OSHA

Ontario: Answers to FAQs about the Proposed Mandatory Minimum Fines for Repeat Offenders Under the OHSA
December 8, 2024

The Ontario government has announced a proposed amendment to the OHSA which would impose a mandatory minimum fine of $500,000 for corporate employers convicted of second or subsequent offences that result in the death or serious injury of one or more workers in a two-year period.
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Ontario: Fine Line in the Sand – Applying the SCC, R. v. Sudbury, Decision
September 30, 2024
It’s important not to draw a line in the sand too close to the shore.
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California Implements New Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan Requirements
August 5, 2024
On June 20, 2024, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved a new “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment” standard (the “Standard”). This novel Standard went into effect on July 23rd.
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OSHA's New Inspection Rule Takes Effect
June 11, 2024
When the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducts a workplace inspection, the agency’s long-standing rule has been that employees can designate a representative to accompany the inspector, but the representative must be a current employee. No longer.
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Cal-OSHA Releases Model Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
March 20, 2024
On September 30, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 533, which requires many California employers to implement an effective Workplace Violence Prevention Plan by July 1, 2024.
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Canada: Supervisor’s “Blame the Boss” Defence Fails in Criminal Case
August 20, 2023
A New Brunswick Court has issued one of the most significant Criminal Code judgments in an occupational health and safety matter in recent years.
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Ontario: Can an Employer Appeal an Inspector’s Order to Produce Documents? Not if the Order is Called a “Requirement”
July 9, 2023
One of the more legally confusing aspects of the appeal regime under the Occupational Health and Safety Act is the difference between a “order” and a “requirement” of a Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Inspector.
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OSHA Reminds Employers about Heat Illness Prevention Requirements
July 5, 2023
With the mercury rising, OSHA just put out an FAQ to remind employers about their heat illness prevention rules that were originally effective June 15, 2022.
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California: Cal/OSHA Adopts New COVID Regulation
December 15, 2022
On Thursday December 15th, Cal/OSHA voted to adopt a new Non-Emergency COVID Regulation to replace the current COVID Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”).
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Extraordinary Workplace Misconduct: Perhaps Firewalking Is Not the Best Team-building Activity…
June 26, 2022
As reported recently in the New York Times, more than two dozen employees were injured last week during a team-building activity in which they walked over hot coals in their bare feet (?!!!)
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Ontario: Proposed Amendments to the OHSA put Corporate Officers and Directors on Notice and May Imperil Charter Protections for all Defendants
March 6, 2022
The Ontario government has introduced the Working for Workers Act, 2022, which contains significant proposed changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The legislation has passed first reading in the Ontario Legislature.
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Ontario: Teacher Found Not Guilty for Student Drowning; What Does This Say About the Burden of Proof in OHS Criminal Cases?
October 27, 2021
On one unfortunate day in July 2017, a 15-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a lake on a school wilderness canoe trip. The teacher supervising the group of students that was swimming, Mr. Nicholas Mills, was charged with criminal negligence causing death.
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