Excerpt from the OH&S Canada magazine (Sept. 2016)
The Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut has charged four employers and four individuals over an incident that left a worker injured during the summer of 2015.
According to a WSCC statement dated September 08, 2016, the incident occurred at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station site in Cambridge Bay in August 2015. Although no specific details were available, the Commission has charged Ellis Don Corporation, Kitnuna Projects Inc., Best Choice Construction (RB Ltd., and EXP Services Inc., as well as Dan Cress, Abraham Leonard Houwelling, Justin McDonnell, and Rod Osmond, named as supervisors or employees of the companies. The charges involve violations of the Nunavut Safety Act, such as failure to give sufficient safety instruction to employees and to take all reasonable precautions to ensure their safety.
“The WSCC reminds all employers that their worksite responsibilities include: providing a safe workplace; providing equipment and machinery that is in safe condition; hiring competent supervisors who ensure safe work procedures are followed; providing adequate training… and supplying personal protective equipment,” the organization says in the statement.
The defendants made their first court appearance on September 19, 2016.
My opinion
I was very surprised to see Ellis Don on the list. Here is 2022 and 2023, in Ontario, Ellis Don has an excellent reputation as a safety-conscience company, winning safety awards and is recognized, by the Ministry of Labour (MOL) to that effect.
The charges are listed in section 25 of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) to cover employer’s responsibilities and section 27 to cover supervisory responsibilities. They are pretty standard but straight to the point.
Remember, at no point can a worker be at risk. If the companies involved were cognizant of that fact, possibly the worker may not have been injured.
HRS Group Inc. has a great team that can help you with all your health and safety needs. Contact Deborah toll free at 1-877-907-7744 or locally at 705-749-1259.
Ensure your workplace is a safe place.
Remember – In Canada, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”
‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.
Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Advanced Level
CEO & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.
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