b'HEALTH & SAFETYRE-EXAMINING HEALTH & SAFETY THE PANDEMIC IS CHANGING THE RULES FOR H&S PROGRAMS By Matthew BradfordTHERES NOTHING LIKE A GLOBALand CEO at the Infrastructure Health andhope to be prepared for future, large-PANDEMIC TO UNDERSCORE THESafety Association (IHSA), stating, Wherescale disruptions like this. importance of construction safety. Butthere may have been some complacency while the longer-term impacts of thein meeting the requirements of theCOVID-19 has also highlighted the mental COVID-19 crisis are still taking shape,regulations in the past, this is no longerhealth issues that can arise within the its clear that health and safety (H&S)the case. The bar has been raised.industry, and for good reason. A recent programs are already adapting to the Canadian Mental Health Association new normal.H&S 2.0 study indicates that 70 per cent of Change is familiar to the constructionOntarians believe the province is headed The pandemic has highlighted workplaceindustry. So its no surprise thattowards a serious mental health crisis safety in a way that weve really nevercontractors are taking a fresh look atas a direct result of the pandemic, with seen before, especially when it comestheir H&S programs in response to80 per cent saying more mental health to recognizing the risks for people whothe pandemic. One of the most visiblesupport will be necessary to help the continue to work during a worldwidechanges is a renewed focus on biologicalpopulation recover.health event, asserts Rod Cook, safety. In addition to measures such as vice president of workplace health andhandwashing stations, contractors areThe mental health toll of working on live safety services at the Workplace Safetyalso using new technologies and protocolsjob sites during the pandemic is adding and Insurance Board (WSIB). to better track workers, vendors andup, and this is something that is not project stakeholders entering and exitingjust going to resolve itself, says Cook. Certainly, heightened anxieties overtheir job sites.Successful organizations recognize COVID-19 and demand for jobsitethere needs to be greater emphasis on infection controls have made it necessaryMoreover, says Janet Mannella, vicemental health supports, both for those for contractors to revisit their H&Spresident with the Canadian Centre forin the field and in the back office who programs. By and large, the OntarioOccupational Health and Safety, themight be working from home or are being construction industry has done anpandemic has motivated many firms totransitioned back into a physical office.admirable job of exceeding provincialrevisit their disruption recovery plans: guidelines to keep their projects staffedBusiness continuity plans are not staticH&S training has also adapted to the and the sector on track. documents. More than a few contractorsnew reality. The WSIB, for example, has learned this the hard way when theyrevisited its Health and Safety Excellence Across the board, the industry hasdusted off their plans at the start of theProgram to hone in on pandemic-related heightened awareness and sensitivity topandemic. Now industry is acutely awaretopics. For Cook and his team, this means adequacy and availability of site cleanupthat business continuity planning needsmore emphasis on ways to identify and facilities, notes Enzo Garritano, presidentto be a living, breathing exercise if theycontrol infection hazards, as well as 22Quarter 3 2020 BUILDERSDIGEST'