Ontario Protecting Workers on Construction Sites

The Ontario government will soon introduce first-in-Canada changes that will, if passed, create safer workplaces for construction workers by requiring automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) at construction sites. This builds on the lifesaving changes introduced in 2022 that require naloxone kits in at-risk workplaces.

“Our government is protecting Ontario workers that are building our province by requiring AEDs on construction sites,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our skilled workers are at the centre of our government’s plan to build highways, energy and key infrastructure. Ensuring lifesaving equipment is where it’s needed to keep them safe is one more way we’re creating safer workplaces.”

Cardiac events, including sudden cardiac arrest, are a leading cause of workplace fatalities, with construction workers being at higher risk. AEDs are electronic devices used to restart a person’s heart if it has stopped beating. When used together with CPR in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest, AEDs can dramatically improve cardiac arrest survival rates by more than 50 per cent.

The proposed amendments would require AEDs on construction projects that are expected to last three months or longer with 20 or more workers. To support businesses with the costs, a proposed program through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) would reimburse constructors for the purchase of an AED.

The proposal is part of a larger proposed package that will expand on the ground-breaking actions across six previous Working for Workers Acts since 2021, which will be unveiled in the coming days. This latest package will help protect Ontario workers and the economy for the long-term, create safer workplaces for a stronger workforce and fight worker abuse by cracking down on bad actors. This is all part of our plan to protect Ontario and help make it the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

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