Ontario Ministry of Labour to start posting safety violations online

Instead of waiting for the wheels of justice to turn and bring those accused of workplace safety violations to court, the Ontario Ministry of Labour will start detailing charges online, way ahead of the accused’s court appearance.

It’s all part of the province’s dramatic crackdown on construction (and workplace) safety violations.

Previously, those charged with causing workplace deaths faced lesser jail sentences under the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. But now changes have been made to the criminal code in Ontario, guaranteeing much longer sentences for those who put the workers under their supervision in peril.

On January of this year, the supervisor involved with the deaths of four workers on the swing stage that collapsed in Toronto on Christmas Eve 2009, became the first person in the province to be hit with one of these longer sentences. He was sentenced to 3-1/2 years jail. His is appealing.

But even minor safety offenders, who have not yet been found guilty in court, may soon be subject to adverse publicity. The MOL online postings prior to court appearance will show a brief description of the incident and will list occupational health and safety resources in relation to the incident.  The report will list the types of charges the MOL may lay. The MOL Ministry may state that at the time the information is published, they have not made any final determinations with respect to the charges. The postings are developed with the intention of safeguarding the privacy of individuals involved and to keep the integrity of what may be ongoing MOL investigations.

Once the court appearance and sentencing is handed down, the MOL will then post, online, full details of those found guilty.

The landscape on safety has seriously changed in Ontario. It’s a new era!!!

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