New Rules For Stilts And Guardrails At Construction Sites
December 15, 2009 4:45 PM
McGuinty Government Committed To Eliminating Workplace Injuries
Ontario is improving efficiency and competitiveness in the construction industry by allowing the limited use of stilts while ensuring that workers are protected from injury.
The province is amending the Construction Regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to allow stilts to be used in residential construction beginning January 1, 2010. Stilts will be permitted for use by workers installing insulation and vapour barriers and finishing drywall. Workers may use stilts only after they have completed special training and only with specific safety measures in place.
Other amendments to the Construction Regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act provide stakeholders with more flexibility regarding wooden guardrail systems while maintaining fall protection for workers.
Quick Facts
- Stilts are used in other Canadian jurisdictions; occupational health and safety legislation in most Canadian jurisdictions does not mention the use of stilts in construction.
- The Ministry of Labour compliance program that ran from April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2008, helped to reduce the workplace annual injury rate by 20 per cent, or more than 57,000 incidents (as a result, employers have avoided about $5 billion in direct and indirect costs).
Learn More
- The province's Safe at Work Ontario strategy helps to keep workers safe while increasing the productivity of Ontario's economy and reducing strain on the health care system.
- The new O. Reg. 443/09 amends the Construction Regulation made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Permitting Residential Drywallers To Use Stilts
Contacts
- Matt Blajer
Communications Branch
416-326-7405
- Cara O'Hagan
Minister's Office
416-326-2739
Ministry of Labour
ontario.ca/labour