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Summertime is when young temporary workers join our crews. They don't always know what they're doing, so it's a good time to give jobsite safety a little extra thought. Thanks to BuilderGear for making this special newsletter possible.
- Patrick Flannery, editor
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With more than 3,600 Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) employees now on strike for more than four weeks, pressure is mounting on all sides to resolve the agency’s first work stoppage in its 110-year history. But while both WSIB and the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE 1750) continue to engage in mediated talks, the rhetoric surrounding the negotiations is escalating.
» Read More...
The Ontario government will soon introduce first-in-Canada changes that are intended, if passed, to create safer workplaces for construction workers by requiring automatic external defibrillators at construction sites. This builds on changes introduced in 2022 that require naloxone kits in at-risk workplaces. “
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ConExpo-Con/Agg and The Utility Expo, trade shows for the construction and utility sectors, have announced a new partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
» Read more...
June 1, 2025, marked the first year that Injured Workers Day was officially recognized in Ontario. The date was always well noted since its inception in 1983, yet was not formally acknowledged. Sudbury MPP and NDP Labour critic, Jamie West, had long pushed to have June 1 made official as Ontario's Injured Workers Day.
» Read More...
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Tom had spent decades building his construction company from the ground up. He prided himself on running a tight ship, meeting deadlines, and treating his crew like family. His team was tough, hardworking, and loyal—just like him. Over the years, Tom had read that construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry and he’d told himself he should keep an eye out for warning signs. But nothing prepared him for the Monday morning when he got the call: Mike, one of his longest-serving foremen, had died by suicide over the weekend.
» Read more... |
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Balcony railing installation, in particular, presents a persistent safety risk in residential builds. Whether it’s custom home construction or large-scale multi-unit housing, installing railing systems to balconies late in the build often means compressed timelines, working at height, and navigating tight, elevated spaces – all conditions that amplify risk.
» What should Dan do? |
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A study conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge has revealed that at least 70 percent of people in the construction industry report feeling stressed at work. This stress negatively impacts job performance and personal life. The findings highlight the urgent need for effective strategies to combat workplace stress.
» Read more... |
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If we whitewashed our depiction of the industry and only showed workers wearing the hard hats, gloves and goggles they most certainly are not, would that help or hurt the goal of encouraging safe behaviour on job sites? Does pretending a problem doesn’t exist promote resolution of that problem?
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Silica is one of the most common hazards at construction sites. Workers exposed to airborne respirable silica are at an increased risk of developing lung diseases like silicosis, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Meghan Friesen, Occupational Hygienist with the Ontario Health Clinics for Ontario Workers, discusses the hazards and health effects of silica, exposures in the construction industry, and the free online Silica Control Tool.
» Listen here...
Achieving good indoor air quality for our clients is something we probably need to think about more than they do. A homeowner may not give the topic a second thought…until their throat starts scratching and their nose starts itching from a poorly designed HVAC system. Mohamed Fouda sits on ASHRAE committees writing indoor air quality standards and joins The Hammer to advise us on how to protect homeowners’ health and happiness even as building envelopes get tighter. For more information, contact Mohamed at Mohamed.fouda@wolseleyinc.ca.
» Listen here...
High-profile wildfires doing substantial property damage to urban areas in B.C. and Alberta have spurred NRCan to look at creating Canadian building standards for wildfire resistance. The consultation process has just begun, but it seems likely that some day soon we may see new codes requiring resistant windows, doors and other components in wildfire-prone areas. Robin Urquhart has worked on projects to rebuild communites destroyed by wildfires and joins The Hammer to share his knowledge.
» Listen here...
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Burnaby, BC
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Saskatoon, SK
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Mississauga, Ont.
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Ottawa
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Calgary
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