health and safety
July 17, 2012 Suzanne Cohen Share Accessibility Standards, Human Resources, Human Rights, Standard for the Built Environment,
A photo of a beautifully designed stairway with an integrated accessibility ramp recently caught my eye. It is a fine example of a creative and attractive solution to a problem we are seeing more and more. Unfortunately, I think the stair is actually a hazard for anyone who uses it, not just persons with disabilities!
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accessible design, age, Americans with Disabilities Act, AODA, handrails, health and safety, human rights code, McCormick Tribune Campus Center, mobility, mobility device, ontario, ramp, seniors, Slips and falls, wheelchair
June 28, 2011 Andrew Lawson Conferences, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Privacy and Security
So here’s a question to ask yourself—what are your legal obligations under Ontario law when you see an online photo of your worker committing violent acts?
12th Annual Ontario Employment Law Conference, Bill 168, employment law, facebook, harassment, health and safety, Kelly McDermott, occupational health and safety act, OH&S, OHSA, ontario, policies and procedures, Rioting, social media, Stanley Cup playoffs, Stringer Brisbin Humphrey, termination, twitter, workplace harassment, workplace violence, wrongful dismissal
April 14, 2011 Adam Gorley Health and Safety, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
There are a lot of factors to employee engagement. Some employees need recognition, in the form of pay, benefits, seniority or favour. Others need to feel that they are part of the company and have a stake in its success. Still others need to feel a connection to their work; it must be creative and challenging. Most workers probably need some balance of all these factors. I know I wouldn’t last long in a dull and repetitive environment. But I also would feel unappreciated if I weren’t remunerated appropriately.
anger, challenging work, depression, employee benefits, employee engagement, employee recognition, employee retention, health and safety, insufficient pay, job meaning, overwork, productivity, promotions, remuneration, salary, stress, workplace violence
September 10, 2010 Christina Catenacci Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Human Resources
A recent article described the tragic death of a boy who was 15 years old and working as a paver for a company near Winnipeg. The company truck was dumping asphalt into a massive pile to use for various projects. The underage worker was helping unload the truck when he was hit by the entire load and buried alive under burning asphalt.
construction sites, criminal code, criminal investigation, employing underage workers, employing youth worker, employment law, employment standards code, failing to safeguard workplace health and safety, health and safety, Interlock Paving, manitoba, occupational health and safety, summer employment, underage workers, Winnipeg, Workplace Health and Safety Act
August 27, 2010 Christina Catenacci Health and Safety, Human Resources
Last week, I wrote about the incident in which five migrant workers fell 13 storeys when a platform collapsed on Christmas Eve, 2009. Four died instantly, but one survived. This fifth worker, who suffered grave injuries, has now launched a civil suit for damages.
accident, Bill C-45, civil suit, criminal code, damages, employment, employment law, health and safety, migrant workers, Ministry of Labour, occupational health and safety act, ontario, platform, scaffold, scaffolding incident
August 26, 2010 Adam Gorley Health and Safety, Human Resources, Training and Development
Multi-tasking is so serious that workers are taking their work into the washroom, with disturbing results. According to a recent survey, one-third of Brits admit they’ve made a “stall-call”—that is, a call from the toilet, not just the restroom—whether for business or pleasure. And one in twenty said they’ve taken their laptop with them when nature called. The survey also found a significant—and disgusting—number of people eat, drink and brush their teeth while answering nature’s call.
cellphone use, health and safety, hygiene, illness, illness at work, multi-tasking, productivity, risky behaviour, sickness, stall-call, vicarious liability, work environment, working, working conditions
August 20, 2010 Christina Catenacci Health and Safety, Human Resources
The Ministry of Labour just laid charges carrying fines of up to $17,000,000 against two companies that ran and supplied a platform that collapsed last year. There were also charges against executives and supervisors that could carry fines and time in jail.
accident, criminal code, employment law, fines, Foreign workers, health and safety, hearings, investigation, jail, migrant worker, occupational health and safety act, OHS penalties, ontario, Ontario Ministry of Labour, platform, scaffold, Scaffolding accident, Slips and falls, workplace hazards, workplace health and safety
July 27, 2010 Andrew Lawson Health and Safety, Human Resources
Self-employment runs in my family. My sister’s 17-year-old is spending her summer days working in the family cabinet-making business. She reluctantly changed into more suitable footwear before heading out the door this morning.
employee orientation, flip-flops, health and safety, health and safety orientation, Ministry of Labour, new workers, occupational health and safety, PPE, protective personal equipment, suitable footwear, workplace accidents, Workplace inspection, workplace investigation, workplace safety, young and new workers, young workers
July 22, 2010 Adam Gorley Health and Safety, Human Resources
Team activities, whether organized or informal, offer numerous health benefits—both physical and mental—they can be a perfect fit for enhancing workplace wellness.
fitness, fringe benefits, health, health and safety, health benefits, leadership, Pensions and Benefits, physical health, sport, teamwork, workers compensation, workplace wellness program
July 13, 2010 Andrew Lawson Health and Safety, Human Resources
As a human rights advisor and educator I was encouraged to overhear this educational conversation about harassment at Tim Hortons. I was concerned however that part of the message this group was hearing was incorrect and misleading.
harassment, harassment prevention, health and safety, health and safety training, investigate complaints of harassment, investigation, ministry inspectors, Ministry of Labour, occupational health and safety, OHSA, Ontario Ministry of Labour, Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, Tim Horton, training, violence, violence prevention, workplace harassment, workplace harassment prevention guide, workplace investigation
July 9, 2010 Christina Catenacci Health and Safety, Human Resources
The last few days have been quite hot and muggy. Those without air conditioning at home are especially grateful that they can retreat inside their air-conditioned workplaces for at least most of the day; but what is the air quality inside these areas?
air, air quality, chemicals, environmental sensitivities, foreign substances, hazardous substances, health and safety, indoor air, indoor air quality, occupational health and safety, smoke
July 2, 2010 Christina Catenacci Health and Safety, Human Resources
Typically, wellness means “the condition of good physical and mental health”, but what is a “workplace wellness program”? What are the advantages of having this kind of program, and how does an employer start one up?
benefits package, benefits plan, Corporate fitness plans, disability management, emotional health, employee programs, financial health, fitness, health, health and safety, Pensions and Benefits, physical health, wellness, wellness programs, workplace health, Workplace wellness programs, worksite wellness
July 1, 2010 Yosie Saint-Cyr Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Payroll, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations
First, we at First Reference would like to wish everybody a happy and safe Canada Day! Second, several laws in various jurisdictions are coming into force today. They are…
CRA, employment law, employment standards, health and safety, HST, July 1 2010, occupational health and safety, Payroll, Public Holiday, taxes
June 21, 2010 Adam Gorley Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources
So it’s practically summer and I can’t help thinking of the days off I’ll be taking here and there, the chunk of vacation time I still have left and the various long weekends remaining. (But I don’t let my daydreams affect my work!) I might not have a lot of vacation days left, but I’m sure going to use them.
employment law, employment standards, expedia.ca, health and safety, scheduling vacation, stress, vacation, vacation deprivation, vacation entitlement, vacation guilt, vacation time
I believe smoking (i.e., nicotine) is recognized as an addiction, as Simon mentions, which would engage the question of discrimination. – Jun 18, 9:40 PM
Even though as a non-smoking employer I support the actions of Momentous Corp, I am surprised they have even attempted to take this position, given... – Jun 17, 5:46 PM
Where in Human Rights does it say that smokers are now protected under one of the grounds and if so which ground are they protected... – Jun 17, 3:28 PM
