Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) has stepped up efforts to ensure that builders and workers know how to register for COVID-19 vaccinations.
“The health and safety of those who work in our industry has always been the paramount concern of RESCON,” vice-president Andrew Pariser said in a news release.
“This website information is another tool to ensure that everybody has the information they need to stay safe, get tested and find out where they can get vaccinated. The key to ensuring our industry remains safe and leads the Ontario economy out of this recession is rapid testing and vaccinations.”
When the pandemic started last year, RESCON added a COVID-19 information section to its website. Today, the section has details on rapid testing resources, a vaccine policy template, health and safety best practices and a guidance sheet that outlines steps workers can take to find out where and when they can get vaccinated, with links to register for the shots.
A vaccine guidance sheet is updated several times a week, providing RESCON members, the construction industry and public with critical information to quickly register and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
The site also includes links to posters and flyers, information on everything from glove sanitizing to correct handwashing techniques, proper use and care of face coverings on worksites, and more. Visitors to the site can also click on links that provide information on caseloads across Ontario and Canada.
Feedback to the site has been positive, with members describing the guidance sheet as “extremely helpful and a one-stop shop for the information they need to know.”
“We continue to do our part to keep our members and the construction industry informed and safe with the latest and up-to-date information on COVID-19,” Pariser said.
“We reacted quickly when COVID-19 struck and have continued to show steady and consistent leadership throughout the pandemic. As a result, our industry has remained open and transmission on sites has remained low.”
RESCON has also held three webinars to educate members about regulations, best practices and public health measures related to COVID-19 and will be hosting another in late June. Safety programs were adopted by RESCON as they were rolled out and the organization’s rapid testing group now has more than 10 members administering thousands of tests a week on dozens of sites.
RESCON is urging all construction workers to get vaccinated in order to stay safe. A healthy residential construction industry is critical to any successful economic recovery, as the housing industry share of GDP has soared to a record high of 9.3 per cent, which is double the historical norm.