On Thursday, April 8, 2021, the provincial Minister of Labour, Monte McNaughton made an announcement on an enhanced health, safety and sanitation inspection blitz on jobsites across Ontario, beginning Friday, April 9, 2021. You can view the entire press conference here.

Specific to construction, the press release notes that there will be increased inspections and enforcement across the province that will include: 

• Enhanced education and outreach to the construction sector, a robust and expanding program for rapid antigen screening for COVID-19 in construction, along with a zero-tolerance approach to enforcement of COVID-19 safety requirements on construction projects.

It is absolutely critical that members continue to invest in and enhance health, safety and sanitation protocols as new COVID variants are more contagious and require more vigilance on jobsites. 

Members should review the Ministry of Labour’s guidelines for construction here and implement any infection prevention and control procedures not already in place.

Also, please consult other supporting resources including OHBA’s COVID webpage, template COVID workplace health and safety plans (which all workplaces must have) and IHSA resources.