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Ontario Protecting Workers on Construction Sites

May 23, 2025

Province proposing changes that would improve access to defibrillators at construction sites

May 23, 2025

Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Table of Contents

  1. Content
  2. Quick Facts
  3. Quotes
  4. Additional Resources
  5. Related Topics

WHITBY — The Ontario government will soon introduce first-in-Canada changes that will, if passed, create safer workplaces for construction workers by requiring automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) at construction sites. This builds on the lifesaving changes introduced in 2022 that require naloxone kits in at-risk workplaces.

“Our government is protecting Ontario workers that are building our province by requiring AEDs on construction sites,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our skilled workers are at the centre of our government’s plan to build highways, energy and key infrastructure. Ensuring lifesaving equipment is where it’s needed to keep them safe is one more way we’re creating safer workplaces.”

Cardiac events, including sudden cardiac arrest, are a leading cause of workplace fatalities, with construction workers being at higher risk. AEDs are electronic devices used to restart a person’s heart if it has stopped beating. When used together with CPR in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest, AEDs can dramatically improve cardiac arrest survival rates by more than 50 per cent.

The proposed amendments would require AEDs on construction projects that are expected to last three months or longer with 20 or more workers. To support businesses with the costs, a proposed program through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) would reimburse constructors for the purchase of an AED.

The proposal is part of a larger proposed package that will expand on the ground-breaking actions across six previous Working for Workers Acts since 2021, which will be unveiled in the coming days. This latest package will help protect Ontario workers and the economy for the long-term, create safer workplaces for a stronger workforce and fight worker abuse by cracking down on bad actors. This is all part of our plan to protect Ontario and help make it the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Quick Facts

  • During consultations held as part of Working for Workers Five, construction industry stakeholders recommended AEDs as essential devices to have on site and highlighted the need for financial support to help small businesses with the purchase of these devices.
  • In April 2025, the cost to purchase one AED is on average $2,300.
  • This WSIB reimbursement program would be paid from the WSIB insurance fund.
  • Data from the Ministry shows that more than 15% of inspection reports associated with “cardiac” or “heart attack” were in the construction sector.

Quotes

“Our government continues to take decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of Ontario’s workers. By requiring AEDs on larger construction sites, we are making life-saving tools more accessible where they’re needed most. This change reflects our commitment to creating safer workplaces and supporting our skilled trades here in Whitby and other parts of the Region of Durham, while building a stronger Ontario for everyone.”

– Lorne Coe
MPP for Whitby

“Heart & Stroke welcomes the Government of Ontario’s initiative to require AEDs at more construction sites across the province. Sixty thousand cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital per year in Canada, and only one in ten survives. When used quickly, AEDs can double those chances of survival. This is an excellent step forward in making AEDs readily available and keeping our loved ones alive in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.”

– Lesley James
DrPH, Director of Health Policy & Systems, Heart & Stroke

“The safety of our members is, and always will be, our top priority. Lives can change in seconds on a construction site, and access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death. This proposed change is a critical step forward in protecting the hardworking men and women who build our province every day. We commend Minister Piccini for recognizing that worker safety must always come first.”

– Jack Oliveira, Business Manager
LiUNA Local 183

“This legislation will save lives. By requiring AEDs on construction sites, Premier Ford and Minister Piccini are ensuring construction workers have access to life saving AEDs if a cardiac event occurs. Ontario will be the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce this legislation and RESCON fully supports and applauds the Minister’s leadership and dedication to health and safety.”

– Andrew Pariser
Vice-President, RESCON

“Survival rates decrease by about 10% for every minute without defibrillation. On construction sites where emergency services may take time to arrive, an on-site AED can be the difference between life and death. Adding a defibrillator to a construction site isn’t just a lifesaving tool – it’s a proactive investment in workplace safety. It sends a powerful message about prioritizing health and safety from the ground up.”

– Chuck Resnick
President, The Mikey Network

“Across the ICI construction sector, our employers and contractors are committed to the health and safety of our valued trade union members. We want to thank the Ford government and Minister Piccini for their leadership and support, and congratulate them for implementing this important initiative that will inevitably make our construction sites safer and save lives. We look forward to working with the WSIB as our financial partner, as we share their commitment to helping provide this important tool to our membership.”

– Wayne Peterson
Executive Director, Construction Employers Coordinating Council of Ontario

“EllisDon supports the newest version of the Working for Workers Bill, highlighting the mandate for AEDs on larger construction sites. Ensuring the health and safety of workers and the potential need for AEDs provides peace of mind for workers should there ever be a necessity to use one. This critical update is a testament to our ongoing commitment to enhancing the health, safety, and wellness of every individual on our worksites.”

– Steve Chaplin
Senior Vice President, Health, Safety, and Environment, EllisDon Corporation

“The OSWCA applauds Premier Ford and Minister Piccini for their leadership in protecting the health and safety of our skilled workforce, and for ensuring that workers have immediate access to lifesaving devices in case of a medical emergency on construction sites.”

– Patrick McManus
Executive Director, Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA)

“The Provincial Building Trades Council supports the requirement to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on construction projects with a duration of three months or longer, with 20 or more workers employed on the jobsite. This requirement will help save lives, ensuring that workers can be protected in emergency situations.”

– Marc Arsenault
Business Manager & Secretary-Treasurer, Provincial Building & Construction Trades Council of Ontario

“We are encouraged by the government’s proposal to improve safety on construction sites. Having Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) readily available can mean the difference between life and death. This is a vital step toward protecting Ontario’s construction workers. Every second counts in a cardiac emergency, and this proposal is a meaningful step in making job sites safer across the province.”

– Jon Lane
Chief Executive Officer of the AED Foundation of Ontario

Additional Resources