted widely with outside counsel. […]
Safety Charges Reinstated after Errors Sent Case “Off the Rails”
An Ontario Superior Court judge has reinstated an Occupational Health and Safety Act prosecution that “went off the rails” because of […]
No Reprisal for Harassment under Ontario OHSA
A vice-chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board has suggested, without finally deciding the point, that the OLRB has no authority […]
Material Handling Conviction Overturned: Truck not Handling Material
The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed a “material handling” prosecution involving a road vehicle that was not actually or […]
“Construction Manager” was Constructor on Project, Despite use of New “Model”
A new “model” of construction, where a “construction manager” was used instead of a “traditional general contractor”, did not insulate […]
Employee’s Statement to MOL Inspector Thrown Out
Employers often ask us whether their employees can be forced to give a statement to an Ontario Ministry of Labour […]