Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario in partnership with safety management services provider Smart Safety Solutions has published a guide to help employers build a policy governing the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
Click here for a copy of the guide.
As of January 1, construction sites with 20 or more workers active for at least three months must have an AED, also known as a Mikey, on site. The guide outlines 13 steps and lists multiple resources constructors can use to build their own specific policies.
The steps outline the duties, responsibilities, equipment requirements, and emergency response procedures of constructors as well as how to select, use, place and maintain AEDs on a jobsite.
“Ontario is the first jurisdiction to make this move and it’s a fantastic step forward,” said Andrew Pariser, vice president of the Vaughan-based residential builders’ association.
“Nothing is more important on a construction jobsite than health and safety. Having an AED on a worksite could be a lifesaver if a worker experiences a cardiac event.
“The guide will help employers develop policies that reflect the specific realities of each jobsite,” he added in a press release. “Construction jobsites, by their very nature, are different so it’s critical to have a specific plan.”
The guide will help employers define the roles and responsibilities of all workplace parties involved in a workplace AED program, figure out the equipment that’s required, where it should be placed on a jobsite, what training is necessary, and how implementation should be rolled out.
“The first and most important act is for an employer to conduct a hazard assessment as construction workers face an elevated risk of cardiac events due to high-stress environments, physically demanding work, and exposure to various high-risk conditions on a jobsite,” Pariser added. “The other steps in the guide will help ensure a constructor is prepared.”
RESCON hosted an AED webinar in November that featured an update on the program, the reimbursement and a legal review.
Employers can reach out to The Mikey Network if they need an AED. The network was started in 2002 after the death of Mike Salem, a partner in Heathwood Homes and Herity. Over the last 24 years, the Mikey Network has helped place more than 3,000 AEDs across Canada.
