New regulations for construction projects now in effect

TORONTO—It’s a new year and that means new regulations for the construction industry in Ontario.

According to a release issued by the Office of the Premier Dec. 20, amendments to the Construction Projects Regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) establish new or enhanced requirements for suspended access equipment, including:

• notifying the Ministry of Labour before putting equipment into service for the first time at a project;

• creating roof- and site-specific work plans;

• training workers who may use or inspect this equipment;

• design, operational, technical and engineering requirements; and

• inspecting, testing and maintaining equipment.

Additional amendments under the OHSA strengthen safety requirements for workers in the mining sector by establishing new or enhanced requirements for conducting risk assessments, record keeping of seismic events, such as rock bursts, and developing water and traffic management programs, adds the release.