Some potential attendees of a workplace safety workshop on new occupational health and safety regulations were greeted September 12 by signs on the Gallagher Centre doors indicating the meeting had been cancelled.
In May, the provincial legislature passed Bill #23, An Act to amend The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993. In June, the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety announced information sessions would be held around the province to help employers and workers to understand and comply with the new regulations.
But the government quickly found out there was a lot of confusion and concerns among affected groups.
"The government decided not to move forward with Bill 23 until stakeholders could have their concerns addressed," said Glennis Bihun, executive director of the ministry's Occupational Health and Safety Division.
As a result, information sessions were postponed while the government conducts consultation sessions with representatives of organized labour, employers and employer associations.
"Standards can only be as good as they are known and understood to achieve compliance," Bihun said.
The consultation process is scheduled to run throughout September and the Ministry is shooting for the middle of October to reschedule the information sessions.
Saskatchewan has the second worst workplace time loss injury record in Canada. Bihun said improving safety for Saskatchewan workers is her ministry's top priority.
