Working in extreme heat and employment laws

With rising temperatures across the country due to an unprecedented heatwave, questions and concerns for outdoor workers have arisen. What protections and rights do employees have to refuse unsafe work? Are employers obligated to provide relief for employees?

Lluc Cerda, a Toronto employment lawyer and Associate at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP comments on the rights of farmers and the practicality of continuing to work despite high temperatures to the National Observer.

Cerda states that farmers and most agricultural workers will have to reduce their workload.  “Those dynamics are playing out in B.C., where the province’s labour laws require farmers to offer their employees water, frequent breaks, and shade,” says Cerda.

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Cerda goes onto explain that for many this will not be possible due to their compensation arrangement. “Many are paid by the piece, not hourly, making it difficult to afford to work less.”