If you operate a construction site, work with designated substances, or use mobile elevated work platforms in Ontario, the government just made changes that directly affect your workplace obligations — and the first deadline is less than 3 months away.
On April 20, 2026, Ontario introduced a series of amendments under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), impacting four existing regulations and creating one brand new one. Here’s what changed, what it means in practice, and what you need to do before each deadline.
Change #1: Type 2 Hard Hats Coming to Construction Sites
Deadline: July 1, 2027
Section 22 of Ontario’s Construction Projects Regulation (O. Reg. 213/91) currently requires workers to wear protective headwear — but doesn’t specify the type. That changes in 2027.
Starting July 1, 2027, any worker on a construction project who may be exposed to side-impact hazards must wear Type 2 protective headwear compliant with CSA Standard Z94.1 or ANSI Z89.1.
What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?
| Type 1 | Type 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Crown protection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Lateral/side protection | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Required when | No side-impact risk | Side-impact hazard present |
Type 2 headwear is physically larger and wraps further around the head, providing protection from blows to the side — not just the top.
The grey area employers need to navigate
The tricky part? Assessing whether a side-impact hazard actually exists on your site. The regulation doesn’t define this with precision. Risks may exist in windy environments, when work is performed at a non-vertical angle, or in confined spaces with lateral exposure. If an incident occurs and you can’t demonstrate your assessment, the liability risk is significant.
On chinstraps: the CSA Standard doesn’t require them in all cases, but does mandate them where headwear “can become dislodged from the user’s head.” Where a chinstrap is required, it should be designed for the specific make and model of the hard hat.
What to do now: Conduct a formal worksite hazard assessment and document which worksites require Type 2 headwear. Don’t wait until 2027 — procurement and training takes time.
Change #2: New Elevating Work Platform Regulation
Deadline: January 1, 2027
This is the most significant structural change in the package. Requirements for elevated work platforms (sections 143–149 of O. Reg. 213/91) have been pulled out of the Construction Projects Regulation entirely and placed into a brand new standalone regulation: O. Reg. 117/26: Elevating Work Platforms.
The new regulation applies to any machine or device intended to move persons, tools, and materials to working positions — including mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), scissor lifts, boom lifts, and vehicle-mounted aerial devices.
What’s new: 17 required training topics
The headline change is a mandatory structured training requirement for MEWP operators. Employers must provide workers with information — through both theory and practical means — covering 17 topics, including:
- How to select the proper platform for the work being performed
- Storage, inspection, and maintenance tasks
- Use of PPE on the platform
- Risks and hazards of operation
- How to address problems and malfunctions
- Safe operating procedures
Beyond the training content, employers must also implement a method of evaluating a worker’s ability to operate the equipment before they begin work. A sign-off sheet won’t cut it — you need a documented competency evaluation process.
Is there a grace period?
Yes. If a worker has already completed training for a MEWP that meets the requirements of section 147 of the Construction Projects Regulation, they do not need to redo training until five years after their original training date.
What to do now: Pull your existing MEWP training records and materials. Audit them against the 17-topic requirement and confirm you have (or can build) a competency evaluation process before January 2027.
Change #3: CSA-Compliant Respirators Now Accepted
Deadline: July 1, 2026
This one is good news — and it’s coming the soonest.
Under the existing Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09), the Asbestos Regulation (O. Reg. 278/05), and Regulation 833 (Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents), respirator devices were required to meet standards set by the NIOSH – a U.S.-based certification body.
Effective July 1, 2026, Ontario will also accept respirator devices and particulate filters that are CSA compliant, including CA-labelled CSA filters.
Why this matters
For employers working with designated substances — asbestos, silica, lead, mercury, and other regulated agents — this opens up a broader product market. CSA-certified respirators have historically been used in Canadian workplaces but couldn’t be cited as compliant under these Ontario regulations. That restriction is now lifted.
In practical terms: you may find better pricing, better availability, or products better suited to your specific work environment. Review your current procurement contracts and supplier relationships.
What to do now: Review which of your workplaces fall under O. Reg. 278/05, O. Reg. 490/09, or Reg. 833. Begin evaluating CSA-certified respirator options — you have until July 1, 2026.
Your 3-Step Compliance Checklist
Before July 1, 2026:
- Identify all worksites and roles subject to Designated Substances Regulations
- Review your respirator procurement and explore CSA-compliant alternatives
Before January 1, 2027:
- Map your existing MEWP training programs against the 17 required topics
- Build or update your competency evaluation process for MEWP operators
- Identify workers already trained and document their original training dates (grace period clock)
Before July 1, 2027:
- Complete formal side-impact hazard assessments for all construction sites
- Document assessments — you’ll need them if an incident occurs
- Update your PPE program and procurement for Type 2 headwear where required
The Bottom Line
These aren’t distant regulatory changes — the first deadline lands in about 60 days. Ontario employers who operate in construction, work with designated substances, or rely on elevated work platforms need to start their compliance reviews now.
The hard hat and MEWP changes in particular involve both procurement and training lead times that won’t leave much room if you wait until Q4 2026.
Have questions about how these changes apply to your specific workplace? We help Ontario employers build practical, defensible H&S programs.
Sources: Ontario OHSA amendments effective April 20, 2026. O. Reg. 213/91, O. Reg. 278/05, O. Reg. 490/09, RRO 1990 Reg. 833, and new O. Reg. 117/26.
