The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), in partnership with Smart Safety Solutions, has developed a guide to help employers build a policy governing the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

As of January 1, all construction sites with 20 or more workers that will be active for at least three months are required to have an AED on site. The RESCON guide outlines 13 steps and lists multiple resources which constructors can use to build their own specific policies.

The steps outline the duties, responsibilities, equipment requirements and emergency response procedures of constructors and how to select, use, place and maintain AEDs on a jobsite.

“Ontario is the first jurisdiction to make this move and it’s a fantastic step forward,” explains RESCON VP Andrew Pariser. “Nothing is more important on a construction jobsite than health and safety. Having an AED on a worksite could be a lifesaver if a worker experiences a cardiac event.

“The guide will help employers develop policies that reflect the specific realities of each jobsite. Construction jobsites, by their very nature, are different so it’s critical to have a specific plan.”

The guide will help employers define the roles and responsibilities of all workplace parties involved in a workplace AED program, figure out the equipment that’s required, where it should be placed on a jobsite, what training is necessary, and how implementation should be rolled out.

“The first and most important act is for an employer to conduct a hazard assessment as construction workers face an elevated risk of cardiac events due to high-stress environments, physically demanding work, and exposure to various high-risk conditions on a jobsite,” says Pariser. “The other steps in the guide will help ensure a constructor is prepared.”

Meanwhile, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has established a rebate program to help offset the cost of purchasing AEDs, up to $2,500 per unit, during the transition phase. Purchases made between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027, are eligible for reimbursements.

The reimbursement application process is now open and will run to July 3, 2027.