The complainants, employed as punchers in a smelter, refused to return to work after a break, alleging that the work place was unsafe due to excessive heat and the lack of a second fan on their converter.
They were subsequently disciplined by the employer and filed a complaint under The Employees' Health and Safety Act.
The Ontario Labour Relations Board dismissed the complaint, finding that the complainants did not have reasonable cause to believe the work place was unsafe, as the conditions were not abnormal for the operation and the refusal appeared to be based on other factors such as an inherited production mess and a short turn-around shift.
