The Government of Ontario is making washrooms on construction sites private, clean and safe, while also requiring women’s-only washrooms.
According to the government, there are nearly 600,000 construction workers in Ontario, but only one in 10 are women. These changes, if approved, would make the skilled trades more accessible to women by ensuring they have access to at least one women’s-only washroom on jobsites and properly fitting equipment such as uniforms, boots and safety harnesses.
“Access to a washroom is a basic human dignity and something every worker should have the right to,” said Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton. “Careers in construction offer six-figure salaries with pensions and benefits, and it is an injustice only 10 per cent of them are filled by women. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government will continue to stand with these heroes. Everyone has the right to a safe and welcoming workplace.”
Portable washrooms will be improved by requiring them to be private and completely enclosed, have adequate lighting and hand sanitizer (where running water is not reasonably possible). Additionally, the government is doubling the number of toilets on most jobsites.
“Ensuring women have access to tools to reach their full potential in the construction industry will strengthen retention, eliminate barriers, attract talent and empower a stronger sense of belonging on-site,” said Victoria Mancinelli, LiUNA director public relations, marketing, Strategic Partnerships.
The proposed regulatory amendments, if approved and filed, would come into force on the July 1, 2023.
“Every skilled trades professional has the right to a private and clean washroom so they can get on with the jobs they were hired to do. I fully support Ontario’s efforts to make construction sites more accessible to all workers. These changes not only promote safety and dignity for women in the skilled trades, but will help remove barriers to create a more inclusive and welcoming workplace for all,” said Melissa Young, CEO and registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario.
