Residential construction
New requirements for washroom facilities at construction sites in effect
Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to washroom facilities at construction sites took effect on October 1, 2024. Employers at construction sites with 25 or more workers must provide flush toilets, handwashing facilities, and clean washrooms.
To help employers comply with the new requirements, the following resources are available:
- Regulatory amendment: A primer on washroom facilities at construction sites
- Washroom facilities at construction sites: Frequently asked questions
- OHS Guideline G20.3.2 Washroom facilities required at specified construction sites
WorkSafeBC will continue to work with construction employers to ensure they are aware of the changes and able to implement the requirements.
Here you'll find links to health and safety information and resources for work in residential construction. There are three main phases of residential construction: planning, site preparation, and construction.
- Planning includes work activities that take place before site preparation and construction can begin, including design, tendering, and scheduling.
- Site preparation includes work activities related to demolition and excavation.
- Construction includes all the work activities related to building. The construction phase includes pre-lockup and post-lockup:
- Pre-lockup includes work activities that happen after demolition and excavation but up to and including the installation of windows and exterior doors.
- Post-lockup refers to work activities that happen after windows and exterior doors have been installed and you’re able to lock up the building.
To reduce the potential for injury or disease, it's important to manage the risks and hazards in your workplace. See our resources to learn more about common risks and hazards in your industry, or follow the links to these related topics:
Notice of project
Prior to starting work on certain types of projects, you may be required to submit a Notice of Project (NOP) to WorkSafeBC. It’s free and takes about 15 minutes on your smartphone or computer. Failing to submit an NOP could result in increased enforcement activity and/or financial penalty.
Review Do I need to submit a Notice of Project? to learn more about the requirements for submitting a form, or click the following button to initiate this process.
Resources
Safe Work Practices in Residential Construction
This publication provides information on working safely on residential construction sites, with a focus on the three main phases: planning, site preparation, and construction. Other safety topics include...
Regulatory amendment: A primer on washroom facilities at construction sites
Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation took effect on October 1, 2024, relating to the provision of flush toilets at construction sites where 25 or more workers will be present....
Safe Work Practices for Handling Asbestos
This manual describes the safe methods of handling all types of asbestos-containing materials, including suitable work procedures for the removal, enclosure, and encapsulation of friable asbestos materials....
Preventing wooden stair collapses in construction
Wooden stairs used in construction projects can collapse, causing serious injuries to workers. This bulletin describes what causes stairs to collapse and how collapses can be prevented.
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Highlights
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