By Nora Loreto On April 9. 2015, Andy Sokhan texted Gordon Graham saying that he thought that the crane that he was operating was dangerous. Graham, a supervisor for the construction company Forma-Con told Sokhan that if it the crane could be dangerous to use, it should be shut down. The crane was being used Continue readingBrampton: The most dangerous place to work in Ontario
health and safety
By Bob Barnetson Last week, Alberta’s government introduced Bill 30 (An Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Working Albertans). This legislation replaces the existing Occupational Health and Safety Act as well as amended the Workers’ Compensation Act. As the changes in Bill 30 are significant, I’ll be making a series of posts over Continue readingAlberta’s Bill 30 and the right to refuse
By Jared Matsunaga Turnbull , Bob Barnetson, and Jason Foster This fall, the Alberta government is reviewing its Occupational Health and Safety Act for the first time since it was enacted in 1976. (Specific safety rules are contained in the more detailed Occupational Health and Safety Code and are periodically updated.) To say the review Continue readingAlberta’s health and safety review is long overdue
By Donna Burman Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 is demanding safety in the workplace after a contract worker hit a unionized TTC employee with 30 years on the job on August 15, 2017. This was the latest incident involving contract workers that brings to the forefront that observing cost puts workers safety at risk. Continue readingSafety is the cost of contracting out at the TTC
By Bob Barnetson Last week, Alberta announced a review of its occupational health and safety system. Alberta has not done a comprehensive review of its OHS system since it was created in 1976. Not surprisingly, employers representatives (such as the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses) were quick to whine about the government reviewing whether it is Continue readingEmployers whine about Alberta’s first OHS review in 41 years
By Zaid Noorsumar There is a Seinfeld episode where George Costanza develops an obsessive empathy for a security guard who is forced to stand at work at his fiancé’s uncle’s clothing store. “Why does he have to stand on his feet for eight hours a day when he could easily be sitting?” asks an incredulous Continue readingOn your feet! A standing problem in the workplace
By Bob Barnetson Alberta’s Bill 17 amended the Employment Standard Code. These amendments including extending certain employment rights to farm workers. One of the gaps in Bill 17’s coverage of farm workers is that there continue to be no rules around the hours of work, rest periods, and over time. Farm workers are guaranteed four Continue readingFarm fatality highlights gaps in Alberta’s new Employment Standard Code
By Donna Burman The count is now raised to eight positive test results as random drug and alcohol testing heads into its third month at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Recent court decisions have determined that testing is non-evasive as clearly seen in the loss of appeal for the injunction filed by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local Continue reading8 and rising: Effects of TTC’s random alcohol and drug testing
By Roger Schmidt, a retired TTC worker. As early as 2004 the TTC has tested and knows full well that the Wilson carhouse has airborne particulate matter tied to the “blowdown” to clean the underside of the revenue cars. The first testing was done at my insistence. The staff member who did this resigned over Continue readingDeadly dust in the TTC
By Donna Burman, member of ATU Local 113 Recently, a study led by University of Toronto (U of T) chemical engineer Greg Evans published in Environmental Science and Technology demonstrated that that trains and platforms of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) have higher levels of air pollution than other transportation systems in Canada. There is Continue readingPutting the mask on TTC subway air pollution
By Anne Rucchetto & Kate Hayman In the midst of a busy flu season, the smooth functioning of the healthcare system is critical to the protection of population health, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and children. At the beginning of 2017, there were a number of news reports detailing overcrowded emergency Continue readingThe case for paid sick days
By Jesse McLaren Precarious work is a threat to your health. Poverty wages undermine access to the social determinants of health—like food, shelter, clothing, education, which is why there’s a clear correlation between wealth and health. Poverty wages also undermine access to healthcare, preventing those with the greatest health needs from filling their prescription and Continue readingFighting for $15 and Fairness is a matter of health