Union Wants Companies Accountable for Worker Deaths

Aug. 21, 2000
Union officials want legislation in Canada that would make corporate executives liable for criminal or negligent acts that happen under their watch.

Union officials are intensifying efforts to lobby Ottawa, Canada for legislation that would make corporate executives and managers liable for criminal or negligent acts that happen under their watch.

Stephen Hunt of the United Steelworkers of American said Thursday that negligent bosses should share the same liability as people who drink, get behind the wheel and kills someone.

He also called for an immediate inquiry into the death of one of 12 workers hurt last week in a smelter blast in northern Manitoba.

"I''ve always said there can only be one good thing that comes out of a worker''s death and that is to ensure that we don''t repeat it and someone else doesn''t die unnecessarily," said Hunt.

A spokesman for Canada Workplace Health and Safety said the death of the worker won''t change the nature of the investigation.

"From the very start we''ve viewed this in a very serious light," he said.

Two workers who were in critical condition in a hospital in Edmonton were upgraded slightly last week to serious condition.

Another man remained in serious condition in Winnipeg. Two others were in good and stable condition. The remaining six were treated and released shortly after the blast.

Investigators haven''t yet determined the cause of the Manitoba explosion and haven''t blamed anyone.

Hunt said the rules on mine safety in that area need to be strengthened as a result of this recent explosion.

The key question in the investigation centers on the practice of hosing down the smelter''s main furnace to cool it off.

The company, Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting, said that'' s been common practice for 70 years, but union officials disagree.

The union and many of its members believe water was applied too early and mixed with still-molten metal at the base of the furnace to spark the explosion.

Workplace Health and Safety said a report on the incident is expected within a month.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

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EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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