Air Canada faces seatbelt, vehicle defect charges

Air Canada faces seatbelt, vehicle defect charges after death of Toronto baggage handler, Henry Parvez.

Federal officials allege five health and safety violations by the airline "contributed" to the death of Ian Henrey Pervez, who was killed while working a night shift on April 22, 2016.

"What's done is done," said the 24-year-old's father, Pervez Pervez

He said the family is still processing the charges against Air Canada and is anxious to see the final outcome.

Following Pervez's death, some airport workers held vigils and demonstrations denouncing the safety and working conditions at the airport, complaining of poor maintenance of Air Canada's ground equipment.

On April 11, investigators found the airline to be in violation of five provisions of the Canada Labour Code:

• Failure to ensure that the health and safety at work of Pervez was protected.
• Failure to remove from service defective vehicles that present a health and safety hazard to employees operating them.
• Failure to install seatbelts or similar restraining devices.
• Failure to provide training to employees to ensure they are able to identify defects in vehicles.
• Failure to take adequate preventative measures to address the hazards of operating baggage-cart tractors.

If convicted, officials at Air Canada face maximum penalties of up $1 million or a prison term of two years.Following the death, labour officials also directed the airline to install seatbelts on 950 ramp and baggage tractors, belt loaders and other motorized material handling equipment.

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