365 Ontario workers died in 2004
Some Ontario workplaces can only be described as "Third World" in terms of the number of on-the-job injuries and deaths, according to a professional engineer who investigates workplace accidents.
As many as half of small-and medium-sized companies pay little or no heed to workplace safety, said Ralph Balbaa, president of Mississauga, Ont.-based HITE Engineering Corp, which is on contract to Ontario's labour ministry to investigate on-the-job deaths and injuries.
Under a federal law passed three years ago, CEOs and other senior company officials can be held criminally responsible for workplace accidents.
In 2004, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 365 Ontario workers died from work-related injuries and illnesses. And there were 275,000 injury claims to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
The province is targeting 6,000 workplaces that are the worst health and safety offenders, said Labour Minister Steve Peters. The government has talked about reducing injuries by 60,000 a year over the next two years.
On Friday, the WSIB and organized labour will mark the national day of mourning for workers killed on the job at ceremonies throughout Ontario.
As many as half of small-and medium-sized companies pay little or no heed to workplace safety, said Ralph Balbaa, president of Mississauga, Ont.-based HITE Engineering Corp, which is on contract to Ontario's labour ministry to investigate on-the-job deaths and injuries.
Under a federal law passed three years ago, CEOs and other senior company officials can be held criminally responsible for workplace accidents.
In 2004, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 365 Ontario workers died from work-related injuries and illnesses. And there were 275,000 injury claims to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
The province is targeting 6,000 workplaces that are the worst health and safety offenders, said Labour Minister Steve Peters. The government has talked about reducing injuries by 60,000 a year over the next two years.
On Friday, the WSIB and organized labour will mark the national day of mourning for workers killed on the job at ceremonies throughout Ontario.
