Document outlines ‘the duties, responsibilities, equipment requirements and emergency response procedures of constructors and how to select, use, place and maintain AEDs on a jobsite’
Ontario construction employers now face new legal requirements to equip jobsites with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), supported by a detailed implementation guide developed by the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) and Smart Safety Solutions.
As of Jan. 1, construction projects in Ontario with 20 or more workers that will operate for at least three months must have an AED – also known as a “Mikey” – on site.
A guide prepared by RESCON and Smart Safety Solutions sets out 13 steps and multiple resources to help constructors develop site-specific AED policies and procedures.
The guide follows new Ontario regulations that mandate AEDs on construction projects expected to last longer than three months and that have 20 or more workers on site. The rule took effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
According to RESCON and Smart Safety Solutions, the steps outline “the duties, responsibilities, equipment requirements and emergency response procedures of constructors and how to select, use, place and maintain AEDs on a jobsite.” The document is intended to help employers turn the regulatory requirement into an operational AED program tailored to the conditions and risks of each project.
RESCON vice-president Andrew Pariser said the combination of the new mandate and the guide represents a significant health and safety development for the sector.
“Ontario is the first jurisdiction to make this move and it’s a fantastic step forward,” he said. “Nothing is more important on a construction jobsite than health and safety. Having an AED on a worksite could be a lifesaver if a worker experiences a cardiac event.”
Pariser added that the RESCON–Smart Safety Solutions guide is designed to be both practical and adaptable. “The guide will help employers develop policies that reflect the specific realities of each jobsite. Construction jobsites, by their very nature, are different so it’s critical to have a specific plan,” he said.
Hazard assessment
RESCON and Smart Safety Solutions position the guide as a framework for building a comprehensive workplace AED program. It is intended to help employers define the roles and responsibilities of all workplace parties involved, determine what equipment is required, decide where AEDs should be placed on site, identify necessary training, and plan how implementation should proceed.
Pariser emphasized the need to begin with a structured assessment of risk. “The first and most important act is for an employer to conduct a hazard assessment as construction workers face an elevated risk of cardiac events due to high-stress environments, physically demanding work, and exposure to various high-risk conditions on a jobsite,” he said. “The other steps in the guide will help ensure a constructor is prepared.”
The RESCON and Smart Safety Solutions guide is supported by a financial incentive to encourage adoption. A rebate program through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has been set up to help employers offset the cost of purchasing AEDs during the transition period. Purchases made between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027, are eligible for reimbursement, with businesses able to receive up to $2,500 per unit. The reimbursement application process opened Jan. 1 and will run until July 3, 2027.
To help employers understand the new requirements, RESCON hosted an AED (Mikey) webinar in November that included an update on the program, a legal review of employer obligations, and details on the WSIB reimbursement process.
RESCON and Smart Safety Solutions note that employers can contact the Mikey Network if they need assistance obtaining a device. The Mikey Network, founded in 2002 after the death of Mike Salem, a partner in Heathwood Homes and Herity, has helped place more than 3,000 AEDs across Canada over the past 24 years.
Recently, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) launched a new rebate program that will give Ontario construction businesses up to $2,500 towards the purchase of AEDs for qualifying projects.
Sudden cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of workplace deaths, with construction workers facing a disproportionately high risk. According to ministry data, more than 15% of inspection reports related to cardiac incidents occur in the construction sector. AEDs, when used alongside CPR in the initial minutes following a cardiac arrest, can improve survival rates by over 50%.
