FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2000
Plutonium shipment: Government
charged by OPSEU for breaches to Occupational Health and Safety Act
Today, the Provincial Court, on behalf of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union,
laid charges against the Ministry of Natural Resources under the Occupational Health and
Safety Act as a result of breaches to the Act. The employer failed to tell its employees
that plutonium, a hazardous material, was present in their workplace and failed to provide
employees with instruction and proper supervision on how to protect themselves.
OPSEU says the government of Ontario collaborated in a secret operation to bring in
plutonium from the United States at a public service workplace at the Ministry of Natural
Resources hanger at the Sault-Ste. Marie Airport. The final destination of this weapons
grade plutonium shipment was an AECL facility in Chalk River, Ontario.
"This is a very serious breach of the Health and Safety Act as well as a negligent
action that could have placed dozens of workers in serious danger," said Robert
DeMatteo, a Senior Health and Safety Officer with the Ontario Public Service Employees
Union.
"The Ministry of Natural Resources' workers realized something was wrong when they
got to work. They were only informed about this radioactive shipment when they heard a
radio broadcast at noon on Jan.14, 2000, indicating that what might be in that shipment
was plutonium," added DeMatteo.
In so doing, the Ontario government contravened specific provisions of the Health and
Safety Act. These include: Section 25 Subsection 2 (a), which specifically requires the
employer to "provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect
the health and safety of the worker; and Section 25 Subsection 2 (d) which requires the
employer to acquaint a worker or person in authority of a worker with any hazard in the
work and in the handling, storage, use, disposal and transport of any article, device,
equipment, or biological, chemical or physical agent."
For further information:
Robert DeMatteo (416) 443-8888, ext.770 or (416) 723-8364
Pierre Floréa (416) 450-1252, (416) 448-7442
