Safety Fines Per Province
Safety fines for Alberta, British Columbia and Northwest Territories are not usually set at astronomically high price points. Therefore most companies are not too worried about excessive levying on the part of the OH&S.
However, there is a possibility that future fines can reach a higher price point when combined. So in this article, you will learn everything you need to know that is important about this penalty structure and how it can impact your bottom-line.
Protection & Compliance Amendment Act
The Bill:
The bill for the protection and compliance amendment act was brought into Alberta’s legislature in 2012, and it amended three acts, one of which is the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Safety Codes Act. The bill is a way of keeping employers in check by the government, to make sure that they keep their business operations within the borders of health safety.
The Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act clearly spells some laid out rules which revolve around the health and safety of workers.
Necessary amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act include the creation of administrative penalties. These sanctions will be meted out to Contractors, Employers, Business owners, suppliers and workers who default on one of the rules laid out in the OH&S Act.
Daily Capping:
The interesting thing here to note is that these OH&S fines are capped daily at $10,000. A penalty will not exceed $10,000 on any single day.
However, this fine, upon failure to pay can continue to accumulate on a daily basis. Before the amendment, when an OH&S officer issued an order of a fine, if the offender failed to comply, the only alternative was to opt for a prosecution to ensure compliance. But now, the fines can continue to accumulate for days.
Within OH&S Jurisdiction
Safety Conduct Act:
The Safety Conduct Act applies to fire protection and design, construction, manufacture, operation, installation and maintenance of buildings, elevating devices, electrical systems, private sewage disposal, plumbing, gas systems and pressure equipment.
Out of Jurisdiction:
Some workers in Alberta are not within the jurisdiction of provincial OHS legislation. These workers include:
• Federal government employees
• Workers in industries regulated by government such as aviation and banking.
• Farm or ranch owners and their relatives, including any other person who works in these establishments for no pay.
• Domestic workers.
To enforce OH&S laws, officers can make sure things are in order through Inspecting, Issuing orders and tickets or Issuing administrative penalties.
Provincial Offenses Procedures Act – Fine Increase
Three Year Limit:
One other amendment to the Act is the introduction of a limitation time of three years for the prosecution of offenses which fall under the act instead of the current six months which is obtainable under the Provincial Offenses Procedures Act. The maximum fine for a first-time offense increases from $15,000 to $100,000 and the succeeding offense can be increased from $30,000 to $500,000.
The TriTech Safety Solution:
TriTech Safety & Training Inc, located in Grande Prairie is in the best position to keep you abreast of different developments on rules and laws about health and safety in industries as well as essential and valuable industry practices to prevent avoidable accidents.
For more information go to https://tritechsafety.ca/courses/
