British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Richard Goepel sentenced Arthur Moore to 60 days in jail for violating a restraining order  calling for the demolition company owner to stop exposing workers as young as 14 to asbestos. The judge stated during the hearing that Moore’s contempt in the case was “serious” and his “indifference” to the [...]

The Nova Scotia government called for a renewed focus on workplace safety in the face of seven workplace deaths in a little more than a month. An average of 25 workers died each year between 2007 and 2011 in the province, so the recent spate of deaths drew concern from Marilyn More, Nova Scotia’s Minister [...]

Gates Canada Inc., an Alberta automotive part manufacturer, was fined $55,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was injured. On April 12, 2010, workers were clearing pallets that had jammed on an assembly line. One worker had a hand on the conveyor of a machine when part of [...]

The Saskatchewan Justice Dennis Ball ruled on Feb. 7 in favor of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, concerning two bills that effectively ended workers ability to strike, organize as a union and bargain collectively. “No other essential services legislation in Canada comes close to prohibiting the right to strike as broadly, and as significantly, as [...]

WorkSafeNB recently named long-time senior executive of New Brunswick’s Crown Corporation, Gerald Adams, as its president and CEO. Adams, who will take his seat February 25, is a chartered accountant with more than 25 years of experience as a senior executive in a variety of sectors. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of [...]

The New Brunswick’s health and safety authority is considering the implementation of a demerit system that would give the organization legislative authority to levy fines for workplace safety violations without having to go first take the offender to court. Currently, WorkSafeNB encourages compliance through education and incentives, and also enforces compliance through penalties under the [...]

The pre-registration pro­visions of the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Amendment Act, 2008 (Bill 119), became effec­tive January 1, 2012. The remainder of the Act which extends mandatory workers’ compensation cover­age to independent operators and some other individuals carrying on business in con­struction will come into force on January 1, 2013. The legislation provides a [...]

The B.C. government plans to increase the number of mine inspectors on its force by more than 25 percent during 2012 to keep pace with increased mining activity and help ensure work-site safety. Al Hoffman, the province’s chief inspector of mines, said in an interview to the Vancouver Sun that four new inspectors were hired [...]

Alberta courts handed out more than $3.4 million in workplace safety violation penalties in 2011, double the total of fines in 2010. “My first choice is to have no workplace injuries or fatalities, no charges, and no convictions,” said Dave Hancock, Minister of Human Services. “However, when the law is broken, we need to send [...]

According to a recent statement by Ontario Chief Prevention Officer, George Gritziotis, the province is moving forward with a number of initiatives to improve occupational health and safety. “We are participating in the biggest revitalization of Ontario’s workplace health and safety in more than three decades since the [Occupational Health and Safety Act] came into [...]