How often have you undertaken a home renovation project yourself? You might have hired out the more skilled aspects – maybe an electrician, a plumber, or a drywall taper (we all know “a guy”, don’t we?). You’re perfectly capable of overseeing the project generally; there’s no need to hire a general contractor just to finish a basement or build a deck, right? Well, that may be true, but you should understand that without one, you might be the project’s “constructor” under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (“the Act”), which has serious consequences.
The constructor bears overall responsibility for the health and safety of all workers on the construction site. For example, the constructor must:
- Ensure that every employer and every worker performing work on the project complies with the Act and its regulations
- Ensure that written emergency procedures are established and posted
- Appoint a supervisor where five or more workers will be on site at the same time
- Notify the Ministry of any accident or occurrence, as required by the Act
- Ensure that the health and safety of workers on the project is protected
For more information, you can review the Ministry’s guidelines, at
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pdf/gl_cnstr.pdf
If you have any questions or would like more information on this topic, please contact Beth Traynor at [email protected] or call 519-672-2121.