Ontario construction sites are now required to have at least one women’s-only washroom. That update to jobsite regulations was one of several new requirements that came into effect on July 1. The washroom regulations and access to properly fitting equipment such as uniforms, boots and safety harnesses, were part of several initiatives introduced earlier this year by the provincial government.
One in 10 of the nearly 600,000 construction workers in Ontario are women, and these updated requirements by employers are aimed at making the skilled trades more accessible and more appealing to women.
When the measures were introduced, Andrew Regnerus, Ontario construction coordinator at CLAC, stated, “We applaud measures that make all job sites more accessible and safer for all, including women. Given the trades shortage, all barriers to entry and retention must be eliminated and this is an important step in the right direction.”
Washrooms on construction sites now need to be private and completely enclosed, and have adequate lighting and hand sanitizer (where running water is not reasonably possible). The number of toilets required on most jobsites has also increased.