Canadian Occupational Safety

8 Canadian occupational safety www.cos-mag.com updAtes from the world of heAlth & sAfety By Zach Pedersen e mployers in Ontario will be required to deliver mandatory health and safety awareness training to all employees and supervisors covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act in 2014, according to the Ministry of Labour. e new rules are the result of Bill 160, which transferred respon- sibility for the prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to the Ministry of Labour when it became law on April 1, 2012. e new training require- ment is one of the province's fi rst prevention initiatives, which will be overseen by George Gritiziotis, Ontario's chief prevention offi cer. "Should the proposed regula- tion be made, employers would be able to demonstrate compliance by having their workers or supervi- sors complete awareness training program products and materials that are being developed by the (MOL), or by having their workers or supervisors complete existing or alternate programs that meet the minimum regulatory requirements," the ministry said on its website. A transition period will be implemented to give employers time to ensure existing workers and supervisors have completed awareness training programs before the proposed regulation is expected to come into eff ect, according to the Ministry of Labour. It hopes to make the new rule law by Jan. 1, 2014. However, the date could change as the year progresses, according to Ministry of Labour spokesperson Matt Blajer. ontario prepares for mandatory oHs training By COS staff B ritish Columbia's workers' com- pensation board, WorkSafeBC, imposed 260 penalties in 2012 — totalling $2.9 million — against employers for violations of the Occu- pational Health and Safety Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act. Six incidents in which an employer was penalized involved a fatality, according to WorkSafeBC. Employers from the construc- tion sector accounted for almost 85 per cent of the total penalties imposed. Most of these fi nes were related to inadequate use of fall protection (59 per cent) and exposing workers to asbestos (14 per cent). e highest single penalty in 2012 was imposed against members of the Aquilini family, who own the Golden Eagle blueberry farm — they also own the Vancouver Canucks. e penalty was the result of failing to maintain, in safe operating condition, the farm vehicle the employer used to transport work- ers at the Golden Eagle blueberry farm. is was a repeated violation and the company was fined $125,277. e province's second and third highest penalties of $105,000 each were imposed against Skylite Building Maintenance for repeated violations of the Occupa- tional Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act for exposing workers to asbestos. In 2012, three penalties were imposed on Skylite totalling $227,500. In recent years, the province has increased its enforcement capacity, directing a more intensive focus on industries that present the highest risk to workers and to employers where compliance is known to be an issue — such as steep slope roofing and asbestos abatement, WorkSafeBC said. Penalty amounts vary each year due to the size of employers penal- ized — employers with larger payrolls are assessed higher penalties — and the seriousness of the viola- tions. e maximum penalty amount permissible under the Workers Com- pensation Act is adjusted yearly. In 2012, the amount was $596,435.35, WorkSafeBC said. ritish Columbia's workers' com- pensation board, WorkSafeBC, imposed 260 penalties in 2012 — totalling $2.9 million — against employers for violations of the Occu- pational Health and Safety Regulation and the Workers Compensation Act. Six incidents in which an employer was penalized involved a fatality, according to WorkSafeBC. Employers from the construc- tion sector accounted for almost 85 per cent of the total penalties imposed. Most of these fi nes were related to inadequate use of fall protection (59 per cent) and exposing workers to asbestos e highest single penalty in 2012 was imposed against members of the Aquilini family, who own the Golden Eagle blueberry farm — they also own the Vancouver Canucks. e penalty was the result of failing to maintain, in safe operating condition, the farm vehicle the employer used to transport work- ers at the Golden Eagle blueberry farm. is was a repeated violation and the company was fined $ The new training requirement is one of the province's fi rst prevention initiatives WorksafeBC releases 2012 penalty report CSSE (5578).indd 1 13-03-18 9:56 AM

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