2012-13 Inspection Blitz Schedule Released by Ontario MOL
Stating that “The Ministry of Labour’s proactive inspection blitzes on sector-specific hazards are designed to raise awareness and increase compliance […]
Safety Professionals – Practice Issues
“Unsafe” Coworker Did not Justify Work Refusal under OHSA: Ontario Arbitrator
An Ontario arbitrator has held that a worker was not justified in refusing to work because it was allegedly unsafe […]
Lawyer’s Letter to OLRB Binds Unhappy Employee to Safety-Reprisal Settlement
The Ontario Labour Relations Board has held that an employee and employer settled a safety-reprisal complaint, due to the employee’s […]
Appealing MOL Compliance Order? Ask for Inspector’s Notes and Photos
Employers appealing Ontario Ministry of Labour compliance orders under the Occupational Health and Safety Act are entitled to notes made […]
Municipality Must Give Employee’s Workplace Violence/Harassment Reporting Form to Citizen: Ontario Privacy Commissioner
In a decision that may cause concern to Ontario municipalities, Ontario’s privacy commissioner has ordered the City of Woodstock to […]
Lawyer-Mediator’s Firm Conflicted-Out of Representing Employee
The law firm of a lawyer who assisted a hospital in “evaluating, mediating and resolving workplace conflicts between employees including […]
Disability-Management Specialist Facing Human Rights Complaint; Tribunal Grants Access to Health Files
A disability-management specialist working for the Toronto Transit Commission is facing a human rights complaint. The complaint alleges that the specialist, […]
Lawyer’s Bullying/Harassment Investigation Report Not Privileged: Care Needed When Using Lawyer as Investigator
An Ontario labour arbitrator has decided that a hospital’s lawyer’s investigation report into a bullying/harassment complaint was not privileged, so […]
The Safety Professional as a Witness
I recently gave a presentation on “The Safety Professional / Engineer as a Witness” to the Canadian Society of Safety […]
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 […]
Engineer’s Report Not Satisfactory: Must State “Not Likely to Endanger a Worker”
The Ontario Labour Relations Board has held that an engineer’s report that did not use the words, “not likely to endanger […]
“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 […]