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nitzguy
Premium Member
join:2002-07-11
Sudbury, ON

nitzguy

Premium Member

[Serious] MOL (Ontario) guidelines in regards to water in the workplace

I've been looking and looking and I can't seem to find any specific Ontario based Ministry of Labour regulation requiring water to be available in the workplace.

I find regulations in regards to the Film & TV industry, but nothing about normal industry...as people may or may not have been aware, there has been a serious issue in Sudbury this year with water pipes freezing and having no water as a result.

This has been the issue at my workplace since Feb 13th, they have brought in water to flush the toilets and give us as I call it "pseudo running water", but in the case of something like a fire, the fire suppression system isn't going to go off....the issue is apparently within the building property and not the city's fault in this instance.

Just wondering if someone can point me to either a) the regulation or b) the answer to my question...

Or maybe I should call the MOL on Monday, I just didn't want to seem like I should know this answer or its no big deal. I work at a bank incase that helps anyone.

TIA for your help.

dirtyjeffer0
Posers don't use avatars.
Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

who owns the building?
Robrr
join:2008-04-19

Robrr to nitzguy

Member

to nitzguy
Sounds like you'd be dealing with either a OHSA issue or a building code issue.

dirtyjeffer0
Posers don't use avatars.
Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

said by Robrr:

Sounds like you'd be dealing with either a OHSA issue or a building code issue.

yea, something.

i'm on the Health & Safety Committee at my work, but i've never had to deal with "no water"...yes, we've had issues with the building before, but they are always addressed immediately (not sure if the company pays or if the owner of the building pays, but it gets done right away) so i've never had to "look into it".

i would think "no water" is something that should have been fixed in 1-2 days though.

nitzguy
Premium Member
join:2002-07-11
Sudbury, ON

nitzguy

Premium Member

yeah youd think so but with hundreds (not kidding) of residences having no water issues as a business we were pushed down the priority list.

We lease the building from what im told.

Ill talk to our jhsc but theyre all yes men so i dont think ill get far with them.

thebaron
Premium Member
join:2003-12-09
Zegema Beach

thebaron to nitzguy

Premium Member

to nitzguy
What are you hoping to accomplish by calling the MOL on your employer for something that clearly is beyond their control?

Just curious

dirtyjeffer0
Posers don't use avatars.
Premium Member
join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

Premium Member

doesn't really sound like a MoL issue...if the building is leased, i would think you need to determine who is responsible to fix the water issue and light a fire under their ass to fix it asap as it could become a safety issue.

koira
Hey Siri Walk Me
Premium Member
join:2004-02-16

koira

Premium Member

its already a safety problem if sprinklers don't work, in the event of a fire you would not be covered by the fire insurance based on the assumption of functional sprinklers.

thebaron
Premium Member
join:2003-12-09
Zegema Beach

3 edits

thebaron

Premium Member

said by koira:

its already a safety problem if sprinklers don't work, in the event of a fire you would not be covered by the fire insurance based on the assumption of functional sprinklers.

You would still be covered because the sprinklers were not disabled by neglect but by forces of nature. In all likelihood the employer is doing everything they can to get a plumber but if this is happening all over the city there is likely a massive backlog.

It's not likely that bucking hiring a plumber is the case because it is likely costing them massively more to bring in water.

Edit: To answer the original question. Water and sprinklers won't be in the H&SA but in the building code. Adherence to building code and built in safety features is what will be in the act and regulations.

If MOL comes they will ask if the employer is taking steps to ensure proper drinking water and toilet facilities and the answer will be yes. He will then ask if a plumber has been called and the answer will most likely be yes but with a backlog. That will be sufficient for the inspector and he will leave.

koira
Hey Siri Walk Me
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join:2004-02-16

koira

Premium Member

Thanks for clarification Baron, as you pointed out i'm an armchair insurance underwriter and would be better off lurking on topics like this

Gone
Premium Member
join:2011-01-24
Fort Erie, ON

Gone to thebaron

Premium Member

to thebaron
I remember when the building I worked at back in 2009 or 2010 had its pipe freeze and they lost water, the building was ordered closed and they sent us home. It might have been a local bylaw issue though, and not anything related to provincial regulations.

LazMan
Premium Member
join:2003-03-26
Beverly Hills, CA

LazMan to nitzguy

Premium Member

to nitzguy
With the sprinklers out of service, the local building officer or fire prevention officer could issue an unsafe building order; and revoke the occupancy until such time as the sprinklers and other life safety items are back in service.

Life safety codes aren't enforced by MoL - they'd be more concerned about drinking water and restroom facilities.

Bigger question is, where are you going with this?

koira
Hey Siri Walk Me
Premium Member
join:2004-02-16

koira

Premium Member

said by LazMan:

Bigger question is, where are you going with this?

I'm sure it's frustrating seeing it's carried on for a month.
If you stir enough shit the boss will remember you in some way.
Be thankful to be gainfully employed there or maybe time to start looking elsewhere.
btech805
join:2013-08-01
Canada

btech805 to LazMan

Member

to LazMan
Ottawa has had this issue too over the course of the winter, dozens of homes had frozen pipes. I doubt that in this case it is a MoL issue, because it isn't interfering in your work, or forcing you to do something illegally.

I also doubt that the fires suppression system would be affected as most commerical buildings use chemical sprinklers now and not water. Water, while effective at suppressing flames, creates a lot of smoke and electronic damage. I have several friends in the fire technician business and no one uses water anymore.

LazMan
Premium Member
join:2003-03-26
Beverly Hills, CA

LazMan

Premium Member

You'd be wrong there... Chemical systems are only common in kitchens; to protect fryers.

Dry gas systems are used in some data centres and archival areas; but water is still used in almost all general fire protection systems...
peterboro (banned)
Avatars are for posers
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON

peterboro (banned) to Gone

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to Gone
said by Gone:

It might have been a local bylaw issue though, and not anything related to provincial regulations.

If there was a work refusal or complaint of/for unsafe working conditions (no fire suppression) then it would be provincial.

Gone
Premium Member
join:2011-01-24
Fort Erie, ON

Gone

Premium Member

The primary reason was that the toilet weren't working. Would that not be regional Department of Public Health?
peterboro (banned)
Avatars are for posers
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON

peterboro (banned)

Member

Yes, but I'm speaking to what I think is the OPs intent to get some time off or annoy his boss.

Of course we'll get a thread in a few months where he is unemployed of course.

dirtyjeffer0
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join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0

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said by peterboro:

Of course we'll get a thread in a few months where he is unemployed of course.

and how the company brought in TFWs who would be more than happy to shit in buckets in the broom closet, and not even complain about it.

nitzguy
Premium Member
join:2002-07-11
Sudbury, ON

nitzguy to peterboro

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to peterboro
said by peterboro:

Yes, but I'm speaking to what I think is the OPs intent to get some time off or annoy his boss.

Of course we'll get a thread in a few months where he is unemployed of course.

The goal isnt to get time off or annoy my boss....the goal is to be healthy at my workplace because as someone who handles money with the public...protip: People are disgusting with their money and who knows what germs are living on that money. Id like to be able to properly wash my hands because sanitizer is a joke and doesnt actually clean your hands properly....ive been sick lately and its not like me to get sick twice in 1 season....as some may know i worked at the casino for nearly 4 years and wasnt this sick....and that money is probably just as bad.

So im just trying to ensure my rights are being adhered to....thats all.
Expand your moderator at work

joeblow3
join:2000-12-27
h0h0h0

joeblow3 to nitzguy

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Re: [Serious] MOL (Ontario) guidelines in regards to water in the workplace

WEAR GLOVES if you are so worried about the germs

Gone
Premium Member
join:2011-01-24
Fort Erie, ON

Gone

Premium Member

said by joeblow3:

WEAR GLOVER if you are so worried about the germs



nitzguy
Premium Member
join:2002-07-11
Sudbury, ON

nitzguy to joeblow3

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to joeblow3
said by joeblow3:

WEAR GLOVES if you are so worried about the germs

@Gone: Thanks for the laugh its appreciated very much

@joeblow3: Have you ever tried to count thousands of dollars with gloves? Its not practical...

Gone
Premium Member
join:2011-01-24
Fort Erie, ON

Gone

Premium Member

He edited the typo in the middle of me posting that, so it's less funny now.

dirtyjeffer0
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join:2002-02-21
London, ON

dirtyjeffer0 to nitzguy

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to nitzguy
said by nitzguy:

@joeblow3: Have you ever tried to count thousands of dollars with gloves? Its not practical...

wait, you work at a bank and you have to count the cash with your hands??...every bank i have seen has a bill counter (many of them)...what kind of cheap ass bank do you work at?
Expand your moderator at work

Hydraglass
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join:2002-05-08

Hydraglass to dirtyjeffer0

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to dirtyjeffer0

Re: [Serious] MOL (Ontario) guidelines in regards to water in the workplace

said by dirtyjeffer0:

said by nitzguy:

@joeblow3: Have you ever tried to count thousands of dollars with gloves? Its not practical...

wait, you work at a bank and you have to count the cash with your hands??...every bank i have seen has a bill counter (many of them)...what kind of cheap ass bank do you work at?

If he's a teller he handles and counts it all day long - not thousands at one time - but thousands throughout the day - the tellers always recount it as they hand it to the customer, and also re-count it when the customer hands it to them. At least at my bank...

nitzguy
Premium Member
join:2002-07-11
Sudbury, ON

nitzguy

Premium Member

said by Hydraglass:

said by dirtyjeffer0:

said by nitzguy:

@joeblow3: Have you ever tried to count thousands of dollars with gloves? Its not practical...

wait, you work at a bank and you have to count the cash with your hands??...every bank i have seen has a bill counter (many of them)...what kind of cheap ass bank do you work at?

If he's a teller he handles and counts it all day long - not thousands at one time - but thousands throughout the day - the tellers always recount it as they hand it to the customer, and also re-count it when the customer hands it to them. At least at my bank...

Exactly....you have a deposit for 500 dollars you come to my wicket, I hand count it to verify and then go over to the machine and deposit it there. Then you say I want 800 in 20s 10s and 5s....I go over to the machine and request 800...I then hand count to verify the machine dispensed correctly at the machine and the. I go and count it again in front of you so that you don't think I short changed you.

Where would a bill counter help me? It only helps when I'm bundling money together or taking in large scale deposits otherwise I can be just about as fast for about 30 bills by hand vs the machine....above that and the machine tends to be faster....also bills that are mutilated don't typically go through the bill counter well but they're still needing to be deposited somewherebd counted.

It's not a cheap ass bank by any stretch....I feel like while some might say it's evil and not as sophisticated in terms of client capabilities for things like eDeposit and the whatnot that for my job I don't have to balance a drawer each day which is definitely less stressful....balancing a branch is stressful but idiot have to do that every day.

Styvas
Who are we? Forge FC!
Premium Member
join:2004-09-15
Hamilton, ON

Styvas

Premium Member

Not to mention that the best way to detect counterfeit bills is to feel them.