HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Designated Crown Prosecutor

1   There shall be a designated Crown Prosecutor to deal with workplace fatality and serious injury cases.

Training police

2   Police officers shall receive training on section 217.1 of the Criminal Code.

Mandatory police investigations

3   There shall be mandatory police investigations of all workplace fatalities and serious injuries, which shall be done separately, but may be done in collaboration with, Occupational Health and Safety regulatory investigations.

Training inspectors

4   Worksafe BC inspectors shall receive training on section 217.1 of the Criminal Code.

Specialized prosecution policy

5   The Criminal Justice Branch and related police and safety agencies must develop a specialized prosecution policy for workplace fatalities and serious injuries cases.

Explanatory Note

This Bill ensures that corporate executives and directors are held accountable for cases of negligence causing workplace death or serious injury. This Bill designates a Crown Prosecutor to deal with workplace fatality and serious injury cases. It also emphasizes training in investigating corporate criminal negligence in the event of a serious injury or fatality in a workplace under section 217.1 of the Criminal Code to ensure its proper application for criminal prosecutions. In addition, this Bill requires mandatory police investigations and calls for a specialized prosecution policy for workplace fatality and serious injury cases.