Higher safety fines for executives

On July 1, 2022, the Working for Workers Act, 2022 went into effect. The new penalty provisions outlined in Schedule 4 increase Ontario’s occupational health and safety fines, making them the highest in Canada for businesses that fail to keep workers safe.

Maximum fines for directors or officers of a corporation can be up to $1.5 million, and $500,000 for other individuals.

The bill also sets out aggravating factors, including lack of remorse or a desire to increase revenue or decrease costs, that can affect the size of the penalty.

A systemic approach to health and safety can help businesses avoid penalties.

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