b'TOM MACKAYhas become my main job lately. Early in the pandemic, Tom published customizable policies and templates for contractors to assess the virus risk on their job sites and to advise them on regular developments of the governments health and safety guidelines, specifically for construc-tion. These guidelines include hazard assessments, worker screening, hygienepracticesandwearingprotectiveequipment. Tomstresses that, Dealing with COVID-19 is like dealing with other hazardous diseases, materials and carcinogens in the workplace where employers need to plan their work sites, identify, evaluate and mitigate risk to workers. It ultimately is the employers responsibility to follow current health and safety regulation, policies and procedures, and we can help our members with that.Constructionsitesaredifferentfromestablishedworksitesinthat there are projects where access to basic services like running water or permanent washrooms can be a challenge or non-existent. There is a health and safety requirement to protect workers and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Tom states, This pandemic has required the construction industry to take increased actions to ensure precautions such as work planning, employee screening, hygiene facilities training and protective equipment along with effective risk hazard assessment is undertaken to guarantee the safety of workers.As Ontarians adjusted to the new reality that COVID-19 presented, the wearing of masks became common practice, and in some cases a requirement. Health agencies and disease control experts have advised that if physical distancing cannot be met, then masks should be worn. Physical distancing cannot always be achieved on a construction site and therefore risk mitigation should include masks and respirators where appropriate to protect workers.When looking to the future for the construction industry, and specific-ally for our electrical contractor members, Tom concludes, We look forward to our members continuing to implement effective hazard identification, assessment and risk mitigation by implementing work placehealthandsafetyproceduresandpractices.COVID-19has caused severe damage to our society and to our economy, but there is a positive coming out of the pandemic. It has heightened our awareness of the importance of work planning, procedures, practices and hygiene to protect workers on construction job sites from hazards including communicable diseases, like what we have seen with COVID-19.Ontario Electrical Contractor19'