Ottawa Plumber Says “Homeowners are Being Held Liable for Injuries to Uninsured Plumbers”: newswire.net/newsroom/pr/74365-Ottawa-Plumber-Says-Homeowners-are-Being-Held-Liable-for-Injuries-Uninsured-Plumbers.html Plumbing work is actually a licensed trade and thus falls under some very strict rules with regards to liability and insurance (most notably WSIB – Workers Safety Insurance Board). The biggest concern at this time relates to the homeowners being financially liable – not for just damages to the home by handyman plumbers - but even more costly: fines, unpaid premiums, medical care and loss of wages which the homeowner has to pay out of pocket when an uninsured plumber has been injured working for a homeowner without WSIB insurance. Alec Cardwell (founder of CARAHS a non-profit Occupational Health & Safety Association) quoted in a forum “…homeowner was convicted and fined around $20,000 in Richmond Hill Ontario by the MOL (Ministry of Labour) for not complying the Occupation Health & Safety Act.” And this is just one case out of many that are coming to light with the new regulations in place. So what are the rules when it comes to hiring uninsured plumbers or any other type of tradesmen to do work in your home? “As of January 1, 2013, IOs (independent operators i.e. self-employed including family members or handymen), sole proprietors, partners, and executive officers in the construction industry are required to register with the WSIB, and to pay WSIB premiums, unless one of the few exemptions from coverage applies.” If they don’t carry workplace safety insurance “both the principal (you) and the IO (independent operator) must complete and sign the appropriate questionnaire, and submit it to the WSIB, before the IO does any contract work for you.” “You can avoid all the paperwork and delays” states Dave Francis of Francis Plumbing & Heating “by simply asking to see their WSIB policy (showing valid and paid up to date) or their WSIB clearance certificate. This information should be readily accessible to the homeowner and should also include a copy of their written warranty so you know what their insurance actually covers in addition to WSIB.” Some things simply aren’t worth the financial & liability risk. If they don’t have the insurance don’t hire them. Find a legitimate licensed plumbing business that will guaranty their work and protect your assets in the process. In the end it is up to each of us as part of our local community to take steps to protect our families and homes and to make sure we aren’t being held responsible for someone else’s insurance premiums or lack thereof. For more information about mandatory WSIB coverage in the construction industry, please download a copy of “The Construction Employer’s Guide to Workplace Safety and Insurance” from the OEA’s website. employeradviser.ca/en/documents/report/nonconstruction_em_guide.pdf
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:55:07 +0000
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