Moving company fined under smoke-free workplace legislation
As one employer learned recently, smoke-free workplace legislation has teeth. According to a Nunavut government press release, a government safety […]
Government Safety Investigations
MOL engineer not qualified to give expert evidence: he was too involved in the investigation, too closely identified with prosecution at trial
An Ontario judge has refused to permit a professional engineer employed with the Ontario Ministry of Labour to testify as […]
Cost of compliance with safety officer’s order could cause serious economic harm to company: Appeals Tribunal
A safety officer’s compliance order has been suspended where the cost of compliance would be so high that it could […]
Ontario MOL Releases 2015-16 Safety Inspection Blitz Schedule
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has released its schedule of workplace inspection blitzes for the period from May 2015 to […]
Manager was not a “competent person” to conduct harassment / violence investigation under Canada Labour Code: Court
The Federal Court has held that a manager was not a “competent person” to conduct a workplace harassment investigation under […]
Mere posting of standard operating procedure was not enough: OLRB refuses to suspend MOL inspector’s training order
Employers often post new procedures in the workplace without providing formal training. A recent decision of the Ontario Labour Relations […]
“Not the right fit”? Fired hours after MOL inspector’s visit, employee awarded $19,000 in damages
Employers who have bona fide reasons for dismissing an employee should avoid using “not the right fit”. They should also show up […]
Employer Who Voluntarily Complied with MOL Inspector’s Orders Was Not Entitled to Suspension of Orders Pending Appeal
The Ontario Labour Relations Board has held that where an employer had complied with a Ministry of Labour inspector’s compliance […]
Where MOL Inspector Withdraws OHSA Compliance Order, OLRB Cannot Reinstate While Appeal Argued
Although an employer may appeal a Ministry of Labour inspector’s rescission (withdrawal) of a compliance order that he or she […]
Total fines now $1.24 million in Christmas Eve fatalities after swing stage company and director fined
The total of safety fines paid for the December 24, 2009 swing stage collapse fatalities is now $1,240,000 after Swing […]
Failing to correct hazards, pay OSHA fines gets U.S. business owner taken into custody
An Illinois business owner has been taken into custody after his business failed to correct serious trenching hazards and pay […]
New Ontario Safety Blitz Targets Large Number of Industrial Workplaces
The Ontario Ministry of Labour will conduct a safety blitz of industrial workplaces from November 3rd to December 14th, 2014. […]