Amendments To The Canada Labour Code Respecting Occupational Health And Safety

On December 12, 2013 Bill C-4 “Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2” received royal assent from the Parliament of Canada. The very lengthy Bill, also known as the federal government’s omnibus budget legislation, focuses on economics but also revises key federal labour laws.

Amendments to the Canada Labour Code will come into effect on October 31, 2014 and are reviewed below.
Defining “Danger”
The definition of “danger” within s.122(1) is being repealed and replaced with the […]

By | November 3rd, 2014 ||

United States: FAQs On Employee Discipline

Q.  Can we discipline a healthcare employee who is not involved in direct patient care and refuses to come to work because the employee has a generalized fear due to an Ebola patient who is being treated in the hospital?

A.   Yes. An employee’s duty to report to work on time and ready to perform his or her job duties is not excused based on a generalized fear of safety solely because an Ebola […]

By | November 2nd, 2014 ||

United States: FAQs On Occupational Safety And Health Administration

Q.  Does OSHA plan to enforce standards specifically with respect to Ebola?

A.  Yes, OSHA is carefully monitoring the Ebola virus, especially with respect to its impact on employees in the healthcare industry, including hospitals, nursing facilities and psychiatric facilities. It has created a centralized website for employers to familiarize themselves with the disease, including its transmission and what can be done to protect employees.

Q.  What are my obligations under the OSH Act to protect […]

By | November 2nd, 2014 ||