⚠️ Every day you operate as Prime Contractor without this knowledge, you're gambling with your freedom.
The Supervisor Went to Prison. The Company Got Fined $750,000. And It All Started a Cascade of Repercussions Across the Country
Master the legal accountability framework that separates protected Prime Contractors from those facing criminal charges—before a regulator or prosecutor forces you to learn it the hard way.
Â
This Isn't Fiction — It's Canadian Legal Reality
When Vadim Kazenelson reported to Millhaven Institution to begin his prison sentence, he wasn't a criminal mastermind. He was a construction supervisor whose decisions ultimately proved deadly.
A swing stage scaffold on his project collapsed. Four workers died. And Canadian courts made history by sending a supervisor to prison for workplace safety failures.
This wasn't an isolated case. It was the culmination of a legal shift that began in a Nova Scotia coal mine and has fundamentally changed the meaning of accepting Prime Contractor status in Canada.
If you're bidding on projects as Prime Contractor — or you're about to — this is the most important training investment you'll make this year.
The Mistake Most Prime Contractors Don't Know They're Making
Here's what most Prime Contractors don't understand until it's too late: The moment you accept Prime Contractor status, you're not just taking on project management responsibilities. You're accepting personal accountability under Canadian criminal law—liability that flows directly to directors, officers, and supervisors.
Since Bill C-45 came into force, prosecutions of individuals for workplace safety failures have increased dramatically. And the courts aren't just going after faceless corporations anymore. They're going after people.
The Greater Sudbury Shift
In 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada's ruling in R. v. Greater Sudbury fundamentally expanded Prime Contractor liability. The court held that an owner (in this case, a municipality) could be held liable as an "employer" for the actions of its contractor's employees—even when the owner had no direct supervisory role.
Translation:Â The legal net is wider than ever. And if you don't understand exactly where your obligations begin and end, you're operating blind in a minefield.
The False Sense of Security
You've probably taken safety training before. Maybe your company has a safety manual. Perhaps you even have a dedicated safety professional.
None of that matters if your training doesn't address Prime Contractor-specific legal obligations under Canadian law.
Generic safety courses treat compliance like a checklist. They miss the bigger picture: when you accept Prime Contractor status, you're not just managing hazards—you're managing legal risk at the highest levels of Canadian criminal and regulatory law. And that requires a completely different approach to training.
Is This Course Right for You?
Full Performance Is Built For:
Â
âś“Â Â Construction executives who accept or are considering Prime Contractor status on Canadian projects
 ✓ Project managers responsible for coordinating multiple subcontractors on complex worksites
 ✓ Safety professionals advising leadership on Prime Contractor obligations and risk management
 ✓ Directors and officers who could face personal criminal liability under Bill C-45
 ✓ Companies expanding into Prime Contractor work and need to understand the legal landscape
 ✓ Supervisors and site superintendents who make day-to-day decisions affecting worker safety
 ✓ Anyone who wants to understand how Canadian courts evaluate Prime Contractor accountability
This Course Is NOT For You If:
âś—Â You're looking for basic safety awareness training (WHMIS, fall protection, confined space)
âś— You want generic American OSHA content repackaged with a Canadian label
âś—Â You think safety compliance is just about avoiding fines (it's about avoiding prison)
âś— You're not willing to invest time in understanding the legal framework that governs your liability
Â
Why Most Prime Contractor Training Falls Short—And How This Course Is Different
Generic safety courses treat Prime Contractor responsibilities like another compliance checkbox. They miss the bigger picture: you're not just managing safety—you're managing legal risk at the highest levels of Canadian law.
CASE-LAW DRIVEN APPROACH
Learn from the legal consequences others faced. We dissect R. v. Metron Construction, R. v. Kazenelson, R. v. Greater Sudbury, and other landmark Canadian cases that define today's Prime Contractor obligations. Understand not just what happened—but why the courts ruled as they did and what it means for your operations.
CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOCUS
Understand exactly how the Westray Bill (C-45) creates personal criminal exposure for directors, officers, and supervisors—and the specific steps you must take to protect yourself and your organization. This isn't hypothetical. Supervisors have gone to prison. Learn why, and learn how to ensure you're never in that position.
AUTHENTICALLY CANADIAN
Built around the Internal Responsibility System, the General Duty Clause, and provincial regulatory variations that define Canadian workplace safety law. No imported American content. No OSHA references that don't apply here. Every lesson, every case study, every framework is designed specifically for Canadian legal reality.
IMPLEMENTATION READY
Step-by-step frameworks for assuming Prime Contractor responsibilities, managing subcontractors through every project phase, and creating defensible documentation systems. You won't just understand your obligations—you'll have the practical tools to demonstrate compliance when it matters most.
FUTURE-FOCUSED
Integration strategies for emerging technologies—drones, wearables, VR training, predictive analytics—within Prime Contractor obligations. Understand how courts are likely to evaluate technology adoption (or failure to adopt) when assessing due diligence.
What You'll Master in This Course
Legal Foundation
- The General Duty Clause — How courts interpret "reasonably practicable" and its impact on daily decisions.
- The Internal Responsibility System (IRS) — Canada's unique safety framework and how it distributes accountability
- • R. v. Sault Ste. Marie — The landmark case that established the framework for regulatory offenses
The Criminal Turning Point
- The Westray Mine Disaster & Bill C-45 — How 26 deaths in Nova Scotia changed Canadian law forever.
- R. v. Metron Construction — The Christmas Eve tragedy that resulted in criminal convictions.
- R. v. Kazenelson — The Christmas Eve tragedy that resulted in criminal convictions.
- R. v. Greater Sudbury — The Supreme Court ruling that expanded liability boundaries.
Complex Scenarios
- Multi-Level Contractor Relationships — "A Worksite Within a Worksite" case study
- Full Performance Doctrine — What contract law demands and how safety obligations intersect
- Overlapping Jurisdictions — When multiple parties share Prime Contractor obligations.
Implementation System
- Prime Contractor Implementation Guidance — Step-by-step system for assuming responsibilities.
- Subcontractor Prequalification — Criteria and processes that demonstrate due diligence
- Transfer Agreement Mechanics — How to properly transfer Prime Contractor status.
- Documentation Systems — Creating records that protect you during investigations
Your Instructor
Patrick Robinson, ALCM
Canadian Registered Safety Professional (Ret.)
With over 40 years in safety management, I've worked on construction and maintenance projects in energy, transportation, and manufacturing. I've seen first-hand what happens when Prime Contractors don't fully understand or execute their legal obligations—and I've helped companies implement systems that protect them.
I created this course because I was frustrated by the gap between what Prime Contractors are legally required to know and what's actually available in training. After watching too many good companies—and good people—face consequences that could have been avoided, I decided to build the training I wished had existed when I started.
Professional Background:
- Associate in Loss Control Management
- 40 years of experience in industrial safety
- Extensive EPC, General Contractor, Specialty Contractor, and Client Experience
-  Contractor Management Technology Leader and Founder – Registry and Assessment Services
Selected Projects:
- Shell Canada – Alberta Oilsands Downstream Project – Heavy Oil Upgrader Construction
- Suncor Energy – SO₂ Reduction Project, Multiple Maintenance Projects
- Syncrude Canada Ltd. – Multiple Construction and Maintenance Projects
- TransAlta – Combined Cycle Cogeneration Project
- Fluor Constructors Canada Ltd. – Corporate Safety Director
What Safety Professionals Are Saying
You've very clearly demonstrated the critical trickle-down effect that a proper Prime has on a successful project or operation here. Anyone who desires to take on that role should 100% take this course and take it seriously before even considering jumping into that pond! Absolutely love the concise delivery, the narrative voice, the written content, and the running captions make the content easy to follow, digest, and comprehend.
Our "Due Diligence" Guarantee
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Complete the first three modules. If you don't immediately recognize the gaps in your current Prime Contractor approach—if this content doesn't fundamentally change how you think about your legal obligations—request a full refund within 30 days.
No questions. No hassle. No risk.
We're confident because we've seen what happens to Prime Contractors who don't understand this material. And we don't want your money if we can't protect your company.
I've taken Prime Contractor training before. How is this different?
Is this course specific to my province?
How long does the course take to complete?
Do I get a certificate?
Can I share this course with my team?
Is this just for construction, or does it apply to other industries?
What if I have questions during the course?
Is the $297 price in Canadian dollars?
 The Legal Landscape Isn't Getting Simpler
Every year, Canadian courts clarify and expand Prime Contractor obligations. Every month, provincial regulators conduct inspections. Every day, supervisors make decisions that could be scrutinized in court.
The question isn't whether enforcement will reach your worksite.
The question is whether you'll be prepared when it does.
 The supervisors who went to prison, the companies that faced million-dollar fines—they all thought they understood their obligations. They were wrong. Don't make the same mistake.
For less than the cost of a single safety consultation, you'll gain the knowledge that could protect your career, your company, and your freedom.
What You Get:
 ✓  14 comprehensive sections covering Canadian Prime Contractor law
 ✓ 50+ lessons with video, narration, and captions
 ✓ Deep analysis of landmark cases (Metron, Kazenelson, Greater Sudbury)
 ✓ Practical implementation frameworks and checklists
 ✓ Section quizzes to test your understanding
 ✓ Certificate of completion
 ✓ Lifetime access to course materials
 ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee
