Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act

Critical work injuries – Ensure its prevention

April 17, 2019 Beyond Rewards Inc Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Training and Development, 0

Without the proper safe work practices, safety policies are ineffective to protect workers in the workplace.

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Q&A: Sharing liability of workplace parties for OHS violations

October 18, 2018 Ava Z Moradi, JD Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Penalties and Fines

Is liability always charged independently to the employer (company) and supervisors or co-worker? Are each solely responsible for the charge? Can liability be passed on to the employer or is it the sole responsibility of the supervisor/co-worker to pay?

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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

March 1, 2018 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with avoiding sexual harassment claims in the workplace, Occupational Health and Safety amendments and BC’s Family Day.

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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

January 25, 2018 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Payroll, Source Deductions and Reporting

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with income tax changes in the new budget Bill, OHSA and WSIA changes in the new budget Bill and cannabis smoke-free and road safety legislation.

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Workplace violence & harassment: A policy is not enough!

May 20, 2014 Clear Path Employer Services Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Penalties and Fines, Training and Development

Last month brought some tragic reminders of the reality of workplace violence and harassment and the obligations that employers have under Occupational Health and Safety Act).

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Mandatory awareness training for Ontario workers and supervisors as of July 2014!

November 29, 2013 Marcia Scheffler Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring, Training and Development

Christmas has come early for health and safety professionals in Ontario, with the gift of a new law, Regulation 297/13 added to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and filed on November 14, 2013. The regulation is the first of its kind in Canada and mandates that all workers and supervisors must complete basic health and safety awareness training.

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Most-viewed articles this week on HRinfodesk

April 18, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

The three most viewed articles on HRinfodesk this week deal with how a probation period is an opportunity to demonstrate skills, an employer’s failure to prevent workplace harassment. and a Human Rights Tribunal decision to reinstate a terminated employee after the employer failed to accommodate.

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Could you be liable for workplace violence? Ontario’s OHSA says so

June 8, 2012 Clear Path Employer Services Health and Safety, Human Resources, Training and Development

Imagine a situation where your employee is seriously injured by an outside party…

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Does over-sensitivity lead to harassment? The preventive value of respect

October 11, 2011 Andrew Lawson Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights

“Excessive claims of workplace harassment are a sign that our society has become far too sensitive and it really needs to stop.” This is the message I received from workshop participants this week during a group discussion on the topic of the prevention of workplace harassment and discrimination. But is it true?

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Domestic violence and the workplace – balancing privacy and safety

March 7, 2011 Adam Gorley Health and Safety, Human Resources, Privacy and Security

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that most of the requirements of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace) 2009 are uncontroversial, and most organizations should have little trouble understanding them and complying. However, one aspect of the law has caused more discussion and confusion than any other: the domestic violence provisions, which require employers to intervene in instances where they suspect (based on reasonable evidence) that an employee has suffered or is suffering from domestic violence, particularly if that violence might reach into the workplace.

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The ‘Ministry’ will investigate complaints of harassment… Really??!!

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.

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Violence and harassment prevention: Keep hate crimes in check!

June 22, 2010 Andrew Lawson Health and Safety, Human Resources

You have a legal obligation to understand how the race, religion and sexual orientation of your employees can impact their safety at work. Understanding these factors will empower you to take steps to protect your workers from harassment and violence as required by the recent amendments to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (Bill 168).

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Young and new workers focus of four-month enforcement blitz

April 19, 2010 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Health and Safety, Human Resources

The Ministry of Labour has announced that the safety of young and new workers will be the focus of a four-month enforcement health and safety blitz across Ontario beginning in May 2010. According to the government, young and new workers in Ontario are four times more likely to be injured during the first month of employment than at any other time.

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Employees need ergonomic awareness training also

March 18, 2010 Andrew Lawson Health and Safety, Human Resources

The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires all employees to:

Act in compliance with the law
Use protective equipment and devices provided by their employer
Report defects in equipment
Report the existence of workplace hazards

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Don’t underestimate conflicts that arise from harassment

January 29, 2010 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Health and Safety, Human Resources

One other session I attended at the 2010 Ontario HRPA conference was Andrew Lawson’s on Protecting your organization from the workplace bully. He made a couple of good points on the topic of workplace harassment that I would like to share with you.

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