Ontario Becomes First in Canada to Mandate AEDs on Construction Sites

In a groundbreaking move aimed at improving workplace safety, Ontario is set to become the first province in Canada to require automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) on construction sites. Labour Minister David Piccini made the announcement in Whitby, stating the new regulation would apply to projects lasting three months or longer and employing 20 or more workers.

The initiative is part of the province’s broader Working for Workers Five agenda and responds directly to calls from construction industry stakeholders who highlighted AEDs as essential onsite emergency tools. Ministry data shows that more than 15 percent of workplace inspection reports related to cardiac incidents occur within the construction sector.

To support compliance and ease financial pressure, a reimbursement program will be introduced through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). The average cost of an AED is currently $2,300, and eligible construction firms will be able to recoup this expense from the WSIB insurance fund.

“Our skilled tradespeople are the backbone of Ontario’s infrastructure,” said Piccini. “By ensuring lifesaving devices like AEDs are readily available, we’re reinforcing our commitment to safer, healthier job sites.”

The announcement received strong support from across the industry. Jack Oliveira of LIUNA Local 183 emphasized that access to AEDs could mean the difference between life and death in emergencies. “This proposal is a vital step forward in protecting the people who build our communities every day,” he said.

Industry leaders, including the Residential Construction Council of Ontario, the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, and EllisDon Corporation, also praised the initiative. Steve Chaplin of EllisDon called the mandate “a critical update” that reflects a deeper commitment to the well-being of construction workers across the province.

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The proposed AED requirement builds on Ontario’s 2022 legislation mandating naloxone kits in workplaces at risk of opioid overdoses and forms part of a broader package of workplace safety reforms expected to be unveiled in the coming days.