Notice of project (construction safety)

A buyer of a construction company that will start jobs after closing meets this term when asking who files project paperwork, and who counts as the constructor or prime contractor. The wider sale issues are in construction company sale duties in Ontario.

Ontario and British Columbia

• Ontario: section 6 of O. Reg. 213/91 applies to projects meeting conditions it lists, such as expected labour and materials cost, building height, demolition or trench work. Before beginning work, the constructor completes an approved notification form and files it with the nearest Ministry office or electronically; under section 6(4), if the constructor believes the work will not take more than 14 days, it may instead give the information to an inspector by fax or telephone.
• Ontario exception: under section 6(5), work may begin first if it is necessary to do the work immediately to prevent injury to people or damage to property and, before beginning, the constructor gives an inspector notice of the form’s information by telephone or fax.
• British Columbia: section 20.2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires the owner or the person engaged by the owner to be the prime contractor to ensure the Board receives a written notice of project before work begins, and a copy is posted at the worksite, when any listed condition applies. Subsection (4) allows immediate work to prevent the risk of injury to workers or other persons or damage to property, with the notice received and posted as soon as possible. Other sections require separate notices for specific work, such as blasting.

What to ask

Ask for copies of notices filed for current projects and who acted as constructor or prime contractor. This entry covers Ontario and British Columbia only; check the rules where the work is.