With construction sites still being asked to operate, the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) released a “best practice guide” for employees.
“Safety has and always will be the industry’s top priority,” said Richard Lyall, president of RESCON in a released Tuesday. “Site safety is the builders’ responsibility and they must work with sub-trades employers to ensure all on-site workers and work sites are safe.”
The guide includes seven safety recommendations created by health and safety officials in the construction industry:
1. Maintain good personal hygiene (construction or not)
2. On-site Sanitation
3. Practise physical distancing
4. Communicate policies
5. Protect your family and roommates — workers should wash clothing.
6. Report illness
7. Track sick workers
The Ontario Homebuilders Association released the following statement, supported by dozens of Residential Construction Companies across the province:
“The Residential Construction Industry across Ontario recognizes that we have an important role in curbing the spread of COVID-19. During Ontario’s State of Emergency it is important that we do our part to protect workers, contractors, suppliers, customers and their families from the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to Ontario Public Health and enhancing the health and safety conditions on our active jobsites.
“Ontario workers continue to have the right to refuse unsafe worksites and should report these conditions to the appropriate authorities. During Ontario’s State of Emergency, we have thousands of homes and renovations to deliver to waiting families, whose future well-being is tied to the homes we are building.
“We need to continue to serve them in a safe and orderly way. These are unprecedented times and the Residential Construction Industry is committed to doing our part to keep people safe during Ontario’s COVID-19 State of Emergency. We are all in this together.”