Special to Ontario Construction Report
“Working for Workers” legislation would require life-saving defibrillators on larger job sites; industry voices say the move will save lives and honour a legacy.
Special to Ontario Construction News
Residential builders are applauding Ontario’s proposed Occupational Health and Safety Act amendments that would make automated external defibrillators, also known as Mikeys, mandatory on construction sites in operation three months or longer with 20 or more workers.
“Health and safety are everyone’s responsibility and requiring Mikeys on sites across the province will ensure there is a powerful tool available to save lives in the event of a cardiac emergency,” said Residential Construction Council of Ontario vice president Andrew Pariser.
“Requiring Mikey AEDs on construction sites will ensure the necessary equipment is available should a worker suffer a cardiac event at work.”
A reimbursement program through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board would reimburse companies for the average $2,300 cost of an AED defibrillator.
The measures are included in a new Working for Workers bill announced by Ontario Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Minister David Piccini. He said the proposal will be part of a larger piece of legislation, following six previous omnibus labour bills introduced by Premier Doug Ford’s government.
Piccini said the recommendation for AEDs on construction sites came from industry stakeholders during consultations for a previous labour bill.
RESCON lauded the efforts of Herity Heathwood Homes and The Mikey Network for their work on the issue. The Mikey Network is dedicated to creating public awareness and providing education about heart-healthy lifestyles, and to placing as many defibrillators as possible in workplaces.
The Mikey Network was named for Mike Salem, a partner in Heathwood Homes and Herity, who died on a golf course in 2002 due to a heart issue. Mike was known for his compassion and consideration for his family, friends and colleagues.
The Mikey Network was established in 2003, with AEDs dubbed Mikeys because defibrillator can be difficult to say and spell. The devices are used to restore normal heart rhythm in someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
“On behalf of all Ontario workers and the entire team at The Mikey Network, we thank Minister Piccini for recognizing the need for this incredible initiative,” Chuck Resnick, president of The Mikey Network, said in a statement.
Time is critical in a cardiac arrest with research showing that using a defibrillator can increase a victim’s chance of survival by up to 50 per cent. Public access to defibrillation devices plays a crucial role in saving hundreds of lives each year.