Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development is seeking industry feedback on proposed regulatory changes that would require stronger head protection for workers on construction projects. Click here to submit your comments.
The proposal would amend O. Reg. 213/91: Construction Projects under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Under the proposed amendments, employers would be required to provide and ensure workers wear Type 2 protective headwear on construction projects where there is a risk of side impact. The ministry is also proposing mandatory chin straps or other retention systems in situations where a worker’s protective headwear could become dislodged.
Type 2 protective headwear is designed to protect the front, back, sides and top of the head from impact. The ministry says the retention requirement is intended to ensure head protection remains in place during incidents such as falls or other events that could cause helmets to come off.
If adopted, the equipment would need to meet the requirements of the CSA Group’s CSA Z94.1 or the American National Standards Institute’s ANSI Z89.1 for Type 2 protective headwear, or another standard offering equivalent or greater protection.
The ministry says the changes are intended to strengthen worker safety by expanding protection beyond traditional hard hats, which typically focus on top impact.
As part of the consultation, the ministry is asking stakeholders whether they support the amendments, whether the proposal would change the type of protective headwear used at their workplaces and what financial impact the requirements could have.
The ministry is also seeking information on whether employers already provide Type 2 protective headwear on construction sites.
Feedback from industry stakeholders will help inform whether the proposed regulatory changes move forward.
