Are you planning to have your roof redone? Noticing your driveway could use a resealing? Or are you building or renovating your dream home? No matter which exciting home improvement project you are embarking on, your responsibilities as the property owner extend beyond choosing paint colors and tiles; they also encompass selecting the right contractor and prioritizing safety.
At WorkSafeNB, our vision is to make New Brunswick the safest place to work. For that to happen, all New Brunswick workers, employers, supervisors, contractors and yes, even property owners, need to have safety top of mind.
Under New Brunswick’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, your home becomes a workplace during construction, making you legally responsible for compliance. As property owners, it is essential to uphold your responsibilities and due diligence.
It is everyone’s shared duty to ensure that work is conducted safely. Property owners have a higher onus of responsibility while work is being done on their property. Property owners should consider providing access to facilities such as washrooms, warm-up rooms, and access to critical resources such as drinking water, taking every reasonable action to help the workers execute their tasks safely. Additionally, disclose all relevant health and safety information, such as the presence of asbestos, lead paint, or electrical hazards, to safeguard the well-being of the workers. It is your obligation under the law.
Be proactive! Ask your contractor for references. If a contractor indicates they have workers’ compensation coverage in New Brunswick, you can verify by checking our website for a Worker’s Compensation clearance certificate clearance letter. All you need is the employer’s name or WorkSafeNB employer number to review their clearance status and confirm that the contractor’s workers’ compensation insurance policy is in good standing.
Please reach out if you have questions at 1-800-999-9775 or enquiries_info@ws-ts.nb.ca. We are your partner in creating a safe work environment. Let’s build not just beautiful homes but also a safe and healthy province.
Tim Petersen
CEO, WorkSafeNB
More Info: WorkSafeNB