Canada Labour Code Prosecution: United Parcel Service Canada Ltd. (UPS)

On July 9, 2013, an employee of United Parcel Service Canada Ltd. (UPS) suffered and died from a heart attack. The package handler had just finished unloading a trailer when he felt ill. He had complained of chest pains and felt dizzy. The manager was notified that the employee was ill, but overruled the decision of a first-aid attendant to call an ambulance. Later, a co-worker drove the package handler to the hospital, where he collapsed and died despite the efforts of the hospital’s emergency response team. Following the investigation, legal proceedings were initiated against UPS and the manager, Samir El-Haddad. On July 3, 2014, UPS manager Samir El-Haddad pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to summon an ambulance, in breach of Part II of the Canada Labour Code. Samir El-Haddad was fined $5000, was put on probation and was required to meet other conditions such as receiving certified first aid training. All charges against UPS were withdrawn.