Following a landmark criminal case in Canada, a construction project manager was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison on January 11, 2016. Mr. Kazenelson, an employee of Metron Construction Corporation (“Metron”), was convicted of four counts of criminal negligence causing death and one court of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. These charges stemmed from a “swing stage” (a suspended work platform) collapse that killed four workers and severely injured a fifth in Toronto on December 24, 2009. Six workers…

Until recently, about the only workplaces where employers had to worry about noise levels were factories, mines and oil rigs. That all changed December 9th of last year when Regulation 381/15 was approved. Set to take effect July 1, 2016, the regulation extends noise protection requirements to the following workplaces: Farming Operations Construction Projects Health Care Facilities Schools Fire Services Police Services Amusement Parks The stated objective of the Regulation, which falls under the Occupational…

An employee’s use of intoxicants, like marijuana, can adversely affect the work environment by: compromising the ability of employees to perform their job duties; threatening the health and safety of the employee and his or her co-workers; and undermining the employer’s reputation. It is no surprise, then, that employees who are found to be under the influence at work often face discipline. Yet, the rise of marijuana as a treatment for disabling medical conditions (such…