SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - More time is needed for members of the construction industry in Yellowknife and the rest of the NWT to review newly proposed and hotly-contested Occupational Health & Safety Regulations, says the executive director of the NWT Construction Association.

The NWT Construction Association says it's likely the NWT Construction Association will request more time to review proposed new Occupational Health & Safety Regulations that will affect construction companies across the territory. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

In 2008, Robert C. McLeod, the minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC), appointed a seven-member safety advisory committee – chaired by Judy Kainz, the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission's chief safety officer – to draw up new regulations that would modernize and replace the territories' outdated Safety Acts, which date back to 1990.

The updated regulations were posted in a 361-page document on the WSCC's site in September. Companies were originally given until Oct. 31 to respond, but that date was extended to Jan. 10.

Phil Moon Son, executive director of the NWT Construction Association, said it's likely the association will be seeking yet another two-month extension

"We (originally) asked for a six-month extension; they basically gave us a two-month extension, and half of it is during the Christmas holidays. We just did not think that was a reasonable amount of time," said Phil Moon Son.

"I definitely think they need more time – 100 per cent," said Mike Rogers, owner of Ice Electric. "They just didn't seem to have all their ducks in a row yet ... I think they need to get a few things ironed out more before they decide to do anything with it."

Several construction companies in the territory have raised concerns about some of the proposed changes suggested by the committee, namely, the classification of all construction work as "high hazard" work requiring 30 days prior notice to the chief safety officer.

Another item has left other members of the industry unclear about whether employers will be responsible for purchasing safety boots for their employees, to name only one.

The association, which previously complained that many of the new guidelines were not clearly laid out, has retained McLennan Ross to carefully review the new regulations, added Moon Son.

"Because we don't understand the legal implications, we then also don't understand what are the costs that are going to end up costing our members when they're implemented," he said.

In the wake of complaints about the committee's failure to adequately consult the construction industry about the regulations, the association requested copies of the committee's terms of reference and consultation strategy.

The association received the documents last week.

Asked if the documents confirm the association's concerns about consultation, Moon Son said, "We haven't had a chance to consult our full executive on that, so I'd rather not comment on that."

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