We have some understanding of what the means as this term ‘imminent’ concept was found in legislation prior to the changes that were made in 2000. In an old 1984 decision, in a case between Bell Canada and Labour Canada, the Canada Labour Relations Board concluded that ‘imminent is a situation of high probability, that something out of the ordinary danger’ which will be injurious to the safety and/or health is so likely to individual’s occur almost immediately and without warning, that the individual should withdraw themselves from the scene. We can assume that the use of the in the present definition term ‘imminent’ will be given a similar interpretation, and that the threat to life of health has to be based on something that has to be happening almost immediately. However, how the concept of threat to life of will be ‘serious health’ interpreted is not at this time known. The other key phrase is that workers must have to “reasonable cause it will place them, or other workers, in danger. You have to believe” don’t prove the danger exists, just that reasonable to believe it does. it’s Somehow, you must have information that the work will hurt you or others. The source of this belief could be something you: heard about; read about; were told about; have seen (e.g. injuries or illnesses); suspect because of past experience; have been involved in. Finally, you cannot refuse to do dangerous work if the refusal: puts the life, health or safety of another person directly in danger; or
We have some understanding of what the term ‘imminent’ means as this concept was found in legislation prior to the changes that were made in 2000. In an old 1984 decision, in a case between Bell Canada and Labour Canada, the Canada Labour Relations Board concluded that ‘imminent danger’ is a situation of high probability, that something out of the ordinary which will be injurious to the individual’s safety and/or health is so likely to occur almost immediately and without warning, that the individual should withdraw themselves from the scene. We can assume that the use of the term ‘imminent’ in the present definition will be given a similar interpretation, and that the threat to life of health has to be based on something that has to be happening almost immediately. However, how the concept of ‘serious threat to life of health’ will be interpreted is not at this time known. The other key phrase is that workers must have “reasonable cause to believe” it will place them, or other workers, in danger. You don’t have to prove the danger exists, just that it’s reasonable to believe it does. Somehow, you must have information that the work will hurt you or others. The source of this belief could be something you: heard about; read about; were told about; have seen (e.g. injuries or illnesses); suspect because of past experience; have been involved in. Finally, you cannot refuse to do dangerous work if the refusal: puts the life, health or safety of another person directly in danger; or