Employers fail to comply with safety orders: OFL calls for fines and jail sentences
(TORONTO) -- Today’s Labour Ministry media conference announcing the results of the 90-day inspection blitz of construction sites demonstrates the urgent need for much tougher measures.
In one of the examples used today, 80% of summonses issued for fall-related hazards were to supervisors. The ministry notes this indicates a lack of adequate supervision on construction projects, and that safe work measures and procedures needed to keep workers safe were not in place.
“Employers aren’t getting it,” says OFL President Sid Ryan. “They have a legal and moral obligation to protect workers from harm but their obvious disregard for health and safety continues to leave workers at serious risk.”
The same problem was encountered in 2008. That Fall blitz visited 704 construction projects, resulted in 3,262 order, 336 stop-work orders and 1,455 forthwith orders.
“We clearly need to stop giving employers the benefit of the doubt and start to protect workers’ lives,” says Ryan who is calling for the ministry to use the full authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to impose significant fines and jail sentences.
For each violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the court can impose a fine of up to $500,000 against a corporation. Individuals face a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.
“Westray Bill C-45 enables us to criminally prosecute employers after lives have been lost. Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act enables us to prevent death and injury. We must use this tool to the fullest extent before more tragedies take place,” says Ryan.
Slips, trips and falls cause about one in five injuries and one in four fatalities at industrial workplaces.
The Ontario Federation of Labour represents more than one million workers and is Canada’s largest labour federation.
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In one of the examples used today, 80% of summonses issued for fall-related hazards were to supervisors. The ministry notes this indicates a lack of adequate supervision on construction projects, and that safe work measures and procedures needed to keep workers safe were not in place.
“Employers aren’t getting it,” says OFL President Sid Ryan. “They have a legal and moral obligation to protect workers from harm but their obvious disregard for health and safety continues to leave workers at serious risk.”
The same problem was encountered in 2008. That Fall blitz visited 704 construction projects, resulted in 3,262 order, 336 stop-work orders and 1,455 forthwith orders.
“We clearly need to stop giving employers the benefit of the doubt and start to protect workers’ lives,” says Ryan who is calling for the ministry to use the full authority of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to impose significant fines and jail sentences.
For each violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the court can impose a fine of up to $500,000 against a corporation. Individuals face a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.
“Westray Bill C-45 enables us to criminally prosecute employers after lives have been lost. Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act enables us to prevent death and injury. We must use this tool to the fullest extent before more tragedies take place,” says Ryan.
Slips, trips and falls cause about one in five injuries and one in four fatalities at industrial workplaces.
The Ontario Federation of Labour represents more than one million workers and is Canada’s largest labour federation.
For More Information:
Patrick (Sid) Ryan, President
p: 416.441.2731 | m: 416.209.0066 | f: 416.441.0722
Toll-free: 1-800-668-9138
Lynn Simmons
OFL Communications, p: 416.443.7665(direct)416.803.8282(mobile)
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