The Workers’ Health and Safety Legal Clinic is pleased to publish its Spring 2017 Newsletter – Vol. 25, No. 1. In this publication, you will find commentary about clinic casework and law reform efforts, as well as meet our new staff. Read more on these issues in the Spring 2017 Clinic Newsletter.
Last year, on April 28, the Committee for the Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Project was proud to formally unveil the Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Wall honouring almost one thousand workers of Italian origin who have been killed in workplace tragedies across Ontario. This year, the Committee will be adding hundreds of names and broadening the project to include workers of Italian origin who were killed in these terrible workplace tragedies across Canada, from 1900 to today.
Injured workers, advocates, union members and allies rallied in Toronto on December 12th, for the annual call to action against austerity measures that have been taken by the Workers Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). The rally began at the WSIB’s Toronto office located at 200 Front Street West and then continued at the Ombudsman’s office located at 483 Bay Street. A letter voicing concerns with the WSIB was delivered to a representative of Ontario’s Ombudsman, Mr.
The Workers’ Health and Safety Legal Clinic’s Annual Report outlines the activities and initiatives that were made in pursuit of advocating for workers’ rights. It further details the Clinic’s efforts to continue providing consistently high quality services in a cost-effective, efficient and innovative manner. The Clinic provides such legal services as advice, representation, public legal education and law reform concerning occupational health and safety and related workplace laws. (WHSLC 2016)
U of T Engineering Students’ proposal for Ontario Building Code changes for Radon Gas. According to the World Health Organization, radon gas has become the second leading cause of lung cancer. In Ontario, high levels of radon can be found within Toronto’s GTA. Since there are no legal requirements in Ontario for radon testing, the current Ontario Building Code is inadequate to handle radon as a rising problem. The Canadian Environmental Law Association issued a report in November 2014 called Radon in Homes, Schools, and Workplaces: CELA Finds Legal Protections Lacking.
U of T Engineering Students’ proposals to safely replace the dangerous high school Rainbow Experiment. Our Clinic continued its partnership with first year engineering students at the University of Toronto participating in U of T Engineering Strategies & Practice Course, and the Multidisciplinary Capstone Design Course. Proposed by Clinic volunteer, Dr. Michael Grossman, “Operation Rainbow” is a project that seeks to resolve the safety problems surrounding the Rainbow Experiment: a laboratory experiment performed in secondary schools that identify characteristic colours produced by crystalline compounds when ignited.
Criminal Code – Prison Sentence: The effect of the Kazenelson criminal law decision on legal advice to workers. In concluding a case commentary in the previous issue of this newsletter, I asked: “Has Kazenelson changed the rules of engagement for going to work? Should workers worry about this?” In this polemic, I try to explain why my answers are: yes & yes. The Kazenelson case is the first major conviction under the Westray-changed Criminal Code.
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