Criminal charges laid in deaths of 4 workers • BP ties staff bonuses to safety performance • Construction safety associations merge in B.C. • Enforcement stepped up for high-rise construction safety • IHSA announces interim president
Criminal charges laid in deaths of 4 workers
TORONTO — Police have laid criminal charges against three individuals and a company in the deaths of four construction workers. The four men fell to their deaths on Christmas Eve 2009 after scaffolding gave way at a Toronto highrise apartment where they were working. Vadim Kazenelson, 35, of Gormley, Ont.; Joel Swartz, 51, of Toronto; and Benny Saigh, 52, of Toronto and Metron Construction Company have each been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and four counts of criminal negligence causing death. Criminal charges have been an option for police in health and safety crimes since 2004, when the federal government passed Bill C-45, also known as the corporate killing law, in the wake of the 1992 Westray mine disaster that killed 26 workers in Nova Scotia. Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), said the “stakes have been raised and now employers also have something very real to lose.” The OFL pointed out that, unlike charges under occupational health and safety laws, criminal code sentences do not place any maximum on financial penalties. Individuals found guilty can receive life sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
BP ties staff bonuses to safety performance
LONDON — Chief executive Bob Dudley has stepped up his battle to rebuild BP’s reputation, declaring safety is so core to the group that it would be the sole measure for staff bonuses in the last quarter of this year. Dudley needs to restore investor confidence in the oil group following its Gulf of Mexico oil spill and other disasters in recent years, and to fend off threats to BP's ability to operate in the United States. Some U.S. lawmakers have argued the oil spill, a refinery blast in 2005, and Alaskan oil spills in 2006, reflect a corporate culture that encouraged managers to put profits before safety. Dudley disputes this claim and to emphasize BP's commitment to safety he told staff in an email, seen by Reuters, that: "The sole criterion for performance reward for our operating businesses in the fourth quarter of 2010 will be performance in safety, compliance, silent running and operational risk management. We are taking this step in order to be absolutely clear that safety, compliance and operational risk management is BP's number one priority, well ahead of all other priorities," he added in the email sent to employees.
Construction safety associations merge in B.C.
VANCOUVER — Construction employers and workers in British Columbia now have access to health and safety programs through the B.C. Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA), which resulted from the amalgamation of the Construction Safety Network and the Construction Safety Association of B.C. Goals and priorities which founded the previous two construction safety associations will continue into the new BCCSA with a concentration on the Certificate of Recognition (COR) Program, the BCCSA said in a press release. Under the new BCCSA delivery format, construction employers throughout B.C. will have greater accessibility to COR certification courses, it said. The BCCSA will partner with WorkSafeBC to deliver safety education and training to all BC construction employers. For more information, visit the website at www.bccsa.ca.
Enforcement stepped up for high-rise construction safety
CALGARY — Alberta is increasing the number of inspections at commercial construction sites in the wake of a number of high-rise construction incidents over the last year. Thomas Lukaszuk, the province’s Minister of Employment and Immigration, said employers need to ensure they “fully understand” and comply with safety laws. “Those who don’t should know that my officers are en route and I have instructed them not to hesitate to shut an operation down if workers’ lives are at risk.” The inspections will focus on commercial construction projects five storeys and higher in major urban centres and small commercial projects throughout the province.
IHSA announces interim president
TORONTO — A new interim CEO has been appointed for the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), one of Ontario’s Partners in Prevention. Al Beattie, formerly IHSA’s vice-president of prevention, specialty services, is assuming the rule of interim president and CEO. Beattie takes over from former CEO Michael Delisle. “I look forward to working with all of the industries we serve to prevent occupational illness and injury in Ontario,” said Beattie. “I am committed to demonstrating our value as a prevention partner for both employers and workers.”
TORONTO — Police have laid criminal charges against three individuals and a company in the deaths of four construction workers. The four men fell to their deaths on Christmas Eve 2009 after scaffolding gave way at a Toronto highrise apartment where they were working. Vadim Kazenelson, 35, of Gormley, Ont.; Joel Swartz, 51, of Toronto; and Benny Saigh, 52, of Toronto and Metron Construction Company have each been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm and four counts of criminal negligence causing death. Criminal charges have been an option for police in health and safety crimes since 2004, when the federal government passed Bill C-45, also known as the corporate killing law, in the wake of the 1992 Westray mine disaster that killed 26 workers in Nova Scotia. Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), said the “stakes have been raised and now employers also have something very real to lose.” The OFL pointed out that, unlike charges under occupational health and safety laws, criminal code sentences do not place any maximum on financial penalties. Individuals found guilty can receive life sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
BP ties staff bonuses to safety performance
LONDON — Chief executive Bob Dudley has stepped up his battle to rebuild BP’s reputation, declaring safety is so core to the group that it would be the sole measure for staff bonuses in the last quarter of this year. Dudley needs to restore investor confidence in the oil group following its Gulf of Mexico oil spill and other disasters in recent years, and to fend off threats to BP's ability to operate in the United States. Some U.S. lawmakers have argued the oil spill, a refinery blast in 2005, and Alaskan oil spills in 2006, reflect a corporate culture that encouraged managers to put profits before safety. Dudley disputes this claim and to emphasize BP's commitment to safety he told staff in an email, seen by Reuters, that: "The sole criterion for performance reward for our operating businesses in the fourth quarter of 2010 will be performance in safety, compliance, silent running and operational risk management. We are taking this step in order to be absolutely clear that safety, compliance and operational risk management is BP's number one priority, well ahead of all other priorities," he added in the email sent to employees.
Construction safety associations merge in B.C.
VANCOUVER — Construction employers and workers in British Columbia now have access to health and safety programs through the B.C. Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA), which resulted from the amalgamation of the Construction Safety Network and the Construction Safety Association of B.C. Goals and priorities which founded the previous two construction safety associations will continue into the new BCCSA with a concentration on the Certificate of Recognition (COR) Program, the BCCSA said in a press release. Under the new BCCSA delivery format, construction employers throughout B.C. will have greater accessibility to COR certification courses, it said. The BCCSA will partner with WorkSafeBC to deliver safety education and training to all BC construction employers. For more information, visit the website at www.bccsa.ca.
Enforcement stepped up for high-rise construction safety
CALGARY — Alberta is increasing the number of inspections at commercial construction sites in the wake of a number of high-rise construction incidents over the last year. Thomas Lukaszuk, the province’s Minister of Employment and Immigration, said employers need to ensure they “fully understand” and comply with safety laws. “Those who don’t should know that my officers are en route and I have instructed them not to hesitate to shut an operation down if workers’ lives are at risk.” The inspections will focus on commercial construction projects five storeys and higher in major urban centres and small commercial projects throughout the province.
IHSA announces interim president
TORONTO — A new interim CEO has been appointed for the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), one of Ontario’s Partners in Prevention. Al Beattie, formerly IHSA’s vice-president of prevention, specialty services, is assuming the rule of interim president and CEO. Beattie takes over from former CEO Michael Delisle. “I look forward to working with all of the industries we serve to prevent occupational illness and injury in Ontario,” said Beattie. “I am committed to demonstrating our value as a prevention partner for both employers and workers.”
