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Did you know that…
…the path toward improved workplace health and safety
began in 1884 when Sir Oliver Mowat’s government passed
the Ontario Factories Act? This legislation established a
system of inspection to ensure safety and health standards
in factories that became the basis for the Occupational Health
and Safety Act.
…on October 13, 1884, an explosion at the Hamilton
Powder Company killed five workers? The explosion was heard
as far away as Toronto. In early 1885, the Matthews Case came
to trial in Ontario to establish legal liability for the resulting
deaths and injuries. The trial lasted two days; and after
only two hours of deliberation, the jury concluded that the
company did not fulfill its legal duty to provide safe machinery
and that the Hamilton Powder Company was liable for the deaths
of the five workers. A compensation agreement was made between
the company, its injured workers, and the families of those
who had been killed.
The resulting public education campaign and assistance programs
served as a model for IAPA and WSIB services that would develop
25 years later.
…in 1886, the Workmen’s Compensation for Injuries
Act became the first workers' compensation legislation in
Canada? It established the conditions under which a worker
can take legal action against an employer for injuries sustained
at the workplace. This led the way for the passage of the
Ontario Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1914, which is
based on the premise that some level of injury is inevitable
and that compensation should be provided without regard to
responsibility.
…in 1887, the Government of Canada struck the Royal
Commission on Labour and Capital to investigate the condition
of working people of the Dominion? The primary focus of the
Commission was labour and the experiences of workers. The
Commission traveled across Canada and heard the testimony
of 1,800 witnesses.
The Commission concluded that there was a high level of injury
among workers and condemned the oppressiveness of working
conditions. It did little in the end to improve conditions
faced by workers because Federal action was seen as an infringement
of Provincial authority. However, many of the testimonies
were found so appalling that the Commission directed the Federal
Government to ensure stronger enforcement of the laws and
regulations regarding child labour in Canada.
…in 1895, an amendment to the Factories Act was made
requiring guarding for dangerous machinery in the workplace?
The amendment also required employers to give notice of fatalities,
explosions, and any injury resulting in more than a six-day
absence from the workplace.
…in 1917, the year of IAPA’s incorporation, there
were 233 reported workplace fatalities?
…in 1920, 9% of all compensation cases reported to
the Workmen’s Compensation Board involved blood poisoning
and 24 deaths were caused by infection?
…October 29, 1929, was known as Black Tuesday –
the day when stock markets in New York, Toronto, Montreal,
London, and other financial centres crashed? This event caused
The Great Depression. In spite of the Great Crash, banks,
mines, and the construction industry reported record profits
for the year.
…In 1942, IAPA’s 25th year, there were 309 reported
fatalities and 117,886 lost-time injuries requiring compensation?
… in 1950, the Royal Commission on the Workmen's Compensation
Act (Roach Commission) was unable to clarify whether the rules
of the Workmen’s Compensation Board Act were established
to prevent injuries in the workplace or to manage the various
safety associations that existed in Ontario? The Commission
recommended that joint labour and management workplace committees
be established.
…in 1967, the 50th anniversary year of IAPA’s
incorporation, there were 352,732 claims reported for injuries
and occupational illness in Ontario? In that year, there were
also 267 workplace fatalities in Ontario.
…in 1976, The Royal Commission on the Health and Safety
of Workers in Mines (commonly known as the Ham Report) was
struck in the Province of Ontario as a response to a wildcat
strike by mine workers in Elliot Lake over their health and
safety concerns? In addition to the improvement of working
conditions in mines and other confined spaces, the Ham Report
led to a broad revision of content in the Occupational Health
and Safety Act (1978).
…on October 31, 1988, after 70 years of health and
safety advocacy and public education, the Hazardous Products
Act came into effect federally? The Act introduced the Workplace
Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) as a national
hazard classification and hazard communication standard in
Canada.
…on October 31, 2003, The Honourable Martin Cauchon,
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, welcomed
the passage of Bill C-45? This legislation helped ensure organizations
are held accountable when they commit criminal offences and
was a major step toward ensuring employers will be held responsible
for criminally negligent acts in the workplace, sending a
strong message that all employees deserve protection under
the law.
The Bill was passed with no change and came into force on
March 31, 2004.
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