What PPE requirements exist for commercial construction cleaning workers in Ontario?

Workplace safety in Ontario, including protective equipment, falls under the province's Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations. Which specific rules apply depends on the site and the work, so the Ontario Ministry of Labour is the place to check the details. For a building owner or project manager, the useful part is knowing what protective equipment a post-construction cleaning crew commonly uses and what to ask about before they start.

Protective Equipment You Can Expect to See

On an active or recently finished construction site, cleaning crews commonly wear safety footwear with toe protection, hard hats where there are overhead hazards or other trades still working, safety glasses or goggles when using chemical products or pressure washers, and high-visibility vests in areas with vehicle or equipment traffic such as parking garages and loading docks. Your general contractor may also have site rules that everyone has to follow.

Respiratory protection deserves the most attention. Fine construction dust can contain silica and other particles that can be hazardous to breathe. Ask the cleaning company what respiratory protection its workers use when disturbing settled dust, and — just as important — how it keeps dust down in the first place, for example by using HEPA vacuums and wet wiping instead of dry sweeping.

Gloves matter when workers handle solvents, degreasers, grout haze removers and other chemical products. The Safety Data Sheet for each product describes what protection is needed to handle it safely, so ask whether Safety Data Sheets will be on site and whether workers have WHMIS training.

Some tasks call for extra protection. Pressure washing can call for face shields, waterproof clothing and hearing protection. Work on ladders, scaffolding or lifts to clean high windows and ceilings raises the question of fall protection, so ask how the crew handles working at height. Floor scrubbers and pressure washers can be loud, and knee pads are common for floor work.

The cleaning company you hire is responsible for its own workers' safety. Ask whether they have a written health and safety program, ask for proof of liability insurance and what it covers, and ask whether they have WSIB coverage or a clearance certificate. The Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com can help you find cleaning contractors in Ottawa to ask.

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• Justyn Rook Contracting
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