Safety Reporter
Canadian
www.safety-reporter.com
November 2016
APPEAL COURT DRILLS HOLES
IN COMPANY'S OHS CONVICTIONS
Fact of fatal accident not proof of safety violation
in absence of evidence of how it happened pg. 5
WEED IN THE WORKPLACE: AN
EMPLOYER'S ROAD MAP pg. 3
GPS for the new terrain ahead as
marijuana legalization approaches
DEPRESSION FROM WORKPLACE
ISSUES AND DISMISSAL
NOT RELATED TO INJURY
Worker worked for years following
accident but didn't claim ongoing
effects until termination
pg. 6
INSIDE
Penalties work: Citations and fines
can reduce workplace injuries
A recent study finds inspections that result in penalties
for regulatory non-compliance motivate employers to improve
BY MELISSA CAMPEAU
DETERRENCE CAMPAIGNS
or penalties: What's more effec-
tive? While there are plenty of
arguments on both sides when it
comes to issues such as criminal
behaviour, in terms of occupa-
tional health and safety regula-
tions, the argument in support of
penalties is now even weightier.
A new research study by the
Institute for Work and Health
(IWH), published online in the
American Journal of Industrial
Medicine, finds government
health and safety inspections
that result in citations or penal-
ties effectively motivate employ-
ers to make improvements that
Student's behaviour
alarms instructors
Faculty, union wanted health and
safety investigation but there was no
risk of physical violence: Arbitrator
BY JEFFREY R. SMITH
A BRITISH COLUMBIA college lived up to its duty to provide a
safe workplace when it addressed a student's aggressive behaviour
towards instructors through its student conduct procedure rather
than a health and safety investigation, an arbitrator has ruled.
A number of faculty members at the College of New Caledonia
in Prince George, B.C., developed concerns over a specific student
NEWS BRIEF
CANADIAN WATCHDOG
RAPS NUCLEAR
REGULATOR
(Reuters) — Canada's nuclear
regulator is so bad at paperwork
that it cannot prove it is properly
inspecting nuclear power stations
and ensuring operators follow the
rules, the country's official environ-
mental watchdog said.
In an audit, Environment Com-
missioner Julie Gelfand also high-
lighted what she said were staff
shortages at the Canadian Nu-
clear Safety Commission (CNSC).
The CNSC oversees Canada's 19
nuclear reactors.
Gelfand, who reports directly to
Parliament, said the audit had un-
covered many cases of inadequate
or missing documentation.
The audit examined how the
CNSC managed site inspections,
not the overall safety of nuclear
power plants in Canada.
Gelfand said documentation
was so poor that the CNSC could
not prove its inspectors always fol-
lowed correct procedures during
site visits or that their reports accu-
rately reflected plant inspections.
In the 2013-14 and 2014-15
fiscal years, the CNSC only com-
pleted 76 percent of planned site
inspections, in part because it did
not have the necessary staff.
Some > pg. 4
Credit:
Shutterstock/michaeljung
Student signed > pg. 2