The Ontario Ministry Labour, Training and Skills Development announced that it is stepping up measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 on construction sites.

In a statement released on March 29, Minister Monte McNaughton pointed to new guidance issued by the province’s Chief Prevention Officer to help employers better understand their responsibilities for preventing the spread of the virus.

The guidance includes information on site best practices, physical distancing, on-site sanitation, reporting requirements, production schedules and resources available from such groups as the Canadian Construction Association, the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, and the Centers for Disease Control.

"The health and safety of construction workers is a top priority for our government,” said McNaughton. “With the COVID-19 situation changing day by day, we are working to ensure that workers have the tools they need to help keep job sites safe. We must do everything possible to fight the spread of this disease. 

The minister cautioned that inspectors are being deployed across the province to check specifically for worker safety and proper hygiene on construction sites. The government has made clear that while construction is among those services that it considers to be essential, it will not hesitate to shut down those sites that fail to meet proper safety and hygiene standards.

McNaughton tweeted out on Monday that inspectors had issued a stop-work order on a construction site that did not offer hot and cold running water.

According to the ministry, between March 23 and 30, inspectors have dealt with 268 construction-related events, including 122 in-person visits. They issued 67 orders.

Already the Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction site has closed for two weeks after three workers contracted the coronavirus. One worker was confirmed to have the virus two were presumptive positive.

The ministry has advised anyone with concerns about safe site practices to file a complaint with its Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008.