A Look Back at OHS in Québec

The history of occupational health and safety (OHS) in Québec dates back to the late 19^th century. However, it wasn’t until 1980 that the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CSST) was officially established. At that time, it was still uncommon to proactively consider safe work methods or invest in protective equipment. The concept of prevention was far from being embedded in the daily reality of the construction industry.

When JCB Construction first began operations in the 1980s, occupational health and safety were not yet considered top priorities. It was only after alarming statistics were released by Health Canada that governments began to enforce strict standards and legal obligations to protect workers. These figures were a turning point: they led us to make health and safety a core value at JCB Construction.

A Deep-Rooted Safety Culture at JCB

Construction is inherently exposed to risks of accidents, illnesses, and occupational injuries. In 2015, the CSST merged with the Labour Standards Commission and the Pay Equity Commission to become the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST). Since then, pay equity, labor standards, and occupational health and safety have become essential issues in all workplaces.

In the early 2000s, the CSST launched major initiatives that held both employers and workers accountable, including stricter penalties for non-compliance.

Under the leadership of Jean-François Gravel, former General Manager and Co-Founder of JCB, a major shift was initiated. We at JCB Construction Canada decided to make occupational health and safety a top priority. Until his pre-retirement in 2019, he worked passionately to build a prevention-focused culture within the company. He structured our OHS policies, trained our teams, and adapted the realities of our trade to comply with regulations.

Although some regulations can be complex, even today, to implement on active worksites, the progress made in recent decades is undeniable. The ratio of active workers to reported accidents has shown marked improvement.

But can we say "mission accomplished"? Not quite.

As long as even a single accident occurs, as long as one worker is injured or loses their life, the work is not done.

Daily Commitment on All Our Worksites

As Vice President of Site Operations, I have committed to continuing the legacy of Jean-François Gravel. My role leads me to regularly visit each of our construction sites, with OHS always at the center of my observations and discussions.

Thanks to the dedication of our teams and our drive to innovate, JCB has implemented several concrete initiatives, including:

• Silica dust control using a sealant applied to concrete slabs;
• Safe methods for suspending or covering electrical extensions;
• Internal staff accreditation for the annual validation of personal protective equipment (PPE);
• Implementation of a digital prevention program, among the first in our industry;
• Design of a rolling scaffold stabilization system, an innovation that was a finalist at the CNESST Grand Prizes;
• Deployment of a QR code-based onboarding system for fast and secure worksite integration;
• Creation of customized prevention signage;
• Active participation in various construction industry OHS committees.

These innovations reflect our continuous efforts to improve practices and foster a healthy, safe, and collaborative work environment.

A Shared Responsibility

At JCB Construction Canada, we firmly believe that health and safety at work is both an individual and collective responsibility. OHS performance is not only measured by the absence of accidents, but also by the quality of our prevention, ongoing vigilance, and each person’s commitment. In 2025, it is vital that every worker takes the time to think through a safe working method before performing any task and ensures they are wearing the appropriate protective equipment.

Our objective is clear: to ensure the physical and psychological well-being of every person working on our sites.

We will keep moving forward—together—so that every worker returns home safe and sound at the end of each day. Safety is everyone’s business, and it’s our top priority.