An Ontario labor organization is urging for enhanced safeguards for workers in response to escalating health worries over deteriorating air quality due to frequent wildfire smoke engulfing the region. The Ontario Federation of Labor, representing over 55 unions in the province, is advocating for improved protection measures within a broader strategy addressing heat stress and the impact of climate change on working conditions.
President Laura Walton emphasized the absence of specific regulations safeguarding workers from extreme heat or poor air quality compared to the existing benchmarks for winter temperatures. The federation is collaborating with the provincial New Democrats to present a motion in the legislature this autumn, aiming to bolster worker protections in light of the rising occurrences of severe weather events.
As part of their initiative, the federation plans to assess summer working conditions by deploying instruments in workplaces across Ontario for the next six weeks to monitor heat and humidity levels. Additionally, workers will be surveyed about their work environments, including inquiries about air quality advisories pertinent to their locations.
Walton highlighted the significance of collecting data to substantiate concerns when presenting their findings to the legislature in November, especially for those who may underestimate the impact due to current weather conditions.
Throughout this summer, Environment Canada has issued numerous air quality alerts in Ontario triggered by wildfire smoke drifting across provinces, with conditions rapidly deteriorating at times. To ensure safe working environments, Walton stressed the importance of educating workers about requesting essential items like air purifiers and adequate ventilation systems to shield themselves from wildfire smoke.
Professor Michael Lynk, an expert in law from Western University, emphasized the need for unions to assert workplace rights more assertively in response to the increasing frequency of air quality warnings. He mentioned that unions are proactively negotiating for stronger health and safety provisions through collective bargaining, including the authority to halt operations in unsafe conditions, backed by joint health and safety committees mandated in workplaces with 20 or more employees in Ontario.
Workers currently retain the right to refuse work in extreme heat or smoke if they perceive risks, serving as a potent signal to employers to reassess working conditions. Lynk underscored the potential impact of this lawful right in prompting employers to address union concerns seriously.
Anticipating continued extreme heat and air quality challenges, organizations like the City of Toronto are implementing policies such as heat stress protocols and indoor air quality standards to safeguard their workforce. Lynk predicts that unions will adopt a more stringent stance in negotiations and workers will be prompt in utilizing their right to refuse work in the face of unsafe conditions to ensure a proactive approach to worker well-being.