Harmonizing safety training certifications in construction across Canada is not just about keeping projects rolling on time and on budget, but also to ensure workers “are trained to the highest standards and best practices available.”
So says Sean Strickland, executive director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU), which is working with an Ontario government-led effort with all the provinces and three territories to adopt national standards for critical safety training.
The group’s priority areas include: Entry level construction, supervisor, working at heights, fall prevention, mobile elevated work platform operator, hoisting and rigging as well as trenching and shoring.
“We (CBTU) are there to support it, come to consensus and work with our affiliates across the country to make it a reality,” says Strickland.
Getting owners, buyers of construction, safety consultants and other stakeholders on side is seminal to its success, he adds.
The harmonization push is being led by David Piccini, Ontario’s minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. The initiative came about when federal Bill C5, One Canadian Economy Act, was passed last year covering how to expedite major projects.
Strickland says he expects the issue will be tabled at the upcoming First Ministers meeting with the prime minister.
“I’m pretty optimistic that at least one or two of the priority areas will be harmonized across the provinces by year’s end.”
Mike McKenna, executive director of the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA), supports the harmonization efforts and his association concurs with the agenda’s focus on the seven training areas.
“They are the meat and potatoes of construction safety that really cross boundaries, whether it is residential construction or industrial and commercial construction.”
McKenna says the level of frustration companies face crossing borders to meet different safety standards is “palpable and it is not making a difference to safety outcomes.”
The initiative’s success, however, will happen only “if partisanship gets out of the way,” he says.
“To only push this through the building trades is going to fall on deaf ears in B.C.”
Only about 13 per cent of B.C.s construction forces are unionized and other provinces have similar discrepancies, McKenna says.
“I think that anybody who can meet the standard (union or non-union) should be able to provide the training.”
He’s hoping some form of harmonization is established in a year.
“If we’re trying to drive to perfection, we’re never going to get there. We just need to get something out the door and force correct as we go.”
Sam Sanderson, executive director of the Construction Association of Prince Edward Island, says First Aid has been standardized across Canada and there is some talk on standardizing asbestos regulation, so why not safety training?
He says P.E.I. is at a bit of a disadvantage as it is the only province that does not recognize COR (Certificate of Recognition) certification, “so maybe it is a great time to support industry to reach these goals to allow more mobility, if or when it is required.”
COR is the nationally recognized occupational health and safety accreditation program for construction companies.
The New Brunswick Construction Safety Association also supports the harmonization agenda.
“We believe harmonization will reduce duplication, improve mobility of workers and ensure consistent safety practices nationwide,” says Rob Rowe, CEO of the association.
“It’s a positive step toward creating safer workplaces and supporting the construction industry’s workforce.”
Based on Canada’s economic challenges – stemming largely from its changing relationship with the U.S. – there has never been a better time for harmonization, says Strickland.
“We have to get these big projects built so we can create new trade alliances across the world. Here is one opportunity we can lean into that has been a long challenge within the construction industry across Canada,” he says.
