Every construction project comes with its own set of risks – from fire and water damage to equipment theft, slips and falls, cyber-attacks and even infection control.
These risks not only vary in size and complexity but can also evolve over the course of a project. That’s why having proper worksite policies and procedures is so critical to avoiding hazards and potential accidents.
It’s not exactly business as usual as construction sites open back up across the country. Without a vaccine or herd immunity, there’s still a risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus, so any business – including a construction site – that is reopening needs a plan for infection control.
Sherrard Kuzz LLP - Briefing Note: On May 29, 2020, the Government of Ontario introduced a regulation under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) that provides relief to any employer that temporarily laid off a non-union employee or reduced non-union employee wages and/or hours due to COVID-19. The regulation largely exempts any such layoff or reduction from being deemed a termination of employment, so that there is no obligation to provide ESA notice and severance.
Report for the Labour Management Network. Ontario injury and fatality statistics in Construction.
As federal and provincial governments begin to re-open the economy amid COVID-19 recovery, organizations of all industries and sizes are determining their return-to-work strategies and plans. While every organization is different, there are fundamental questions that should be answered as part of your return-to-work plans.
This presentation will provide some insight to help guide organizational leaders in the development of return-to-work programs. The focus – assisting organizations with answering the critical questions of:
Can You? – Answering are you allowed to return to work.
Should You? – Making the decision to return to work.
How Do You? – Operationalizing how to return to work.
As government orders are lifted, employers will enter uncharted territory. Sherrard Kuzz LLP has a deep understanding of the pandemic’s impact on businesses and industries, and how to work through the related workplace issues. To help you get started, they have developed the following complimentary Return To Work considerations.
The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association is proud to present a recorded webinar that provides guidance to working safely on construction projects related to COVID-19. The session is approximately 45 mins and includes workplace roles and responsibilities and best practices. It is available for you to download at no charge and watch at your own pace as preferred.
The webinar will be of interest to company owners, managers, supervisors, health and safety practitioners, Joint Health and Safety Committee members and others who have responsibility for assisting workplace parties keep safe during COVID-19 on Construction projects.
Feeling stressed? Covid-19 has caused disruption and uncertainty in our lives and the stress we are facing right now can feel overwhelming. Receive free access to Inward Strong, an awarded, self-directed online mental wellness program. It's like having your own personal wellness coach 24/7. During these “unprecedented times” companies and their employees are trying to figure out how to set up operations remotely, how to maintain communication with staff and customers and perhaps most importantly, how to help maintain productivity during a stressful time. Mental health touches us all, especially during these challenging times.
Sector-specific guidelines and posters to help protect workers, customers and the general public from coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ontario
When the first “phase” of the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end, employers may face new and different challenges. Topics include:
Review a list of companies that sell personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies to keep your employees and customers safe from Covid-19
The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) recently polled 200 general and trade contractors in the province’s ICI sector on the impact of the coronavirus on their business. Some of the findings were startling.
Fatality & Critical Injury Year-to-Date Overview – Construction in Ontario
Maestro and Spiria, in collaboration with Oriso, announce a new online questionnaire (Sentinel) to facilitate the validation of construction workers’ health status.
The impacts to construction projects, litigation, and health and safety vary across provinces and territories. Following is a guideline resource for how each province and territory is managing COVID-19’s impact on the construction industry
As the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread around the globe, employers need to know their legal rights and obligations as it relates to the Canadian workplace. The following are some of the most pressing Frequently Asked Questions.
The coronavirus outbreak sweeping the country has made construction projects more unpredictable than ever. To take control in this unpredictable time, construction companies should consider five practical next steps as part of their larger crisis response.
Effective May 1, 2020, the Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification Program Standard, and the Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification Provider Standard have been amended to allow for the following changes.
The amended standards now:
• Allow JHSC members to complete Part One training entirely online
• Extend the timeline for JHSC members who complete Part One training to give them 12 months to complete their Part Two training
• Remove the need for JHSC members to apply for extensions or complete Refresher after Part One
The ministry has also made changes to the eLearning Instructional Design Guidelines and the JHSC provider application guidelines. Providers who want to apply to deliver Part One via eLearning should fill out the existing application form and follow the steps in the application guidelines.
These standards replace the existing standards that came into force on March 1, 2016.
Providers and programs that are already CPO-approved will remain approved and training completed before May 1, 2020 will remain valid.
eLearning training is especially valuable now, while we are all forced to make changes to our daily lives and the way we work and learn.
Stronger together - We've come together as an industry and a country in times of tragedy and crisis
Province Takes Critical Steps to Help Businesses Adapt to New Environment
* (New) Canadian Construction Association Guidelines
* Best Practices for the Employer - Responding to a Suspected COVID-19 Exposure
* Best Practices for the Constructor - Responding to a Suspected COVID-19 Exposure
* Guidance on Construction Facility Hygiene During COVID-19
* Guidance on Construction Supervisor Responsibilities (COVID-19 Symptoms or Exposure)
* Guidance on Fuelling of Vehicles During COVID-19
* Guidance on Handling and Receiving Packages (All Persons at Work or at Home) During COVID-19
* Guidance on Tool Sharing (Hand Tools) Constructor/Employer Procedure During COVID-19
* Guidance on Worker Procedures Handling Paperwork During COVID-19
* Guidance on Cleaning and Sanitizing Inside Your Vehicle During COVID-19
* Guidance on PPE (Cleaning Respirators) During COVID-19
