The province is implementing a new strategy it says will help prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities on construction sites.
On May 12, it launched the Construction Health and Safety Action Plan, after receiving input from construction employers, workers and other industry stakeholders as part of an advisory group created in March 2015.
The plan includes 16 recommendations, some of which are already being worked on, including:
- developing a web tool and mobile app to help employers and workers understand their health and safety obligations and rights for specific construction projects;
- building an online portal that allows building inspectors to report unsafe work practices to the government; and
- increasing awareness about working-at-heights training requirements.
According to the province, 30 per cent of all work-related traumatic fatalities and occupational disease fatality claims for workplaces occurred in the construction sector, yet comprises only 6.7 per cent of all provincial employment and 8.4 per cent of WSIB-insured employment.
A full list of the recommendations is available here.
