On December 14, 2017 new changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) came into force which pack a punch for non-compliant employers.
The most publicized aspect of the new laws was the “elevated heel” prohibition, but there are other changes all employers, including dentists, should know about!
Here are the changes that may affect you:
- Maximum fines per conviction under the OHSA have been hiked up to $1.5 million for corporations; and $100,000 for individuals
- Individuals may now be sentenced with up to 12 months of jail time for non-compliance
- Unless the employer owns the workplace, the employer must now notify the Ministry of Labour if a committee or a health and safety representative has identified potential structural inadequacies of a building or any part of a workplace as a source of danger or hazard to workers
- High heals cannot be mandated by an employer unless an “elevated heel” is required for worker safety (except in the case of employees working in the entertainment and advertising industries)
- The prosecution of non-compliant employers is now limited to 1 year of the occurrence of the last act or default or the day on which an inspector becomes aware of the alleged offence
If you need advice about the new occupational health and safety laws, please contact DMC at any time. We are your legal dental team.
The Content of this post is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be legal, financial, tax, or other professional advice of any kind. You are advised to contact DMC (or other counsel) to seek specific legal advice concerning your individual situation.
