Construction workers, and even other sectors of activity, will demonstrate in front of the CNESST offices on Tuesday in Montreal to ensure that there is no postponement of future health and safety provisions at the work which must come into force on 1er January.
These provisions, contained in the health and safety reform adopted by the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, a little over a year ago, provide in particular for the appointment of health and safety representatives on construction sites construction. Their number will vary according to the size of the site.
However, construction employers’ associations have complained about the schedule, the time to prepare for it, the training and the costs that this will entail.
The General Contractors Corporation, for example, says “multiply the steps with the government and the CNESST (Commission for standards, equity, health and safety at work) for an easier transition to the new system “.
The five major construction trade unions are therefore organizing a demonstration on Tuesday to invite the CNESST to “not give in to pressure from employers” by postponing or easing the application of health and safety provisions in construction.
The FTQ-Construction, the Quebec Provincial Council of Construction Trades (International), the Quebec Construction Union, the CSD-Construction and the CSN-Construction will be supported by workers from other unions.
“40 years of being ready”
“We have been ready and waiting for these provisions for 40 years,” said Simon Lévesque, health and safety manager at the FTQ-Construction, in an interview.
Construction workers will be better protected, starting on 1er January, by the presence of these health and safety representatives, he believes.
“It has proven itself; it worked at the level of the mines, where there was a rate of deaths at work and accidents at work [qui était] construction equivalent. And they have improved a lot,” pleaded Mr. Lévesque.
“These mechanisms have proven themselves, because we ask for the involvement of workers. The workers know their work environment well, then they know what is dangerous at construction sites and then they are able to identify it,” he explains.
Although entrepreneurs have asked for flexibility and delays, the unions are maintaining their position. “I have confidence in the CNESST. Anyway, I don’t think the CNESST can give in. The mission of the CNESST is not to give in to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, it is to enforce it,” Mr. Lévesque said.
The demonstration on Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to noon, therefore also targets employers, he argues.