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HEALTH AND SAFETY
BUILDING A SAFER TOMORROW
Lessons and solutions from the 2025 OGCA Safety Summit
BY ANDREW SAMPOGNA, Vice President, OGCA
NTARIO’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY continues to
evolve, but safety challenges remain
stubbornly persistent—particularly in
high-risk trades like framing, roofing,
and concrete work.
At the 2025 Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) Safety Summit, key
stakeholders came together to confront the root
causes of critical injuries and fatalities across the
industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI)
sector.
Three core issues dominated the conversation:
the type of construction,
company size, and
environmental conditions.
While each presents its own risks, the most
serious consequences occur when they intersect—especially on worksites operated by smaller
firms or those employing diverse, often vulnerable
workforces.
O
The Problem: Recurrent Risks in ICI Construction
Discussions revealed several systemic challenges
that continue to impact worker safety across Ontario’s construction landscape:
Inconsistent safety training and competency
standards, particularly among smaller firms and
subcontractors.
Lack of worker attentiveness and/or complacency is leading to many LTIs.
Communication breakdowns, often driven by
language barriers and lack of culturally appropriate
training.
Schedule and cost pressures, which can lead to
rushed decisions and shortcuts at all levels.
Diluted accountability, especially in layered subcontracting
arrangements.
Inadequate oversight and enforcement of all workplace parties,
contributing to a culture of complacency.
Lack of proactive planning and leadership in embedding safety
culture into daily operations.
These issues are not new—but they persist, often because the
same pressures that fuel economic growth also create environments where safety can take a back seat.
A Two-Part Strategy for Change
The Summit’s recommendations, gathered from the perspective of workers, supervisors, and employers, fall into two broad
categories: legislative or regulatory reforms that require government intervention, and industry-led best practices that general
contractors and subcontractors can adopt today.
THEGENERALS.NET
A. What Government Can Do: Policy and Enforcement
MANDATORY, STANDARDIZED SAFETY TRAINING
All workers should receive consistent, hands-on safety instruction, including Working at Heights, WHMIS, and orientation
programs. Supervisor and employer training should be tailored
to job-specific risks and leadership responsibilities. Training
materials must be available in multiple languages and adapted to
cultural contexts.
STRONGER LICENSING CRITERIA FOR NEW FIRMS
Business registration should require evidence of completed safety
training and demonstrated competency. This would prevent
unqualified or underprepared firms—especially seasonal or
start-up operations—from entering the field without basic safety
standards in place.
ENHANCED OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT OF ALL WORKPLACE PARTIES
Increased funding and staffing for inspectors at the Ministry of
Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD)
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