Three Things to Know for Safety During Stage 3 in Ontario

By Jeremy Power, Cotney Construction Law.

What construction businesses should be aware of and execute in the next few months.

With Stage 3 of the COVID-19 pandemic re-opening now into its second month in Ontario, there are key items construction businesses of all kinds need to be both aware of and execute.

Below, we provide a brief synopsis of things to keep in mind when formulating your plan for the months ahead.

1. Protocol

There is almost limitless guidance surrounding how businesses of all stripes, including construction contractors, should run their workplace given the constraints imposed by the pandemic and corresponding government response. What is lost in all this discussion is how to implement this guidance. Businesses and contractors need to operationalize these guidelines by identifying what is most important for their job site or workplace, for instance, if you’re a construction site operator, one piece of advice you may want to prioritize is clean communal spaces – or eliminating them altogether.

2. Communication

Employee engagement is key. By now, most workplaces will be dealing with employees that are experiencing extreme pandemic fatigue. Employers need to make sure that their employees and families feel safe above all else. Operators of job sites should consider having daily communications with their staff to go over the protocols that have been implemented, how they are going to keep everyone safe, and essentially reiterate that the owners have the employee’s backs.

3. Flexibility

Businesses and job site operators alike need to realize that to have long term success generally, and especially during the pandemic, change is going to be a constant. Government will adjust public policy without notice to deal with the changing face of the pandemic, while businesses will need to adjust their protocols and communication strategies. Businesses will need to constantly check whether their protocols are credible, practical, and reasonable – for clients, customers and employees.

For more information on how you can protect your job site or place of business moving forward, please reach out to Jeremy Power at Cotney Construction Law LLP. To contact Jeremy, please email jpower@cotneycl.com.

Written by Jeremy Power, a lawyer in Cotney Construction Law’s Toronto office.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.