Tag archives: health and safety

Entrée en vigueur de nouvelles dispositions de la Loi modernisant le régime de santé et de sécurité du travail. 

Photo of Andreea RusuBy Andreea Rusu on Posted in Québec
Le 6 octobre 2021, le régime de santé et de sécurité du travail au Québec a subi une « cure de rajeunissement ». Le projet de loi 59 a été sanctionné et il est devenu officiellement la Loi modernisant le régime de santé et de sécurité du travail. À titre de rappel, cette Loi prévoit différentes dates … Continue reading

New WHS legal duties to manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Annika MartzBy Katherine Morris and Annika Martz on Posted in Australia, General
Legal obligations requiring persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to manage psychosocial hazards in accordance with work health and safety (WHS) laws are continuing to come into effect across the country. Psychosocial hazards are hazards that may cause psychological and/or physical harm arising from, or in relation to, the design or management of work, … Continue reading

UK: New guidance for employers on living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in Coronavirus, UK
On April 1st, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued guidance for employers on living safely and reducing the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 to replace the previous ‘Working Safely Guidance’ after the relaxing of COVID-19 measures in the UK. The guidance outlines ways employers can aim to reduce the spread of respiratory … Continue reading

Steps for Employers after the ending of COVID-19 restrictions

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in Coronavirus, UK
On 21 February 2022, the UK Government announced its plan to end remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England.  These include, from 24 February, the removal of the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test;  and the requirement to wear face-coverings in public spaces and on public transport; and, from 1 April, the withdrawal of free … Continue reading

Au Canada, les employeurs peuvent-ils exiger que leurs employés aient reçu une dose de rappel?

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
L’accessibilité à la dose de rappel s’accroît – non seulement au Canada, mais à l’échelle mondiale également. Au Royaume-Uni, des doses de rappel (ou troisièmes doses) sont offertes depuis peu à la population générale de 50 ans et plus. En France et aux États-Unis, l’âge minimal généralement requis est plutôt fixé à 65 ans. Au Canada, le … Continue reading

New infringement notices for offences against Victorian Occupational Health and Safety laws

Photo of Nicki MilionisBy Nicki Milionis on Posted in Australia
WorkSafe inspectors will now be able to issue infringement notices to companies and individuals for certain occupational health and safety offences. The Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Infringements and Miscellaneous Matters) Regulations 2021 (Vic) which amends the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic) (2017 Regulations) commenced on 31 July 2021 in Victoria. Section 139(1) … Continue reading

L’accord national interprofessionnel du 26 novembre 2020 : « soft law » à la française

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Contracts, Coronavirus, Europe, France, General
Le télétravail s’est largement développé en France au fil des années, et naturellement, ce mode de travail a été particulièrement utilisé, bon gré mal gré, par les entreprises au cours de l’année 2020, à la faveur de la crise sanitaire, et des recommandations (plus ou moins liantes) du Gouvernement. Les bases du télétravail ont été … Continue reading

Can French employers require their employees to get the Covid-19 vaccine?

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, France
Further to the approval by EU authorities of the vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, and further to the recommendations of the French Health authorities on the vaccination programme, the French vaccine campaign against Covid-19 was launched yesterday, at the same time as in all EU countries. In France, the Government established a specific strategy … Continue reading

Conducting Workplace Investigations… in a Pandemic

Photo of Taryn MackieBy Taryn Mackie on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
This year has created innumerable challenges for employers— including the challenge of how to effectively conduct a workplace investigation when health and safety protocols demand a certain degree of separation. Fortunately, the same Do’s and Don’ts still apply to employers, whether they are conducting an investigation two meters apart or virtually through Zoom. Don’t (inexcusably) … Continue reading

Entre l’obligation d’accommodement et milieu de travail sécuritaire : un équilibre difficile à atteindre pour les employeurs à l’ère du cannabis médical

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson and Antoine Gagnon on Posted in Canada, Québec
Le 17 octobre prochain marquera le deuxième anniversaire de la légalisation du cannabis récréatif au Canada. Bien que cette réalité fasse maintenant partie de notre quotidien, différentes questions liées à la consommation de cette substance demeurent, notamment en matière d’emploi. L’une d’entre elles a récemment été abordée par la Cour d’appel de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador[1] et peut … Continue reading

Ontario employers, cover up! Mandatory face-covering orders now in effect in Toronto, Ottawa, and beyond

Photo of Stéphane EricksonPhoto of Conrad FlaczykBy Stéphane Erickson and Conrad Flaczyk on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
While Stage 3 allows many businesses in Ontario to reopen and to welcome returning employees back to the physical workplace, employers and service providers—as operators of enclosed public spaces and establishments—must meet certain recently announced conditions. As of July 7, 2020, at 12:01 a.m., these conditions now include the mandatory covering of the mouth, nose … Continue reading

Pandemic check: face covering requirements for federally regulated employers in Canada

Photo of Natasha HyppoliteBy Natasha Hyppolite on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
In certain provinces, masks and face coverings have now or will soon become mandatory in certain indoor establishments accessible to the public, including in, or in parts of, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Recently, in Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia also announced that masks will be required as of July 31 in enclosed public places. … Continue reading

À savoir sur la pandémie : exigences en matière de couvre-visage pour les employeurs sous réglementation fédérale au Canada

Photo of Natasha HyppoliteBy Natasha Hyppolite on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Dans certaines provinces, le port d’un masque et d’un couvre-visage est maintenant, ou sera bientôt, obligatoires dans certains établissements intérieurs accessibles au public, notamment en Ontario (en anglais seulement), au Québec, en Alberta et en Colombie-Britannique (en anglais seulement), ou dans certaines parties de ces provinces. Récemment, au Canada atlantique, la Nouvelle-Écosse a également annoncé … Continue reading

Employeurs de l’Ontario : des décrets sur les masques obligatoires sont désormais en vigueur à Toronto et à Ottawa

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
*La version actualisée du présent billet de blogue peut être consultée, en anglais, en cliquant ici.* Alors que l’étape 2 permet aux entreprises de l’Ontario de rouvrir et d’accueillir les employés sur le lieu de travail physique, les employeurs et les fournisseurs de services doivent remplir certaines conditions qui ont été récemment annoncées. Depuis le 7 … Continue reading

Say It Ain’t So, I Will Not Go: Responding to Employee Requests to Not Return to the Workplace in British Columbia

Photo of Dallan PoulinBy Dallan Poulin on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Following the unveiling of BC’s Restart Plan, and as part of the province’s transition to the “new normal”, many British Columbian employers are welcoming their employees back to the traditional pre-pandemic workplace.  However, given the current climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers will inevitably be met with requests from employees wishing to not return to … Continue reading

Nouveauté pour les employeurs québécois : Publication de la Charte d’engagement à combattre le coronavirus en milieu de travail

Photo of Jonathan DeschampsBy Jonathan Deschamps on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
La Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) a récemment publié en ligne la Charte d’engagement à combattre le coronavirus en milieu de travail (Charte). Celle-ci vise essentiellement à ce que les employeurs et les travailleurs coopèrent en matière de prévention pour diminuer les risques que pose la COVID-19 … Continue reading

Health and safety tips for Ontario’s construction job sites: masks, social distancing, and more

Photo of Lauren DitschunPhoto of Meghan FougereBy Lauren Ditschun and Meghan Fougere on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Ontario’s Premier announced on May 14, 2020 that select workplaces could start reopening as stage 1 of the Framework for Reopening the Province was given the green light. As part of the first stage, the previous restrictions on certain construction projects and activities were lifted. On Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 am, the list … Continue reading

Duty of care: an employee’s misconduct may be excused under some circumstances

Photo of Judicaël FouquetBy Judicaël Fouquet on Posted in Europe, France
The legal context Under French employment law, both employers and employees are under a duty of care which requires them to take health and safety considerations into account throughout the employment relationship. Although the employer’s duty of care is interpreted very extensively by case law, which does not entitle the employer to escape liability except … Continue reading

Moral harassment: an employee victim of harassment can be compensated twice

Photo of Judicaël FouquetBy Judicaël Fouquet on Posted in Discrimination and harassment, Europe, France
Legal context French employment law strictly prohibits acts of moral harassment within a company, employers being required to take all measures necessary to prevent such situations from occurring in the first place. Applicable sanctions in the event of breach of such prohibition can be particularly severe since the employer can face penal sanctions as well … Continue reading

Termination Upheld for Workplace Violence Threats

Global Workplace InsiderBy Michael Torrance on Posted in Canada
In the recent decision UFCW, Local 1400 v Prairie Pride Natural Foods Ltd, 2013 CanLII 82240 (SK LA), a Saskatchewan arbitration board upheld the dismissal of a long-term employee for workplace violence and harassment threats. The grievor worked as a Hanger in the employer’s poultry processing plant. He had been employed for five years, which … Continue reading

South Africa – Child care obligations. What are an employer’s obligations?

Photo of Karen Ainslie (ZA)By Karen Ainslie (ZA) on Posted in South Africa
Currently, none of the major pieces of employment and labour legislation in South Africa specifically deal with an employer’s obligations when it offers childcare facilities to its employees’ children. Our legislation does however contain regulations providing pregnant employees with minimum childbirth rights and also seek to protect them after the birth of a child and … Continue reading
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