Crosslinx moves to mandatory on-site COVID testing
Crosslinx Transit Solutions—the consortium building the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project in Toronto—announced on February 9 that it has launched mandatory testing program to help control the spread of COVID-19 at its 24 worksites.
The virus has taken its toll on the project. In January, the consortium reported 28 of its workers on eight sites had tested positive for COVID-19 over a period of two weeks.
"Crosslinx is committed to remaining an industry leader when it comes to protecting the health of the people who are building this project in communities right across Eglinton," said Bill Henry, Crosslinx president and project director. "Rapid testing is a critical addition to what we've already mandated to keep our workforce healthy and confident coming to work."
Crosslinx, through partner company EllisDon, has joined a rapid testing pilot program that is being conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Labour and the Ontario Ministry of Health.
"As Chief Prevention Officer, I am very supportive of rapid testing initiatives that will help ensure workers are safe and that vital construction sites remain open," said Ron Kelusky, Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour.
Testing will take place based on a rotating schedule, and worker participation is mandatory. Registered nurses will administer the Panbio antigen test twice weekly to asymptomatic workers. Individuals who test positive are required to contact Toronto Public Health and arrange a polymerase chain reaction test.
Crosslinx says it has worked closely with the Central Ontario Building Trades (COBT) to promote the benefits of rapid testing to union members and subcontractors. A total of 1,500 people work on the 19-kilometre Eglinton project.
"As the pandemic continues to rage and, sadly, there are more and more delays with the vaccine, testing is going to be instrumental in protecting our workers from this deadly virus," said CBOT business manager James St. John. "In our continued efforts to ensure the health and safety of our workers in the field, we commend Crosslinx for taking this action and for securing these rapid tests."
The program meets all public health and legislative requirements with respect to administering the test, reporting positive test results, protection of personal health information and workplace health and safety.
EllisDon, meanwhile, announced earlier in the month that it had moved to mandatory testing for its site workers. This came after separate outbreaks at two of the general contractors’ Toronto sites: The Well, where 69 positive tests were reported between late December and late January, and the Michael Garron Hospital site, where 15 positive cases were reported in December.
The contractor had been offering testing on a voluntary basis on its sites since December.
For worksites with mandatory testing, this protocol will apply to all EllisDon project staff, site personnel and subcontractors. Workers are able to take the Rapid Antigen Test with an onsite professional through a signup process and receive their results within 15 minutes. EllisDon says the decision to move to a mandatory Rapid Antigen Test will help to limit potential workplace spread and transmission.
"Through our Rapid Antigen Test Pilot we are working to build stability and safe workplaces during an unstable time,” said Steve Chaplin, EllisDon’s vice president, health, safety and environment. “While working closely with our government officials, we have the moral obligation to do everything we can to protect our employees and the communities in which we build.”
EllisDon is currently focusing on the Rapid Antigen Test Pilot on sites with large numbers of personnel and regions such as the GTA where there are high numbers of COVID-19 cases within the community.
It may scale up mandatory testing to other sites in the future.