Part IX: Offences and penalties

The Ministry may initiate a prosecution against any regulated person (including employers, supervisors, and workers) for a contravention of the Act or the regulations, or for failing to comply with an order of an inspector, a director or the minister [subsection 66(1)]. These prosecutions are conducted by the Ministry of the Attorney General lawyers or paralegals on behalf of the Ministry of Labour.

If convicted, a court may impose a fine and/or jail term against an individual defendant. The maximum fine per charge for an individual is $100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months.

The maximum fine, which can be imposed on a corporation convicted of an offence, is $1,500,000 per charge [subsections 66(1) and (2)].

Court Bulletins reporting on some Occupational Health and Safety Act conviction outcomes can be viewed on the Government of Ontario website.