Defence Work McLennan Ross has one of the largest OHS Practice Groups in western Canada. A team of occupational health and safety lawyers is ready to assist whenever the need arises. The consequences of a serious workplace incident can take many forms including a civil lawsuit, a prosecution, an appearance before an administrative board or tribunal, or any combination thereof. The list of possibilities is extensive and requires prompt well-informed legal advice in order to effectively and strategically respond to a serious workplace incident. Decisions made in the early stages of responding to a serious workplace accident can become important months or even years later.
The McLennan Ross OHS Team defends all types of regulatory prosecutions including Occupational Health and Safety, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Environment, Safety Codes, and all other types of work-related prosecutions.The OHS Team also represent companies and individuals appearing before administrative boards or tribunals including the OHS Council, the Labour Relations Board, the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Energy and Utilities Board, the Environmental Appeal Board, the National Energy Board, and many others. McLennan Ross has the depth and experience to meet you needs on a timely basis catered to the size of the issue and urgency of the need.
In-House Presentations McLennan Ross can provide a customized in-house presentation to address the particular concerns of your organization in managing workplace health and safety. Some of the topics typically covered include:
Bill C-45: What It Means For You and How to Protect Yourself
Hard Lessons from the Real World: Learning From Past Accidents
Making Due Diligence Work For You
The Hard Cost of Workplace Accidents
Responding to a Serious Workplace Accident
Preventing OHS Prosecutions
Prime Contractor Liability: Avoiding the Confusion
Contractor Management
Managing Risk in a Safety-Sensitive Workplace
Drug and Alcohol Testing: When is it permissible?
These presentations will provide your management team with the information they need to implement effective strategies to avoid workplace accidents and OHS prosecutions.
To find out more about McLennan Ross' OHS services, please contact Dave Myrol at 780.482.9290, or email dmyrol@mross.com.
Responding Effectively No employer can ever be fully prepared for a serious workplace accident, such as a fatality or serious personal injury. The variety of circumstances giving rise to such incidents are so complex that no safety program, however well planned, can prepare for every conceivable scenario. Furthermore, the human and emotional elements involved significantly complicate the ability of those involved to respond appropriately. Consistent training and education, however, is key to establishing a protocol that is less likely to break down when faced with such significant events.
McLennan Ross can assess and provide guidance concerning your organization’s strategic response plan. Evaluating your response plan, internal reporting systems, investigation management, media relations, and other due diligence protocols, is key to an efficient and appropriate mechanism for responding to workplace accidents.
Furthermore, upon the occurrence of any incident, our lawyers can provide both legal and privileged investigation advice which is essential in minimizing your organization's exposure to regulatory and criminal charges and the significant fines and penalties which often result. Early legal intervention is highly recommended when faced with any serious workplace accident.
Compliance One of the common challenges for companies and businesses, no matter how big or small, is to ensure that safety policies and procedures satisfy the legislative requirements. McLennan Ross can assist with this review and identify areas of non-compliance. We can also assist large companies working in multiple jurisdictions to find a solution that meets all of its legislative responsibilities. Our team of lawyers located in McLennan Ross’ Calgary, Edmonton and Yellowknife offices are members of the Bar in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories, which facilitates our ability to provide knowledgeable and effective service when coordinating safe work procedures in multiple jurisdictions for our valued clients.
Contracts and Clauses One tool in managing the risk of OHS liability is to ensure contracts are designed from an OHS perspective. Our team of lawyers can assist in identifying strategies for negotiating contracts including prime contractor or supplier responsibilities, preparing entire contracts, or suggesting OHS clauses that will assist with managing OHS liabilities. McLennan Ross’ team of lawyers can assess and provide guidance on these issues and identify what your company most needs from a contractual perspective.
Contact David Myrol for more info: 780.482.9290 dmyrol@mross.com
