Occupational health and safety and workers' compensation (workplace safety and insurance)

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a rapidly changing field with new standards and regulatory requirements. Federal legislation now imposes criminal liability on corporations and organizations, as well as its officers and employees, that fail to take reasonable measures to protect employees and public safety.

We have one of Canada’s largest OHS and workers’ compensation (workplace safety and insurance in Ontario) practice teams. We help clients to monitor their employees’ health and safety without compromising their strategic goals and financial results.

Our team gives clients ready access to lawyers, occupational health and safety advisors (registered nurses specializing in OHS), researchers, paralegals/law clerks, including those specializing in the provincial boards’ rate groups and assessments and related financial matters. and experts in related fields, such as doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists and ergonomists.

We advise and represent clients before administrative tribunals and the courts on a full range of matters of OHS and workplace compensation. Our strong relationships with health professionals and provincial health and safety agencies enable us to respond to clients’ needs quickly and effectively.

We have expertise in prevention and inspection matters, and claims management. We represent employers in all aspects of OHS including those accused of violating the criminal code, government legislation or the labour code, and representation at coroners’ inquests and with respect to compensation claims.

We offer you

• advice on the establishment of an accident prevention program
• help with the creation and maintenance of OHS and related committees
• representation of employers in connection with the exercise of the right to refuse unsafe work
• planning the impact of corporate transactions or changes in an employer’s legal structure on its classification and assessment structure
• assistance with the design and implementation of light duty assignment programs
• contesting, where required, decisions of provincial health and safety agencies and other tribunals in this area
• coordination of the medical controls required to monitor and manage both short-term and long-term absenteeism, whether personal or work-related
• identifying and obtaining the appropriate classification and assessment structures
• the ability to obtain cost transfers, cost sharing related to pre-existing conditions and other credits
• strategic design and implementation of new workplace organization arrangements (outsourcing, subcontracting, independent and contractual workers, employee leasing arrangements, etc.)
• verifying the medical and legal validity of claims filed for work accidents or employment injuries
• verifying whether all appropriate cost transfers or credits have been applied to an employer’s financial file