Construction sites opening include residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial projects
In a joint statement on Monday, Jean Boulet (minister of labour, employment, and social solidarity) and Pierre Fitzgibbon (minister of economy and innovation) announced that all construction sites and manufacturing companies in Quebec would be completely reopening.
Boulet said: "Our government has worked in close collaboration with public health, partners in the construction industry and the CNESST to ensure the health and safety of workers. I expect the return to work to take place in an orderly manner and with strict respect for the health measures prescribed by public health authorities."
"Joining the opening of retail stores outside of Greater Montréal, this restart is essential to ensure that Québec returns to prosperity. We are convinced that this relaunch will be carried out with respect for the physical distancing guidelines issued by public health and CNESST protocols." Added Fitzgibbon.
Construction sites opening include residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial projects. On the manufacturing side, companies in Quebec can resume operations as long as no more than 50 workers are present – though restrictions will be lifted May 25.
CNESST
These re-openings will be subjected to a high level of scrutiny to make sure that Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST)’s on-site recommendations are being respected. At the start of the month, CNESST released a toolkit to help workers and employers comply with new sanitary instructions.
This toolkit (also available as a mobile app) includes instructions on how to safely re-open the work environment with recommendations on physical distancing, increased sanitization of workspaces, handling worker isolation, etc.
Provinces throughout Canada are gradually re-opening businesses this month in an attempt to re-start the economy, which has greatly suffered in the last two months due to stay-at-home orders and subsequent high levels of unemployment and temporary layoffs.
