Tag archives: occupational 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

Les obligations de l’employeur en matière de violence conjugale et familiale : La Cour supérieure rend une première décision

Global Workplace InsiderBy Amélie Guillemette on Posted in General, Québec
Dans la décision Trivium Avocats inc. c. Rochon[1], rendue récemment, la Cour supérieure a accueilli la demande d’ordonnance de protection formulée par un employeur visant à protéger l’une de ses employées victime, sur son lieu de travail, de violence psychologique s’inscrivant dans un contexte familial. Par cette décision, la Cour supérieure a confirmé que l’obligation … Continue reading

Germany – What to expect in 2023

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
German employment law will introduce numerous innovations and planned changes in 2023 that HR managers should be aware of. New legislation enters into force A number of new regulations have been in force since 1 January 2023. For example, employees with statutory health insurance will no longer have to submit a certificate of incapacity for … Continue reading

Arbeitsrecht 2023: Was ändert sich?

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, Germany
Das deutsche Arbeitsrecht bringt im Jahr 2023 zahlreiche Neuerungen und geplante Änderungen, die Personalverantwortliche kennen sollten. (English version available here.) Neuerungen Seit dem 1. Januar 2023 sind einige Neuregelungen in Kraft. Beispielsweise müssen gesetzlich versicherte Arbeitnehmer ihrem Arbeitgeber künftig keine Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung mehr vorlegen. Der sogenannte „gelbe Schein“ in Papierform wird insofern abgeschafft. Arbeitgeber sind nun verpflichtet, … Continue reading

Working time compliance: Legal obligation to record working time

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
The German Federal Labour Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht – BAG) has now published the reasons for its much-noted decision of 13 September 2022 (ref. 1 ABR 22/21). It is now clear that the recording of working time is a fundamental duty of occupational health and safety and must be observed. However, employers still have to wait for … Continue reading

Arbeitszeit-Compliance: Zeiterfassung zwingend erforderlich

Photo of Claudia PosluschnyPhoto of Frank WeberndörferBy Claudia Posluschny and Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Europe, General, Germany
Das Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG) veröffentlichte nun die Entscheidungsgründe zu seiner vielbeachteten Entscheidung vom 13.09.2022 (Az. 1 ABR 22/21). Nunmehr ist klar, dass die Arbeitszeiterfassung als grundlegende Pflicht des betrieblichen Arbeits- und Gesundheitsschutzes gilt und verbindlich zu beachten ist. Bei wichtigen Detailfragen müssen Arbeitgeber jedoch noch auf die Klarstellung durch den Gesetzgeber warten. (English version available here) … Continue reading

New Minimum Worker Age Rules Coming in British Columbia

Photo of Margaret McConnellBy Margaret McConnell on Posted in Canada
British Columbia is tightening rules on age minimums for hazardous occupations. Employers should take note, particularly those in industries such as construction, forestry, animal processing, milling, metal processing or refining, oil and gas, power, and any other industry with potential for exposure to harmful materials. As of January 1, 2023 changes to British Columbia’s Employment … Continue reading

Stricter COVID-19 rules at German workplaces

Photo of Frank WeberndörferPhoto of Claudia PosluschnyBy Frank Weberndörfer and Claudia Posluschny on Posted in Coronavirus, Data privacy and GDPR, Europe, Germany
In Germany the “Epidemic Situation of National Significance” ends on November 25, 2021.  As a result, the German legislature has amended several COVID-19 related laws, such as the German Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz – IfSG), in order to continue certain protective measures. The amended regulations (BT-Drs. 20/15 and BT-Drs. 20/78) aim to provide for a … Continue reading

En avant toutes : rapports sur la vaccination pour les employeurs sous réglementation fédérale dans certains secteurs clés du transport (et mode d’emploi)

Photo of Nicole BuchananBy Nicole Buchanan on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Quand ils ont été tenus le faire, de nombreux employeurs sous réglementation fédérale des secteurs du transport maritime, aérien et ferroviaire ont dû être en mesure de confirmer la mise en oeuvre de leur politique de vaccination obligatoire à Transports Canada avant le 15 novembre 2021. Cette mise en oeuvre s’inscrit dans le cadre de … 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

Government introduces legislative changes following the Respect@Work report

Photo of Alexandra ShieldsPhoto of John TullioBy Alexandra Shields and John Tullio on Posted in Australia, Discrimination and harassment
On 24 June 2021, the Federal Government introduced the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendments Bill 2021 (Cth) (Bill) into the Senate.  The Bill amends both the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SDA) and the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FWA) in response to the Respect@Work report (the Report) and implements many … Continue reading

Outcomes of Australian WHS Ministers’ meeting to respond to recommendations arising from the Boland independent review

Photo of Nicki MilionisBy Nicki Milionis on Posted in Australia
The long-awaited meeting of Australian WHS Ministers to discuss the response to the 34 recommendations contained in the Marie Boland independent review of the model Work Health and Safety Laws final report (published in February  2019) (Boland report), took place on 20 May 2021.  We have previously discussed the Boland report and its recommendations in … Continue reading

COVID-19: Mandatory testing in companies

Photo of Frank WeberndörferPhoto of Claudia PosluschnyBy Frank Weberndörfer and Claudia Posluschny on Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, Germany
In view of worrying pandemic figures, the German Federal Government has amended the existing “SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance” (Corona-ArbSchV) (the Ordinance). Employers now face the additional obligation of offering COVID-19 testing to their employees, unless the employees work from home. Introduction of mandatory testing… Continue reading

Germany: Home office under the new Corona Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance

Photo of Frank WeberndörferBy Frank Weberndörfer on Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, Germany
To combat and prevent the further spread of COVID-19 (the SARS-CoV-2-virus), the German government has issued a new “SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance” (Corona-ArbSchV) (the Ordinance) providing for additional and time-limited measures to reduce workplace-related personal contacts. These measures include the obligation for employers to offer their employees home working, unless there are compelling … 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

California imposes new requirement of a COVID-19 Prevention Program

Photo of Josh Henderson (US)By Josh Henderson (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, United States
With the approval of Cal/OSHA’s new COVID-19 regulations, the proponents of action-taking won out over those who felt California’s existing laws, regulations, and enforcement arsenal were sufficient to meet the moment. It’s clear that California likes to lead—though it’s not the first state to enact specific COVID-19 standards (Virginia and Oregon got there first).… Continue reading

Conseils de santé et sécurité pour les chantiers de construction en Ontario : Au-delà des masques et de la distanciation sociale

Photo of Meghan FougerePhoto of Lauren DitschunBy Meghan Fougere and Lauren Ditschun on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Le 14 mai 2020, le premier ministre de l’Ontario a annoncé que certains lieux de travail pouvaient commencer à rouvrir puisque la première étape du cadre visant le déconfinement de la province avait reçu le feu vert. L’étape 1 comportait la levée des restrictions précédemment imposées aux activités et projets de construction. Le mardi 19 … Continue reading

Preparing to return to the workplace: What should German employers be doing?

Photo of Stefanie RadinaBy Stefanie Radina on Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, Germany
Public life is slowly returning to normality in Germany as stores, restaurants and cafes begin to  reopen. However, a return to ”business as usual“ seems a long way off. Companies and employers need to consider different priorities and complex provisions when preparing the return to the workplace. In general, employers have a duty to take … Continue reading

Les droits religieux et le port des équipements de protection

Photo of Marie-Krystel OuelletBy Marie-Krystel Ouellet on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
En cette période de pandémie, certains employeurs envisageront l’adoption d’une politique concernant l’utilisation des équipements de protection individuelle, tels que la blouse, les gants, le masque ou encore la protection faciale. L’adoption d’une telle politique peut, pour certaines personnes, avoir pour effet d’opposer leurs droits religieux et leur propre santé et sécurité ou celles des … Continue reading

Religious rights and wearing protective equipment

Photo of Marie-Krystel OuelletBy Marie-Krystel Ouellet on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
During this pandemic, certain employers will consider adopting a policy on using personal protective equipment, such as gowns, gloves, masks or even facial protection. For certain people, adopting such a policy may have the effect of encroaching on their religious rights and protecting their own health and safety or that of other workers. In such … Continue reading

End of the lockdown in France: what are the precautions for employers operating in France?

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, France
On 7 May, the French Prime Minister announced the date chosen for the start of the “de-confinement” phase for France, namely 11 May 2020. The lockdown, which started on 17 March, lasted almost 2 months during which some shops and businesses were closed, and the vast majority of companies operated on the basis of remote … Continue reading
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