Occupational Health and Safety

In BC, every employer is required by law to register with the Workers’ Compensation Board (now WorkSafe BC). WorkSafe BC adjudicates claims from injured workers for workers’ compensation benefits and governs occupational health and safety issues in BC.

The OHS legislation is a complex code designed to promote a safe work environment for BC workers. Lawson Lundell lawyers assist employers, owners and prime contractors in understanding and complying with their obligations under the OHS legislation. We conduct OHS audits and supervisory training for our clients. We represent employers, owners and prime contractors in responding to claims of discrimination relating to OHS matters, refusals to work because of alleged unsafe conditions and Board orders following workplace inspections. We assist employers, owners and prime contractors during investigations following serious or fatal workplace accidents and represent them in appeals of Board orders, penalty assessments and coroner inquests.

Our lawyers have experience in representing employers on appeals of workers’ claims for compensation and assessment appeals at the Review Division of the Board and at the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal.

Experience

• Represented a major forest industry client to successfully defend 3 claims of discrimination under the OHS regulations
• Assisted a large construction company during the Worksafe investigation following a fatality, successfully avoided penalty assessments or regulatory prosecution and assisted it in reviewing and revising its work practices
• Advised an integrated transit company on its obligations as owner of a multi-employer construction worksite
• Advised a public utilities employer on its OHS obligations relating to its roles as employer, prime contractor and owner
• Represented an employer in the ship building industry in its appeal of its classification for assessment purposes and were successful in having it reclassified with a savings of over $1 million
• Successfully defended a forest industry client charged with a regulatory offence following a fatality at its worksite
• Provided OHS training to supervisors and managers for companies in the construction and manufacturing industries with an emphasis on supervisors’ obligations to maintain a safe work site and potential liabilities under the Criminal Code