Ontario Construction Consortium

HHCA offers members deep dive into naloxone policy

The Creative Co-opt — Tue, 10 May 2022 18:09:19 +0000

HHCA offers members deep dive into naloxone policy

DailyCommercialnews - May 9, 2022

Naloxone kits to deal with opioid overdoses must become a staple health and safety tool at all construction sites alongside steel-toed boots and construction hard hats, harm-reduction workers told a Hamilton, Ont. Construction Safety Week audience recently.

Hamilton-Halton Construction Association (HHCA) general manager Sue Ramsay explained to members that on March 1 the Ontario legislature passed the Working for Workers Act, implementing a new mandate for the construction sector to “reduce the risk of death caused by opioid overdoses in workplaces by requiring employers to provide a naloxone kit in workplaces where overdoses are a potential hazard.”

That clearly targets construction employers, Ramsay said.

“Mental health and substance abuse are real concerns in our industry. As employers, we have to do everything that we can to support and protect our workers,” she remarked, referring to the legislation.

“Obviously, these are really complex issues, best explained by experts.”

Ramsay recruited two regional harm-reduction workers from The Aids Network, Tess Hopkins and Marijo Watt, to offer context and practical advice to HHCA members as part of the May 5 session billed as Naloxone and Harm Reduction 101. Each table had two small pouches, one with needles, syringes and vials of naloxone and one with a nasal application.

The case for harm reduction with naxolone kits in the construction sector is strong, Hopkins stated, noting research by the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network from 2020 indicates 30 per cent of opioid-related deaths among people employed during the pandemic occurred among those working in the construction industry.

The Other Pandemic Campaign, launched by the Ontario Construction Consortium in partnership with Ontario Harm Reduction Network in 2021, urged unions and contractors to increase training and education on opioids.

“You have the Ontario Construction Consortium talking about safe supply. That’s not something I thought was in the realm of possibility two years ago, three years ago,” said Hopkins.

It has become a “perfect storm” in the past two years, the HHCA audience was told – a flood of “poisonous,” impure opioids hitting the streets during the pandemic, construction workers continuing to be over-represented among opioid users, and now with worker shortages there is greater pressure than ever for workers to find a way to work through chronic pain.

“Everywhere you go, there’s a critical shortage of workers and pressure to get back to work,” Watt said. “One in three construction workers across the country, union or non-union, reported problematic substance use. This doesn’t discern between alcohol or drugs. But that number is alarming. You can stop people from dying just by having naloxone available.”

Examples of opioids are heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine, Hopkins explained. Fentanyl is 100 times stronger than morphine and it is often mixed with other opioids, fentanyl analogues or different types of depressants.

Carfentanil is a fentanyl derivative and 10,000 times stronger than morphine.

Law enforcement, including major drug seizures, forces street sellers to mix products based on availability, with benzodiazepines, a category of depressant, often part of the mix these days, Hopkins explained.

“People have no idea what they’re putting into their bodies,” she said. “People that use substances are dying accidental deaths, they’re being poisoned to death by a toxic, unpredictable drug supply.”

Watt added, “It is nearly impossible to get pure drugs anymore. Especially we’re seeing throughout COVID with the closure of the borders, people are unaware of what their drugs contain.

“So we are trying to get naloxone in the hands of everyone. Because if you don’t have it, you risk overdosing if you use drugs.”

Naloxone is a drug that reverses an opioid overdose. It restores normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose, taking about two to five minutes to work and lasting between 30 to 90 minutes in the bloodstream.

If naloxone is administered on someone who does not have opioids in their system, it has no effect and causes no harm.

Ramsay noted while the legislation has been passed, the specific regulation mandating naloxone kits in the construction sector has not been proclaimed, with regulators said to be giving the industry time to adapt.

Meanwhile, Hopkins said, firms should train staff on recognizing when the kits should be used as part of an inclusive and supportive work environment.

And right now, she said, employers should be getting their hands on naloxone kits – start by looking up the Ontario Harm Reduction Distribution Program Locator, contacting local mobile harm-reduction services, or inquiring at pharmacies. Kits are free.

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New Brunswick construction employment to peak this year

The Creative Co-opt — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:42:23 +0000

New Brunswick construction employment to peak this year

The Safety Mag - March 15, 2022

Overall construction employment in New Brunswick to reach a peak in 2022, but it will eventually moderate and eventually decline by an about 684 workers (-3.4 per cent of the 2021 workforce) by 2027, according to a report from BuildForce Canada.

“As is the case in many of the Atlantic Provinces, New Brunswick’s construction labour force is challenged with peak demands now, and potentially a lower availability of workers by 2027,” said Bill Ferreira, executive director of BuildForce Canada.

“Although construction employment in the province surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2021, labour force growth has been more sluggish. A pullback in labour force participation during the pandemic, particularly among older workers, has contributed to a decline in available workers and rates of industry unemployment that the province has not experienced since its 2011 peak in construction activity.”

To offset the outflow of 4,200 workers (17 per cent of the 2021 labour force) to retirement, New Brunswick’s construction industry will need to recruit 3,600 new workers, according to BuildForce Canada.

But things could be even more challenging because of the shrinking pool of available new entrants as population growth slows and fewer young people are available to enter the labour force. This hiring requirement could be partly addressed through the recruitment of a potential 2,710 workers under the age of 30 from the local population, but a gap of some 930 workers may emerge, according to the organization.

“The construction industry remains focused on building a more diverse and inclusive labour force. To that end, efforts are ongoing to enhance the recruitment of individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in the province’s construction labour force, such as women, Indigenous people, and newcomers to Canada,” said BuildForce Canada.

In 2021, there were approximately 2,180 women employed in New Brunswick’s construction industry, a slight increase over the 2,100 employed in 2020. Also, approximately 63,700 Indigenous people were employed in Canada’s construction sector in 2021, equivalent to nine per cent of all Indigenous people in the workforce.

The province is also expected to welcome an average of 6,600 newcomers every year through 2027.

In March 2020, the Ontario Construction Consortium (OCC) raised concerns over the wellbeing of construction workers amid the shutdown of non-essential businesses.

The post New Brunswick construction employment to peak this year appeared first on Ontario Construction Consortium.

Carpenters Union Plays A Role in Ending ‘The Other Pandemic’

The Creative Co-opt — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 18:33:00 +0000

Carpenters Union Plays A Role in Ending 'The Other Pandemic'

Urban Toronto - March 7, 2022

Approximately 2,500 people died from opioid-related causes in Ontario between March, 2020 and January, 2021. Of the victims who were employed, 30% were reported as being construction workers – the industry that was impacted the most, by far. To combat this, the Ontario government announced last week that it has introduced legislation dubbed the Working for Workers Act. If passed, the law would require workplaces that are at risk of a worker opioid overdose to have naloxone kits on site, as well as increase the maximum fines for businesses that fail to protect their workers to the highest in the country.

“The opioid crisis is a big concern to us in the construction industry,” said Phil Gillies of the Ontario Construction Consortium. “The crisis got a lot worse over the last year, but public awareness has been hyper-focussed on COVID-19.” And it’s true; after the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, opioid-related deaths surged in Ontario, and the number of confirmed and probable deaths from drug overdose increased by over 60%.

Gillies suggested that governments should look to change policies in regard to a safe drug supply, rather than sitting by and letting street drugs infiltrate the industry and cause a preventable loss of life. The Working for Workers bill that proposes to have naloxone kits at every job site would be a big step in that direction.

Naloxone is a medication that can be used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, allowing time for medical help to arrive. Requiring businesses in high-risk settings to have naloxone kits on-site could help reduce the stigma around opioid abuse in the industry, as well as raise awareness about the risks of accidental overdoses – potentially saving hundreds of lives a year.

“Everyone in our province knows someone who has been impacted by the opioid epidemic in some capacity,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, who proposed the legislation. “We need to do everything in our power to save lives. That is why our government is bringing life-saving naloxone kits to high-risk settings like construction sites.”

This comes as great news to the groups that have been advocating for this type of support for a while, including the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario (CDCO), the Painters Union, the Interiors Systems Contractors Association, and the Ontario Construction Consortium. These groups came together a year ago in an effort to promote change in the industry after the death of a second term apprentice who overdosed on opioids over the May long weekend in 2021.

Mike Yorke, president of the Carpenter’s Union told UrbanToronto that event in particular was what pushed the groups to create The Other Pandemic; an online body that advocates for better support for those dealing with opioid addiction in the construction industry, as well as a resource for those suffering with substance abuse in the construction industry to seek out help.

“[After the death of the apprentice] we did in-house education with our members, and collaborated with colleagues of ours in the United States who were experts in the field relating to opioid use in the construction industry,” he said. The Other Pandemic was launched shortly after that. “We have had support from Toronto Mayor John Tory, as well as Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, and other leaders within the construction industry such as Giovanni Cautillo from the General Contractors Association,” added Yorke.

After operating as a landing page for various opioid-related resources for nearly a year, the provincial government is now acting to help those in need in the construction industry, and prevent unnecessary deaths.

“This is one of the first times I have ever been involved in a project from inception right thorough to seeing legislation being proposed at Queen’s Park,” said Yorke. “The fact that Naloxone kits are now going to be circulated on job sites, that was a recommendation advocated for by the Ontario Drug Prevention Network, and the Ontario Construction Consortium through The Other Pandemic. For us, it’s important to bring these concerns forward and have meetings with people such as the Minister of Labour, and then see legislation come as a result of our efforts. For there to be legislation proposed as a result of that is really great in our eyes.”

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Workplaces required to have naloxone ‘within months:’ Labour Minister

The Creative Co-opt — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 18:36:00 +0000

Workplaces required to have naloxone 'within months:' Labour Minister

Toronto Sun - March 6, 2022

Thousands more Ontario workplaces will soon be expected to stock naloxone kits in case of an employee overdose, Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says.

People from all demographics are vulnerable to opioid addiction, he said.

“My mission is really to raise awareness around the opioid crisis and also to end the stigma,” McNaughton added. “We need people coming forward to talk about their addictions and mental health issues. At the end of the day, this is about saving lives.”

McNaughton’s Working for Workers legislation, which was introduced last week, would, if passed, make a number of changes, including safeguarding the day jobs of military reservists and forcing large employers to disclose their electronic monitoring of staff.

One key action would be to reduce the risk of workplace opioid deaths by mandating a naloxone kit where overdoses are a potential hazard, the bill says.

McNaughton said his goal is to have the kits in place “within months.”

If an employee acknowledges an addiction issue, for instance, the employer would need to keep a naloxone kit onsite and train staff to use it, he said.

Places like bars, nightclubs, and construction sites would also be required to have a kit, he said.

“I know it’s a prevalent issue in the (construction) industry,” McNaughton said. “A lot of it is because workers get injured on the job and the doctor prescribes medication, and they get addicted.”

Many employers have already stocked kits and have staff trained to use them, but this would expand the number of workplaces with overdose protection in place by the thousands, he said.

Jennifer Chambers, executive director of Empowerment Council — an independent patient advocacy organization funded by CAMH — said in an email that some types of work have more opioid users.

“Construction, for example, can cause a lot of body pain, and it can be difficult to work through it,” Chambers said. “Naloxone alone is not an adequate response, although it is better than not responding to the risk at all. There needs to be many more harm reduction services resourced.”

The Ontario Construction Consortium (OCC), in response to McNaughton’s announcement, said the organization and the Carpenters’ Union have been campaigning for a year to bring attention to the “Other Pandemic.”

“It is aimed at the alarming rate of opioid overdose deaths occurring in the construction industry workforce,” the OCC newsletter said. “A study released by St Michael’s Hospital and the Ontario Coroner’s Office confirmed that in 2021, close to one-third of Ontarians, who died of an overdose (and) were employed at the time of their death, were construction workers.”

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Requiring Naloxone kits at all worksites is good news for construction workers: OCC

The Creative Co-opt — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 19:25:00 +0000

Requiring Naloxone kits at all worksites is good news for construction workers: OCC

Ontario Construction News - March 4, 2022

Ensuring Naloxone kits are available on all construction job sites is a good first step to tackling the opioid crisis that is having a devastating effect on the industry, says Phil Gillies, from the Ontario Construction Consortium (OCC).

“We don’t believe most overdoses are occurring on the job, but if the kits are available for workers to take home with them – that’s where more of the benefit is,” Gillies told Ontario Construction News.

Ontario’s labour minister announced on Tuesday that upcoming legislation would require high-risk workplaces including all construction sites to carry Naloxone kits soon.

Naloxone is a medication that can save a life, temporarily reversing the effects of an opioid overdose giving time for medical help to arrive.

“This will mean thousands of employers in all industries will have kits on site. This is about saving lives. We have to be ambitious about fighting this epidemic,” Minister McNaughton said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

According to Statistics Canada, about 2,500 people died from opioid overdoses between March 2020 and January 2021 across Ontario. Of those who were employed, 30 per cent were construction workers.

“The 30 per cent number is alarming,” Gillies said. “No other category of employment even comes close.”

The OCC has been leading the industry looking for ways to reduce the number of construction workers battling addictions.

TheOtherPandemic.ca campaign was launched a year ago, when statistics from the Centres for Disease Control in the US showed how construction worksites were affected at rates much higher than other industries.

Last May 19, a study – Changing Circumstances Surrounding Opioid Related Deaths – by St. Michael’s Hospital and the Ontario Coroner’s Office confirmed Ontario’s troubling situation, finding 2,426 Ontarians died of opioid overdoses in 2020, up from 1,517 in 2019 — an increase of 60 per cent.

Why is it happening?

“Construction is tough, physical work,” Gillies said. “Workers get injured and go to the doctor. The doctor prescribes pain meds which are usually opioids. Some of the workers get addicted but the real problem begins when the doctor cuts off their prescriptions.

“Then some of the affected people go to the street to buy drugs – which is often fentanyl. And fentanyl in any excess quantity is deadly.”

Mandating Naloxone kits for all construction sites is a good start, and Gillies says the following steps are also required:

Construction companies and unions need to step up their education and counselling programs to inform all workers of the dangers inherent in using street drugs.
Governments need to increase addiction and mental health counselling services to meet this unprecedented demand. More than 1,500 Ontarians died of overdoses in 2019. One year later, into the covid pandemic – the number of overdose deaths went up to 2,500.
Mental health and addiction programs must be made easier to access across the province.

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Naloxone kits on sites is ‘about saving lives’

The Creative Co-opt — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 19:23:00 +0000

Naloxone kits on sites is ‘about saving lives’

Family Commercial News - March 4, 2022

The Ontario government’s proposed legislation to require all construction sites in Ontario to have naloxone kits onsite is a big step in the right direction, says the Ontario Construction Consortium (OCC).

The measure is one of the key recommendations identified in The Other Pandemic Campaign, launched by the OCC last year to raise awareness on the opioid overdose crisis in the construction industry.

“We are pleased that the government is taking action on this situation,” said Phil Gillies, from the OCC. “We are delighted that the Ontario government is implementing one of the key recommendations of our The Other Pandemic Campaign. It’s all about improving the lives of construction workers wrestling with addiction and it’s all about saving lives.”

Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton and Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo were at the T3 Bayside construction site in Toronto March 1 to make the announcement.

Naloxone is a fast-acting drug used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. It can prevent death if administered quickly.

According to a study 2,500 Ontarians died of drug overdose in 2020 and of those who were employed at the time of their death, 30 per cent were construction workers, Gillies explained.

The Working for Workers Act, 2022, if passed, would mandate workplaces that are at risk of a worker opioid overdose such as construction sites, bars and nightclubs, to have naloxone kits.

“To save lives we must get naloxone kits into people’s hands. We must do everything possible and today we’re turning our pain into action,” said McNaughton, thanking Gillies and the OCC for their work and leadership on the issue.

“We have to be ambitious in fighting this epidemic. We have to propose solutions that match the scale of this crisis. This new policy is a first in Canada. It will help keep workers safe and also save clients, customers or anyone else in an emergency and it will be matched with support from our government to train workers and help employers get the kits they need.”

The legislation also recommends training to ensure workers are familiar with how to use naloxone kits. In addition, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) would not limit or prohibit the use of naloxone to clients, customers or anyone else in an emergency.

Paul Rosen, a Paralympic gold medalist, was also in attendance for the announcement. Rosen, 62, said he struggled for many years with addiction and mental health.

“When I retired after the Vancouver (Paralympics) my addiction was still going on and my mental health, and unfortunately not being a Canadian athlete anymore, everything went downhill,” said Rosen, adding having naloxone available is critical.

“The opioid crisis in Ontario is massive and it’s not the stereotypical addict that we think of. It’s killing so many young men young women,” said Rosen. “The biggest problem is we have incredible emergency services in this province but when somebody goes down and it takes three, four, five minutes for an ambulance to come…naloxone will get you to the hospital, it will save you.”

Tibollo agreed the opioid crisis has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ontario’s construction industry and Ontario’s workers never took a break during the pandemic,” Tibollo said. “The proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which includes requiring naloxone kits in certain workplaces and staff training on how to use them, is truly something that will support people with addiction challenges and reduce harms resulting from opioid use.”

The OCC recently released a second video as part of The Other Pandemic campaign featuring McNaughton, Giovanni Cautillo of the Ontario General Contractors Association, and Patrick Brown, mayor of the City of Brampton, discussing the opioid crisis in construction.

“Having naloxone kits on construction sites ultimately would be akin to the AEDs (automated external defibrillator) that you have onsite,” said Cautillo in the video. “To me, in my mind there is no difference. If it even saves one person, it’s worth having them on the sites. It just furthers the conversation and makes it not a taboo subject but instead part of our vernacular.”

For more on the campaign visit TheOtherPandemic.ca.

Also included in Working for Workers Two are changes to the OHSA and a proposal to increase the maximum fines for businesses that fail to protect their workers and follow workplace health and safety laws. This would reinforce the importance of putting worker safety first and further penalize those that treat injuries as the cost of doing business, McNaughton said. Businesses that do not provide a safe work environment that leads to a worker being severely injured or dying on the job could face fines of up to $1.5 million under the OSHA if convicted, states a release, adding charges for other individuals are also rising to up to $500,000.

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FRONTLINE: January-February 2022 – Ontario Construction Consortium Newsletter

The Creative Co-opt — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 15:34:28 +0000

We are pleased to present this issue of FRONTLINE the Ontario Construction Consortium Newsletter – for January - February 2022.

We are pleased to present this issue of FRONTLINE the Ontario Construction Consortium Newsletter – for January – February 2022.

This newsletter will be published every two months – to update you on OCC initiatives and events. We hope you find it informative.

Visit our website https://www.ontarioconstructionconsortium.org/ – it showcases our publications and activities and is regularly updated.

If you have any questions about OCC. Email – info@ontarioconstructionconsortium.org

The Ontario Construction Consortium – a new voice for quality work, a robust training sector and safe workplaces.

Formed in 2018, the Ontario Construction Consortium is an organization dedicated to strengthening the construction industry through Advocacy, Education, Networking and Workforce Development.

We welcome a number of new additions to our distributions list this month. We hope you find the information in Front Line informative and helpful.

The Other Pandemic – campaign update

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NEW ADDICTIONS PROTECTION FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

The Ontario Government is introducing legislation that will mandate a measure to help construction workers wrestling with opioid addiction issues. This morning, OCC Phil Gillies joined Labour Minister Monte McNaughton and Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo for the announcement – that all construction sites in the province will be required to have Naloxone kits onsite. Naloxone is a nasal spray that if administered to a person going into opioid overdose, can bring them out of the overdose state and possibly save their life.

This measure was a key recommendation of OCC’s The Other Pandemic campaign, which has been working for the last year to focus attention on the opioid overdose crisis in the construction

industry workforce. In 2020, 2500 Ontarians died of drug overdose. Of those who were employed at the time of their death, 30% were construction workers.

In his remarks this morning, Minister McNaughton thanked OCC for the leadership we have shown on this issue.

What is The Other Pandemic?

The Other Pandemic is a construction industry campaign initiated by OCC and the Carpenters Union. It is aimed at the alarming rate of opioid overdose deaths occurring in the construction industry workforce.

Please go to our website to see in detail the work we have done: TheOtherPandemic.ca

The Ontario Construction Consortium and the Carpenters Union were hearing anecdotally throughout 2020 that construction workers in various parts of Ontario were dying of drug overdose
A study released by St Michael’s Hospital and the Ontario Coroner’s Office confirmed that in 2021, close to one-third of Ontarians who died of overdose who were employed at the time of their death – were construction workers.

OCC and our industry partners decided an information campaign directed at construction workers and the general public was needed.

• The Other Pandemic campaign has consisted of:

Newsreleasesandmediainterviews;
- A website: TheOtherPandemic.ca.
  o Full page advertorials sponsored by the Carpenters Union in the Toronto Sun and
- The National Post.
- Avideofeaturingcommentsbyhealthexpertsandcommunityleaders,including
- Toronto Mayor John Tory.
- Emails to construction industry stakeholders.

We launched The Other Pandemic campaign on May 31, 2021. The details on the campaignelements can be found on our website: https://theotherpandemic.ca/
We are pleased to report that the Ontario Government is taking some action on this situation.
On June 21st, Labour Minister McNaughton announced a research project at the De Novo Treatment Centre in Huntsville to study and provide support for addiction and suicide issues in the construction industry. This project will develop a report and create tools for training centres, unions and employers to better understand and address mental health. Funding is coming out of the governments Skills Development Fund which was part of the 2021 Budget.
At the time of the announcement, Minister McNaughton said, ‘The Other Pandemic Campaign helped focus attention on this important issue.’
NOW – Our next step. In partnership with the Ontario General Contractors Association, we have produced a second video. This new video features comments from Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, OGCA President Giovanni Cautillo, and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.
Our new video is complete and is being released today. You can view it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cykycew9er08p8p/Other%20Pandemic%20Winter%202021%20-%202%20-%20v2.mp4?dl=0

We want to thank all our industry and labour partners who have made The Other Pandemic Campaign possible – especially Mike Yorke and Tony Iannuzzi from the Carpenters Union, Bruno Mandic from the Painters Union, Ontario General Contractors

Association CEO Giovanni Cautillo, and Ron Johnson from the Interior Systems Contractors Association.

We intend this initiative to help save and improve the lives of our workers.

Ontario replaces Ontario College of Trades

The Ontario Government has eliminated the College of Trades, and instead has set up a “one stop shop” – Skilled Trades Ontario. This new organization is intended to serve tradespeople and industries with:

Promotion and marketing of the trades
Develop the latest training and curriculum standards
Make it easier to start and finish an apprenticeship.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said, “By creating this new agency, we are working for workers and delivering the generational change that labour leaders and employers have been calling for”.

The intent is to bring the trades into the 21st century and to help more workers start in- demand and rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

Ontario Passes the Working for Workers Act

The Ford government has passed the Working for Workers Act. The main feature of this legislation is to bring in measures to make it easier for gig workers to spend time with their families and loved ones by requiring most workplaces to have a ‘right to disconnect’ policy. The Act also bans businesses from using non-compete agreements.

Job recruiters and temp agencies will also face mandatory licensing. Failing to comply with these requirements will be met with the harshest penalties in the country.

Part 2 of Working for Workers was just announced – establishing a $15 / hour minimum wage for remote, online workers.

Front Line is a publication of the Ontario Construction Consortium, a think-tank/lobby that represents contractors and workers in the unionized construction sector.

We welcome your feedback – please contact us at any time:

Ontario Construction Consortium
info@ontarioconstructionconsortium.org

The post FRONTLINE: January-February 2022 – Ontario Construction Consortium Newsletter appeared first on Ontario Construction Consortium.

Bell Let’s Talk Day: Mental health and addiction supports for construction

The Creative Co-opt — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 18:22:21 +0000

Bell Let’s Talk Day: Mental health and addiction supports for construction

DCN-JOC News Services - January 26, 2022

With mental health concerns continuing to impact the lives of workers in the construction industry, the Daily Commercial News has compiled a list of mental health resources, tools and supports available to employees and employers looking for assistance in Ontario in recognition of Bell Let’s Talk Day.

Last year, the DCN and JOC launched our national series Cracks in the Foundation: Mental Health, Substance Use and Construction, which featured three instalments delving into all facets of what has been coined by many as “the other pandemic.” We hope during these challenging times, the series as well as these resources may help someone get the help they need.

The Ontario Construction Consortium launched the Other Pandemic campaign and the website TheOtherPandemic.ca, which brings together labour, management and owners to raise awareness about the opioid drug overdose crisis in the construction industry. (https://theotherpandemic.ca/)
The Mental Health Index released monthly by LifeWorks provides a measure of the current mental health status of employed adults in each geography compared to benchmarks collected in previous years. (https://lifeworks.com/en/resource/mental-health-index%E2%84%A2-report-november-2021)
The De Novo Treatment Centre in Huntsville, Ont. provides substance use treatment for the employers, members within the unionized construction Industry and their families. (https://denovo.ca/)
Julian Toy of Addiction Consultants in Recovery is a substance abuse professional trained in addictions and mental health who provides fit for duty and drug and alcohol training for ICI constructors, HR and EH&S professionals. (https://www.myaddictionexperts.com/)
LIUNAcare’s mHealth program in Ontario gives members and their eligible dependents access to an online mental health assessment tool, virtual mental health therapy, an information and resource library as well as an overview of their benefits coverage in addition to traditional in-person therapy. (https://liunacare.com/)
Lifespeak is a software-as-service provider of a platform for mental health and total wellbeing education for organizations committed to taking care of their employees and customers. (http://www.lifespeak.com)
Christian Labour Association of Canada members who need help or want to speak with a substance abuse case manager can call 877-863-5154 or email sacm@clac.ca.
Mental Health First Aid presented by the Mental Health Commission of Canada provides help to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing a mental health crisis, or a worsening of their mental health. (https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/training/mhfa/)
Medcor provides worksite clinics, onsite and mobile construction clinics and special operations clinics. (https://www.medcor.com/services/clinics/)
The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association mental health webinars help participants better understand mental health issues in Canada. (http://www.ihsa.ca/Training/Courses/COVID-19-The-Effects-on-Our-Mental-Health-Webinar)

The post Bell Let’s Talk Day: Mental health and addiction supports for construction appeared first on Ontario Construction Consortium.

Ontario’s ‘other pandemic’: Construction most impacted industry

The Creative Co-opt — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 18:17:35 +0000

Ontario group sounding the alarm about rising opioid overdose deaths in the construction industry

ConstructConnect - September 9, 2021

At least 57 construction workers died of overdoses in Ontario last year alone.

Fifty-seven.

The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, the office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Public Health Ontario released a report in May stating 2,500 Ontarians died of drug overdoses in 2020, up from 1,500 in 2019, an increase of 60 per cent.

Of the victims who were employed, 30 per cent were construction workers, which was the most impacted industry by a wide margin.

What’s more, during the pandemic there has been a significant shift towards more opioid-related deaths among males. Specifically, 76 per cent of opioid-related deaths during the pandemic occurred among men, rising from 71 per cent of deaths during the pre-pandemic time period.

The highest rates of opioid-related death during the pandemic occurred in Sudbury and districts, Porcupine, and Algoma public health units, the report finds.

These statistics have spurred several industry stakeholders to take action, hoping in some way to encourage those living with addiction to seek help.

At the end of May, the Ontario Construction Consortium (OCC) launched the Other Pandemic campaign and the website TheOtherPandemic.ca, which brings together labour, management and owners to raise awareness about the opioid drug overdose crisis in the construction industry.

“When we were first planning this I was wondering if there would be some pushback from some people in the industry because it’s not a good news story but that just didn’t happen,” said Phil Gillies, from the OCC.

“The overwhelming response was this had to be done and we’re really glad that the OCC and its partners went ahead and did it.”

The campaign included television, radio and print interviews and two full-page advertorials placed in major newspapers as well as a video featuring health experts and Toronto Mayor John Tory discussing the topic. A second video is now in the works.

“The OGCA (Ontario General Contractors Association) will be partnering with the OCC on a video about opioid use in construction to raise awareness about these issues,” said Erich Schmidt, manager of innovation and public affairs with the OGCA. “We have also been educating our members to ensure they are prepared in the event of an opioid-related issue onsite.”

When it launched, the campaign was supported by the Interior Systems Contractors Association, the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

Other construction organizations have gotten on board since.

“We had emails and letters of support. The industry has been very supportive of what we’re trying to do.”

Richard Lyall, president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), said substance use is closely connected with mental health.

“With the pandemic there are higher stress levels…opioid use has gone way up during the pandemic and that’s a real problem,” said Lyall. “There’s been an across-the-board increase in overdoses and substance use issues.

“The timing speaks for itself in that there has been a 60 per cent increase year-over-year in Ontario of opioid overdoses and deaths. That timing coincides with the pandemic.”

While the numbers for substance use are generally higher in construction, there are reasons that may not be apparent to everyone, said Lyall.

“It’s not because construction industry workers are less responsible, more likely to engage in risky behaviour,” he explained. “When you get that amount of physical activity there’s a pain element. They want a solution to pain because they want to keep working because they need an income.

“A big thing is awareness, people not ignoring the problem, having access to treatment and services and raising the question with people, just asking ‘are you OK,’ ” added Lyall.

It’s also important to recognize issues related to fit for duty, Schmidt said.

“Construction is a dangerous industry in relation to others. The risk of serious injury to the worker and to others onsite can significantly increase if an individual is not prepared for work due to mental stress, fatigue or impairment,” he said. “We are encouraging all of our members to establish control measures, including the implementation of a fit for duty policy, to prevent all aspects of impairment on construction projects.”

Patrick Dillon, chair of the De Novo Treatment Centre board of directors and business manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, said a research project is underway to identify the driving and triggering factors behind high addiction rates in the trades and to address them with training programs.

The De Novo Research Project, a partnership between the centre, the Provincial Building Trades Council of Ontario and the Ontario Erectors Association, is funded by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. To collect the data, surveys were taken by members of the building trades unions and some former De Novo clients.

“We are doing a government funded research project to look at the causation factors,” said Dillon. “We’re trying to get a handle on that from the people who have been through it. Our intent is to put a training program together so that new entrants coming into the building trades we will be able to train them the same way we do with any other kind of safety.”

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FRONTLINE: July-August 2021 – Ontario Construction Consortium Newsletter

The Creative Co-opt — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 19:23:00 +0000

We are pleased to present this issue of FRONTLINE the Ontario Construction Consortium Newsletter – for July - August 2021.

We are pleased to present this issue of FRONTLINE the Ontario Construction Consortium Newsletter – for July – August 2021. This newsletter will be published every two months – to update you on OCC initiatives and events. We hope you find it informative. Visit our website https://www.ontarioconstructionconsortium.org/ – it showcases our publications and activities and is regularly updated.

If you have any questions about OCC. Email – info@ontarioconstructionconsortium.org

The Ontario Construction Consortium – a new voice for quality work, a robust training sector and safe workplaces.

Formed in 2018, the Ontario Construction Consortium is an organization dedicated to strengthening the construction industry through Advocacy, Education, Networking and Workforce Development.

The Other Pandemic – campaign progress

OCC’s campaign to raise awareness of the high rate of deaths by drug toxicity continued through the summer. On September 1, we will be presenting to a meeting convened by Toronto’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Eileen De Villa.

Here are the major points we will be making to the group on Sept 1:

The Ontario Construction Consortium and the Carpenters’ Union were hearing anecdotally throughout 2020 that construction workers in various parts of Ontario were dying of drug overdose
We were on a large-scale Zoom call in February of 2021. Over 2000 participants heard from Carpenters Union International President Douglas McCarron that data published by the Centres for Disease Control in the US showed that one-third of employed people who died from overdose in 2020 were construction workers

Mr. McCarron asked that all districts and locals do something to draw attention to this crisis. This was to be a priority.
OCC did a preliminary investigation and found that there were no comparable statistics available in Canada. But we believed the situation would be similar here.
We decided an information campaign directed at construction workers and the general public was needed.
This was the genesis of The Other Pandemic Campaign.
We started planning the elements of the campaign in March
The campaign was to consist of:
- A news release and media interviews
- A website: TheOtherPandemic.ca
- Full page advertorials sponsored by the Carpenters’ Union in the Toronto Sun and The National Post
- A video featuring comments by health experts and community leaders o Emails to construction industry stakeholders

We engaged the assistance of experts in the field – Dr. Andrea Sereda of The London Intercommunity Health Centre and Nick Boyce of the Ontario Harm Reduction Network
We received endorsements and offers of help from the Ontario Construction Secretariat, the Ontario General Contractors Association, The Ontario Residential Construction Association, the Central Ontario Building Trade Council and other industry groups.
Of those people who were employed at the time of their death 30% were employed in construction work. No other employment category even came close.
We launched The Other Pandemic campaign on May 31st – What were our key recommendations?
1. Drug users should not use alone. They should either go to a supervised injection site, or at the very least use in the presence of another trusted individual with access to a Naloxone kit. We know that this ran counter to the overall Covid 19 messaging at that time to society as a whole – which was to stay at home, do not congregate with people outside your family etc. But for a hard drug user, this was not the best advice. They should not use alone.
2. Because of the implications of recommendation 1, we urged all construction workers to get vaccinated against Covid 19 – to reduce the chances of becoming infected.
3. Thirdly, contractors and construction unions must step up their education and counselling programs to inform all workers of the dangers inherent in using street drugs.
4. Governments need to increase addiction and mental health counselling services to meet this unprecedented demand. We conveyed this message to Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Michael Tibollo.
5. Finally, we urged workers who are wrestling with addictions to seek help to try to stop. With a public health crisis manifesting itself in deaths in one hear, there has never been a better time to stop using hard drugs if at all possible.

We are pleased to report that the Ontario Government is taking some action on this situation.
On June 21st, Labour Minister McNaughton announced a research project at the De Novo Treatment Centre in Huntsville to study and provide support for addiction and suicide issues in the construction industry. This project will develop a report and create tools for training centres, unions and employers to better understand and address mental health. Funding is coming out of the government’s Skills Development Fund, which was part of the 2021 Budget.
At the time of the announcement, Minister McNaughton said, ‘The Other Pandemic Campaign helped focus attention on this important issue.’

McNaughton announces new funding for training

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton announced in late July that the Ontario Government is investing over $600,000 to help 390 urban youth train and secure apprenticeships in the construction sector.

This investment will open doors to lifelong careers as plumbers, steamfitters, electricians, elevator mechanics and refrigeration technicians through The Hammer Heads, a non-profit organization that supports underprivileged youth in partnership with the Pinball Clemons Foundation and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 353.

McNaughton said “Premier Doug Ford and I are laser-focused on helping young people pursue in-demand, well-paying and meaningful jobs in the skilled trades.

FRONTLINE is a publication of the the Ontario Construction Consortium – a think tank / lobby supported by unionized contractors and stakeholders from the province’s construction sector. We welcome your feedback. You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing info@ontarioconstructionconsortium.org with the word Unsubscribe in the subject line.

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