New requirements for City of Vaughan’s construction projects
Beginning in March of this year, new regulations apply to all construction contractors working with the City of Vaughan, Ontario. A statement from the municipality reads, “The health and safety of everyone who works in, lives and visits the city of Vaughan is an important priority. As of March 2020, construction contractors working with the City will have to have registered for a Certificate of Recognition (CORTM) from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) for the procurement process.”
In December 2019, Vaughan Council endorsed the CORTM program as a component of the City’s biding process for construction contracts. The IHSA is designated to certify contractors in Ontario’s construction industry who demonstrate their health and safety management system through this structured audit process.
Candidates looking to work with the City will be required to provide a copy of a valid certificate or an equivalent Ontario Health and Safety certification in order to win the bid. Implementing this step in the process will help reduce health and safety risks in the work place.
The municipality has stated: “Commencing March 2020, successful bidders on all City construction contracts must possess, at the minimum, registration and secure and maintain a valid COR™ or an Equivalent Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Certification for the duration of the contract by effective dates as per various contract thresholds. The successful bidder shall be required to provide a copy of a valid COR™ or Equivalent OHS Certification to the City as a condition of award by the program implementation date.”