Safety inspectors will be obliged to investigate critical farm injuries and fatalities
After a decade-long campaign, Ontario farm workers will be covered under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as of Friday.
"We're glad the government finally acted to end its discrimination against workers who perform some of the most dangerous work there is," said Wayne Hanley, national director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW).
"The exclusion of these workers from OHSA protection was unfair, unjust and a violation of their Charter rights."
On June 30, for the first time in the act's 26-year history, farm workers in Ontario will have the right and obligation to form workplace health and safety committees, the right to be informed about specific workplace dangers and hazards (including toxic chemicals), the right and obligation to participate with the employer to develop a farm safety plan and policy and the right to refuse dangerous or unsafe work without reprisal from the employer.
Ministry of Labour inspectors will also be obliged to investigate all critical farm injuries and fatalities.
However, as far as the UFCW is concerned, the fight to protect farm workers isn't over yet. "Right now the government says general safety guidelines are good enough, but every other industry under OHSA has specific regulations," said Hanley. "Farm workers need that added protection too, so we're going to keep the pressure on."
"We're glad the government finally acted to end its discrimination against workers who perform some of the most dangerous work there is," said Wayne Hanley, national director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW).
"The exclusion of these workers from OHSA protection was unfair, unjust and a violation of their Charter rights."
On June 30, for the first time in the act's 26-year history, farm workers in Ontario will have the right and obligation to form workplace health and safety committees, the right to be informed about specific workplace dangers and hazards (including toxic chemicals), the right and obligation to participate with the employer to develop a farm safety plan and policy and the right to refuse dangerous or unsafe work without reprisal from the employer.
Ministry of Labour inspectors will also be obliged to investigate all critical farm injuries and fatalities.
However, as far as the UFCW is concerned, the fight to protect farm workers isn't over yet. "Right now the government says general safety guidelines are good enough, but every other industry under OHSA has specific regulations," said Hanley. "Farm workers need that added protection too, so we're going to keep the pressure on."
