01-32_GENERALS_SUMMER25_PT - Flipbook - Page 30
HEALTH AND SAFETY
is essential – providing them with the
training to be assets to the industry
– providing support and guidance. In
addition, there should be an increase in
inspector dialogue, documentation, and
compliance, directly with the individual workers observed not in compliance
with safety standards. Uniform safety
standards must be enforceable across
jurisdictions, and daily site safety checks
should be mandatory, with required
shutdowns during severe weather.
CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY IN SUBCONTRACTING
Enforce clear lines of safety accountability for prime contractors and all subcontracted layers.
INCENTIVES AND SUPPORT
Governments should offer training subsidies and tax rebates for small businesses
that invest in safety. Safety education
should also be integrated into secondary
school programs and newcomer orientation services, along with an education
program aimed at attentiveness for
workers, supervisors, and employers, to
combat complacency.
CONTRACT FLEXIBILITY FOR WEATHER DELAYS
Procurement rules and project contracts
must allow for environmental delays
without penalizing contractors—especially when continuing work would put
workers at risk.
B. What the Industry Can Do: Leadership
and Best Practices
MAKE SAFETY A CORE VALUE
Leaders must model safe behaviour and
reinforce safety as a shared responsibil-
30 the generals • SUMMER 2025
ity. Creating a “cool factor” around
safety—especially for young workers—
can help shift cultural attitudes.
FORMAL ONBOARDING AND MENTORSHIP
Pairing new or young workers with
experienced mentors helps embed
safety knowledge early. Standardized onboarding that uses visuals and
hands-on demonstrations ensures
better comprehension across diverse
crews.
INTEGRATE SAFETY INTO PRE-CONSTRUCTION
PLANNING
Involve safety professionals in project
design and scheduling to identify
hazards before work begins. Adequate
staffing and realistic timelines reduce
the temptation to cut corners.
EMPOWER WORKERS TO SPEAK UP
Workers should feel confident refusing
unsafe work without fear of reprisal.
Provide multilingual safety resources
and enable anonymous reporting and
regular check-ins.
USE TECHNOLOGY EFFECTIVELY
Tools like virtual reality, interactive
quizzes, and mobile apps can enhance
training and track compliance. Data
collection helps identify trends and
hold teams accountable.
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION ON SITE
Conduct regular toolbox talks, feedback
sessions, and site walk-throughs with
management involvement – provide literature/resources in multiple
languages. Clear pathways must be in
place for supervisors to escalate safety
concerns.
FOSTER COLLABORATION AND SHARED LEARNING
Participation in peer reviews, safety
summits, and IHSA qualification programs
strengthens sector-wide knowledge. Sharing lessons learned—both successes and
failures—helps everyone improve.
Moving Forward Together
A key message from the Summit was clear:
all stakeholders—workers, supervisors,
and employers—share responsibility
for ensuring health and safety on the
worksite. Mutual respect, pride in safety
efforts, and individual accountability
must be the foundation of our collective
approach.
One pillar in building a strong safety
culture is fostering shared responsibility
and vigilance. To that end, the OGCA
recommended in its earlier pre-budget
submission that the government invest
in workplace safety culture by funding
the Chief Prevention Office to deliver
a province-wide awareness campaign.
This campaign would reinforce workers’
roles in protecting themselves and their
colleagues.
The second pillar is addressing the
mindset of workers. While legislation
clearly outlines employer responsibilities
regarding training, tools, and procedures,
employers have met these obligations
with diligence—contributing to improved
health and safety outcomes over time.
However, for further progress, the ICI
construction sector believes that workers
must also be encouraged—and where
necessary, required—to uphold their
responsibilities. From the data in the
MLITSD monthly report for the LabourManagement Network, it is very clear that
the majority of the LTI’s, and some of the
fatalities, could have been prevented if the
worker themselves were more attentive
and not being complacent.
Workers must apply their training, use
the tools provided, be attentive and follow
established health and safety procedures.
When they do not, there is strong industry
support for mandating compliance
through legislation. This recommendation
is not about assigning blame—it is about
evolving Ontario’s safety culture and
ensuring accountability across all levels of
the workforce.
Once again, the industry firmly believes
that workers, supervisors, and employers
must be jointly accountable for workplace
safety. A culture built on respect, shared
commitment, and clear responsibilities is
critical to improving outcomes for all.
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