News release

Workplace Health and Safety Fines Rise

Labour and Advanced Education (Jan. 2011 - Aug. 2021)

In a move designed to make workplaces safer, legislation was introduced today, April 14, that would increase fines levied under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The fines have not changed since 1996, when the maximum fine was set at $250,000. Under the proposed amendments, the maximum fine would remain $250,000 for a first offence and rise to $500,000 for additional offences within five years. The maximum fine for any offence involving a death would be $500,000.

"Increasing fines for those who break our health and safety laws sends a message that more must be done to reduce injuries, illnesses and deaths at work," said Marilyn More, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education.

The Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Council, with equal representation from unionized and non-unionized employers and employees, recommended the amendments.

Workers' Compensation Board statistics at the end of 2010 indicated that injury rates are down about 16.5 per cent since January 2008. The decline reflects education and enforcement by the Workplace Safety and Insurance System -- representatives from Labour and Workforce Development, Workers' Compensation Board, Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal, Workers' Advisers Program, and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada -- and the efforts of employers, employees, and other safety partners.

There were 23 workplace deaths in 2010, down from 32 in 2009. There have been seven workplace deaths in Nova Scotia this year.

Five resulted from chronic health conditions, one death occurred after an employee broke his hip at work and later died in hospital, and one worker was hit by a metal pipe.

Judges may continue to use creative sentencing in their decisions. Under creative sentencing, a judge can order a guilty party to contribute to an organization that supports injured workers or their families, or to perform community service intended to increase workplace health and safety. Penalties imposed under creative sentencing would be additional to the maximum fine, under the proposed amendments.