REA - EHS Headlines - Ontario

July 2003 - Ontario Edition

Bill C-45: An Act to Ammend the Criminal Code (Criminal Liability of Organizations)
On June 12, 2003, the Honorable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada introduced legislation that will help ensure organizations, including corporations, are held accountable when they commit criminal offenses, including occupational health and safety offenses.

Minister Cauchon, in his speech at the House of Commons stated that, “Employers must fully recognize their responsibility in providing a safe work environment. Failure to do so in a manner that endangers employee and public safety must be appropriately dealt with through our criminal laws.”
The measures proposed impose a legal duty on employers and those who direct work to take reasonable steps to protect employee and public safety. If the duty is carelessly disregarded and bodily harm or death results, an organization could be charged with criminal negligence. These measures build on the recent changes to Part II of the Canada Labour Code, as well as the existing measures under the provincial health and safety legislation that protect workers against workplace hazards.
An “organization” includes a variety of business relationship structures including a public body, body corporate, firm or partnership, among others.
The changes to the Criminal Code proposed by Bill C-45 elevate workplace safety violations for corporations and senior management to the level of criminal offences. Corporations can be found criminally liable if senior officials (directors or executives) or officers who direct day-to day operations violate a criminal standard or direct others to do so. Further, corporations can be held liable criminally if senior officials do not take action to stop offenses being committed by other employees.
Corporate sentencing has also been addressed in the proposed changed. New provisions will help to ensure that the penalty reflects the seriousness of the crime, and that the courts take into consideration a series of specific factors when deciding on sentencing. These factors would include previous convictions or regulatory offenses and the measures taken by the organization to reduce the likelihood of additional criminal activity.
To view the contents of Bill C-45, visit the Parliament of Canada website: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Bills_House_Government.asp, or for more information on ways to protect against OH&S corporate liability, contact us at 1-888-REA-4-EHS.

TRAINING COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW: Respiratory Protection: Selection, Use and Care, a new course that REA will be offering starting July. Knowing the fundamentals of airborne hazards is instrumental in choosing the appropriate respirator to ensure that workers are protected. Learn this and other necessary information to enhance the functioning of your respiratory protection programs.
NEW: Infection Prevention in Health Care Construction and Maintenance. Starting in June, REA will be offering a new course, Infection Prevention in Health Care Construction and Maintenance. During facility renovation and reconstruction, poor airborne and waterborne microbe containment can lead to increased infection risk to patients and workers in the area.

For more information contact: Joanna Szymandera

UPCOMING COURSES

Joint Health & Safety Committee Basic Certification:
Aug. 6 & 7, 2003 – Ottawa
Aug. 13 & 14, 2003 – Toronto
Aug. 26 & 27, 2003 – London
Sept. 3 & 4, 2003 – Kingston
Sept. 10 & 11, 2003 – Hamilton

Joint Health & Safety Committee Part 2 Certification – Health Care:
*suspended until further notice – see sidebar for more information

Joint Health & Safety Committee Part 2 Certification – Office:
Aug. 19, 2003 – Ottawa
Sept. 30, 2003 – Toronto
Oct. 7, 2003 – Hamilton

Joint Health & Safety Committee Part 2 Certification – Industrial:
Sept. 9 & 10, 2003 – Toronto
Nov. 12 & 13, 2003 – Hamilton

Contractor & Project Safety Management:
Sept. 24 & 25, 2003 – Hamilton
Nov. 6 & 7, 2003- Kingston

OHS for Managers & Supervisors – the "Competent Person" Course:
August 20 & 21, 2003 – Toronto
Sept. 17 & 18, 2003 – Ottawa

Environmental Protection Regulations in Ontario:
Sept. 11, 2003 – Toronto

Industrial Ergonomics for Safety and Performance
Aug. 14, 2003 – Hamilton
Oct. 1, 2003 – London
Oct. 10, 2003 – Ottawa

Mould: Identification and Control in Facilities:
Sept. 26, 2003 - Toronto
Nov. 14, 2003 - Toronto

Pre-start Health & Safety Review:
Aug. 12, 2003 – Hamilton
Sept. 29, 2003 – London
Oct. 8, 2003 – Ottawa

Machine & Process Safeguarding:
Aug. 13, 2003 – Hamilton
Sept. 30, 2003 – London
Oct. 9, 2003 – Ottawa

Workplace Chemical Safety Regulations in Ontario:
Aug. 7, 2003 – Toronto

Canada Labour Code, Part II – OHS for Managers & Supervisors:
Oct. 17, 2003 – Ottawa
Nov. 20, 2003 – Toronto
Dec. 11, 2003 – Ottawa (en français)

Canada Labour Code, Part II – Work Place & Policy Health and Safety Committees:
Aug. 28 & 29, 2003 – Toronto

OHSAS 18001 – OHS Management System Awareness Course:
Sept. 16, 2003 – Toronto

OHSAS 18001 – OHS Management System Implementation Course:
Oct. 21 – 23, 2003 – Toronto

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