The Ontario government is planning to expand the explicit requirement for properly fitting PPE for women.
In the Working for Workers Act of 2023, Ontario mandated that women in construction must be provided with properly fitting equipment such as uniforms, boots and safety harnesses.
Now, the government is proposing to expand the requirement to all skilled trades in the province.
“We know that more can be done to ensure women feel valued, protected and optimistic about pursuing a career in the skilled trades,” said Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure.
“This legislation would encourage more women to enter the skilled trades workforce to build a successful career and a stronger province for generations to come.”
Last year, 374,600 women were employed in a skilled trades-related occupation in Ontario, representing about 29 per cent of the 1.3 million Ontarians who were employed in a skilled-trades related occupation.
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According to recent research published by the Canadian Standards Association, 50 per cent of women surveyed said their PPE does not fit properly, 43 per cent said it is uncomfortable to wear and 35 per cent said the selection of women-specific PPE is inadequate.
“Women’s PPE, like the right tools for any job, is designed to protect, support and stand strong — just like the women who wear it. The right workwear ensures safety, comfort and confidence, empowering women to tackle any job,” said Dianne Finnigan, Founder and Owner of The Dirty Seahorse Workwear.
Ontario is also ensuring workers have access to clean washrooms by proposing specific requirements on employers that will increase accountability and transparency with washroom cleaning records.
This would build on the new duties for employers and constructors related to clean washrooms that were passed under the Working for Workers Five Act.
These changes are part of a larger proposed package that will expand on regulations introduced in five previous Working for Workers packages since 2021, which will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
“The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario appreciate the progressive steps forward announced today to improve the lives of working people,” said Marc Arsenault, Business Manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario.
“We look forward to working with the government to implement these changes in a way that makes a real impact on workers.”
