Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | John Harris Concrete Ltd was fined $85,000 after a worker was fatally injured during tree-felling in October 2022.

A worker was clearing brush and felling trees at a drainage ditch on 23 October 2022 when a tree fatally struck him. Although trained in chainsaw use, he had not received tree-felling training.

John Harris Concrete Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide required training under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and was fined $85,000.

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development | Siltech Corporation was fined $90,000 after a September 2021 explosion killed one worker and injured another.

On 8 September 2021, workers transferring flammable liquid in unbonded plastic pumps and pails caused an explosion. Though static electricity was not proven, Siltech failed to bond and ground containers as required, breaching Occupational Health and Safety Act regulations.

The company pleaded guilty and was fined $90,000.

Canadian Occupational Safety | Metals and mining corporation Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. has been fined a total of $710,488.79 after two workers were hurt at the company’s facility.

Both incidents happened at the firm’s smelter worksite in Kitimat. WorkSafeBC responded to both incidents.

In the first incident, a subcontracted worker received an electrical shock injury from an energised conductor on an electrical power distribution system. WorkSafeBC found that there were inadequate controls in place to warn workers of and protect them from the electrical hazard.

In the second incident, a subcontracted worker was injured when they made contact with a rotary valve on a dust collector. Rio Tinto also failed to ensure machinery was effectively safeguarded, and to ensure no work was done until the machinery was locked. These were all high-risk violations.

Times Colonist | An Esquimalt-based company was fined over $61,000 and hit with a stop-work order by WorkSafeBC after a “high-risk and repeated violation” involving asbestos during demolition of a Victoria home.

Van Isle Hazmat Inc. failed to prevent spread of asbestos dust, handle asbestos per procedures, or provide workers with proper information, training, and supervision. The stop-work order was lifted after compliance improvements.

WorkSafeBC fined the British Columbia government $783,068.26 for worker safety violations after untrained Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff directed traffic near the Shambhala Music Festival in July 2024.

MoTI employees took over traffic control without qualifications or safety equipment. The ministry failed to provide proper training and supervision. The fine is under review by the ministry.

Excel Projects Ltd (Alberta) was fined $350,000 after sending an injured worker to hospital when equipment activated unexpectedly on 5 March 2022. Under a creative sentence, $225,000 funds a heavy equipment operator scholarship at Olds College, $120,000 at Portage College, plus a $5,000 fine (incl. surcharge). Appeals due in 30 days.

Legislative changes in Canada raise workplace harassment standards. Quebec’s Bill 42 mandates detailed psychological harassment policies. Saskatchewan’s Bill 91 requires violence prevention and counselling. Nova Scotia’s Bill 464 broadens safety to psychological health by September 2025. Ontario’s Bill 190 expands harassment to virtual interactions. Employers should revise policies, train staff, and diligently investigate incidents.

Following a guilty plea in the Provincial Offences Court in Woodstock, Saputo Products Laitiers Canada S.E.N.C./Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP has been fined $79,500 and ordered to pay a 25% victim fine surcharge after a June 2023 incident in which a worker was critically injured while cleaning waste cheese from a conveyor drive roller groove.

On 4 June 2023, guards preventing access to in-running nip hazards were removed for cleaning, and the worker was injured by the running conveyor.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found the injury would not have occurred had a guard been in place, as required by section 25 of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments and section 25(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The Ontario government has introduced the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024, building on the previous acts with measures to protect worker health, bring people into skilled trades, and keep costs down for Ontario workers.

In addition to creating new parental leave, long-term illness leave, expanded cancer coverage for firefighters, and WSIB changes to give more money back, the package supports workplace safety by cracking down on bad actor employers with mandatory minimum fines of $500,000 for corporations convicted of repeated offences within two years under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The government is also proposing to expand roadside safety laws under the Highway Traffic Act to require motorists to slow down and move over for work-related vehicles such as highway maintenance crews.

If passed, the act would:

  • Require drivers to slow down and move over for work-related vehicles displaying flashing amber lights under the Highway Traffic Act (excluding construction zones with posted speed limits).
  • Create new parental leave for adoption and surrogacy, and a 27-week job-protected long-term illness leave.
  • Require properly fitting PPE for women in all sectors.
  • Improve cancer coverage for firefighters by removing age and service duration limits.
  • Invest up to $1.4 billion through the Skills Development Fund to train over 1 million workers and expand immigration pathways for health care workers.
  • Return over $2.5 billion through WSIB surplus rebates, reduce premium rates, and waive fees for first-time apprenticeship certification exams.
  • Create a new Skilled Trades Week in early November to honour experienced tradespeople.
  • Introduce new standards, fines, and lifetime bans for fraudulent immigration representatives.

Ontario is investing another $32 million in a programme to provide mental health supports to first responders and public safety personnel.

The Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel programme (MHS4PSP) will offer specialised services to police, firefighters, correctional workers, paramedics, and others in Ontario’s public safety system.

This funding is part of $45.2 million announced in the 2022 Budget for early intervention, specialised mental health services, and an online inventory of supports. Employers reported a 140% increase in managing poor mental health year-on-year.

MHS4PSP will also create an Anti-Stigma Strategy to remove barriers to seeking help. Initiatives include a dedicated resource website, leadership support network, training for leaders, and recommended practices. The programme will roll out in phases with a funding application call in early 2025.

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