Vaughan construction companies need safety certificate to bid on city jobs
Council decision is binding starting March

Jan. 16, 2020
Yorkregion.com
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Starting March, construction companies will require a whole health and safety certificate in order to bid on city projects in Vaughan.

“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,” the city said in a Jan. 8 news release.

“Implementing this step in the process will help reduce health and safety risks in the workplace.”

The decision came forward after council “endorsed” a certificate of recognition program as “a component of the city’s bidding process for construction contracts” in December.

Vaughan has largest number of construction projects in York Region
Companies are required to register for a CORTM certificate from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) for the procurement process.

“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.”

In a municipality that tops its eight York Region counterparts in having the most construction projects, construction fatalities aren't uncommon in Vaughan.