LATEST NEWS
January 4, 2010
Occupational health and safety
Stilts approved for residential construction work in Ontario
The Ontario government claims it 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 Jan. 1.
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.
Stilts are used in other Canadian jurisdictions, but occupational health and safety legislation in most Canadian jurisdictions doesn’t specifically mention the use of stilts in construction. The provincial labour ministry said 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.
-JOC News Service
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