A Mikey automated external defibrillator. (Photo courtesy of The Mikey Network)
The Ontario government has announced plans to introduce first-in-Canada changes that will, if passed, create safer workplaces for construction workers by requiring Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) at construction sites. The province says the move will build on the legislation it introduced in 2022 to require naloxone kits in at-risk workplaces, including construction sites.
“Our government is protecting Ontario workers that are building our province by requiring AEDs on construction sites,” said David Piccini, minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our skilled workers are at the centre of our government’s plan to build highways, energy and key infrastructure. Ensuring lifesaving equipment is where it’s needed to keep them safe is one more way we’re creating safer workplaces.”
Cardiac events, including sudden cardiac arrest, are a leading cause of workplace fatalities, with construction workers being at higher risk.
“Sixty thousand cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital per year in Canada, and only one in 10 survives,” stated Lesley James, director of Health Policy & Systems, Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. “When used quickly, AEDs can double those chances of survival. This is an excellent step forward in making AEDs readily available and keeping our loved ones alive in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.”
In Ontario, AEDs are often referred to as Mikeys, so named for The Mikey Network, and because defibrillator can be difficult to say and spell. The organization and the devices were named for Mike Salem, a partner in Heathwood Homes and Herity, who died on a golf course in 2002 due to a heart issue.
Mikeys can be used to restore normal heart rhythm in someone experiencing cardiac arrest. When used together with CPR in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest, an AED can dramatically improve cardiac arrest survival rates by more than 50 per cent.
“On behalf of all Ontario workers and the entire team at The Mikey Network, we thank Minister Piccini for recognizing the need for this incredible initiative,” said Chuck Resnick, president of The Mikey Network.
“We are thrilled with this announcement,” stated Eva Naumovski, principal, executive vice-president and director of sales and marketing at Herity Heathwood. “Our mission of placing Mikey AEDs at construction sites is just another chapter of keeping everyone safe and giving a second chance at life in case of an emergency.”
The proposed amendments would require AEDs on construction projects that are expected to last three months or longer with 20 or more workers. To support businesses with the costs, a proposed program through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) would reimburse constructors for the purchase of an AED.
Several construction organizations were quick to commend the province on the initiative.
“The safety of our members is, and always will be, our top priority. Lives can change in seconds on a construction site, and access to an AED can mean the difference between life and death,” stated Jack Oliveira, business manager at LiUNA Local 183. “This proposed change is a critical step forward in protecting the hardworking men and women who build our province every day. We commend Minister Piccini for recognizing that worker safety must always come first.”
“This legislation will save lives,” added Andrew Pariser, vice-president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON). “By requiring AEDs on construction sites, Premier Ford and Minister Piccini are ensuring construction workers have access to life saving AEDs if a cardiac event occurs. Ontario will be the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce this legislation and RESCON fully supports and applauds the Minister’s leadership and dedication to health and safety.”