Saskatchewan introduces summary offence ticketing to improve workplace safety | Saskatchewan WCB announces 2013 employer premium rate | N.S. looks for input on penalties for safety violations | Manitoba proposes new rules to improve roadside safety
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan introduces summary offence ticketing to improve workplace safety
Occupational health officers in Saskatchewan will be issuing financial penalties for non-compliance with health and safety laws at workplaces throughout the province through summary offence ticketing, the provincial government announced.
This additional tool will be used to ticket employers, contractors, owners, suppliers, supervisors, self-employed persons and workers for violations of the province’s occupational health and safety legislation.
Voluntary payment amounts for infractions range from $250 to $1,000.
The regulation will become operational on Jan. 1, 2013, followed by a six-month transition period in which ministry officials will work with stakeholders to introduce the ticketing system to employers and workers across the province.
Saskatchewan WCB announces 2013 employer premium rate
The average Workers’ Compensation Board employer premium rate in Saskatchewan will decrease from $1.60 to $1.58 next year, WCB chairperson David Eberle announced.
The new rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2013. Employers should receive letters advising them of their 2013 premium rate.
The rate reduction will have the following effects, according to the WCB:
•More than 30,000 employers will have a lower rate in 2013. The decreases range from 0.6 per cent to 14.4 per cent. The average decrease is 5.4 per cent.
•Another 3,050 employers will see no change to their premium.
•The remaining 9,900 employers will see an increase to their 2013 premium rate. The increases range from 0.9 per cent to 7.5 per cent, with an average of 3.3 per cent.
NOVA SCOTIA
N.S. looks for input on penalties for safety violations
Nova Scotia will review its administrative penalties for employers and employees who break safety laws, the province announced.
The review is part of a new five-year workplace safety strategy being developed with the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB)
Over the past several months, Nova Scotia and its WCB have been gathering feedback from many employees, employers and other safety partners for the strategy. A total of 26 consultations took place across the province with more than 400 participants, and another 1,000 Nova Scotians provided feedback online. A strategy framework has been developed, and consultations will continue over the next couple of months, the province said.
A finalized workplace safety strategy is expected to be released early in the new year.
MANITOBA
Manitoba proposes new rules to improve roadside safety
New rules would better protect emergency and other roadside workers by setting lower speed limits for motorists as they pass emergency or other designated vehicles stopped or working on a highway, said Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.
Under the plan, there would be a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h on highways where there is a normal speed limit of less than 79 km/h, when passing emergency or designated vehicles stopped or working on the highway, with their beacons flashing, Ashton said. These vehicles include tow trucks and vehicles used by government enforcement officers. Where the normal speed limit is 80 km/h or more, the reduced speed limit would be 60 km/h.
Saskatchewan introduces summary offence ticketing to improve workplace safety
Occupational health officers in Saskatchewan will be issuing financial penalties for non-compliance with health and safety laws at workplaces throughout the province through summary offence ticketing, the provincial government announced.
This additional tool will be used to ticket employers, contractors, owners, suppliers, supervisors, self-employed persons and workers for violations of the province’s occupational health and safety legislation.
Voluntary payment amounts for infractions range from $250 to $1,000.
The regulation will become operational on Jan. 1, 2013, followed by a six-month transition period in which ministry officials will work with stakeholders to introduce the ticketing system to employers and workers across the province.
Saskatchewan WCB announces 2013 employer premium rate
The average Workers’ Compensation Board employer premium rate in Saskatchewan will decrease from $1.60 to $1.58 next year, WCB chairperson David Eberle announced.
The new rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2013. Employers should receive letters advising them of their 2013 premium rate.
The rate reduction will have the following effects, according to the WCB:
•More than 30,000 employers will have a lower rate in 2013. The decreases range from 0.6 per cent to 14.4 per cent. The average decrease is 5.4 per cent.
•Another 3,050 employers will see no change to their premium.
•The remaining 9,900 employers will see an increase to their 2013 premium rate. The increases range from 0.9 per cent to 7.5 per cent, with an average of 3.3 per cent.
NOVA SCOTIA
N.S. looks for input on penalties for safety violations
Nova Scotia will review its administrative penalties for employers and employees who break safety laws, the province announced.
The review is part of a new five-year workplace safety strategy being developed with the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB)
Over the past several months, Nova Scotia and its WCB have been gathering feedback from many employees, employers and other safety partners for the strategy. A total of 26 consultations took place across the province with more than 400 participants, and another 1,000 Nova Scotians provided feedback online. A strategy framework has been developed, and consultations will continue over the next couple of months, the province said.
A finalized workplace safety strategy is expected to be released early in the new year.
MANITOBA
Manitoba proposes new rules to improve roadside safety
New rules would better protect emergency and other roadside workers by setting lower speed limits for motorists as they pass emergency or other designated vehicles stopped or working on a highway, said Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.
Under the plan, there would be a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h on highways where there is a normal speed limit of less than 79 km/h, when passing emergency or designated vehicles stopped or working on the highway, with their beacons flashing, Ashton said. These vehicles include tow trucks and vehicles used by government enforcement officers. Where the normal speed limit is 80 km/h or more, the reduced speed limit would be 60 km/h.
