BILL NO. 170

(as introduced)

1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
4 Charles III, 2025

 

Private Member's Public Bill

 

Improving Working Conditions at Construction Sites Act

 

Paul Wozney
Sackville–Cobequid

First Reading: October 2, 2025

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Notes

Clause 1 sets out the short title of this Act.

Clause 2 amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act by adding definitions of "chemical toilet", "fixed flush toilet" and "portable flush toilet".

Clause 3 sets out requirements respecting the type of toilet required to be provided at a workplace and requires an employer to review the workplace on an ongoing basis to assess compliance with those requirements.

An Act to Amend Chapter 7
of the Acts of 1996,
the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Improving Working Conditions at Construction Sites Act.

2 Section 3 of Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1996, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as amended by as amended by Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2000, Chapters 37 and 66 of the Acts of 2010, Chapter 24 of the Acts of 2011, Chapter 14 of the Acts of 2016 and Chapter 10 of the Acts of 2024, is further amended by

(a) adding immediately after clause (c) the following clause:

(ca) "chemical toilet" means a toilet
(i) that does not have a bowl, and

(ii) in which waste falls directly into a tank containing a chemical product that processes the waste;

(b) adding immediately after clause (p) the following clause:

(pa) "fixed flush toilet" means a toilet that
(i) is connected to a water supply external to the toilet facility in which the toilet is located,

(ii) is connected to a sanitary-sewer system, a septic tank and disposal-field system or a similar external waste-collection system,

(iii) has a trap or positive seal separating the bowl from the waste-collection system, and

(iv) in which waste is flushed from the bowl by means of a flow of clean water or a mixture of clean water and chemicals;

and

(c) adding immediately after clause (x) the following clause:

(xa) "portable flush toilet" means a toilet that
(i) is connected to a water supply within the toilet unit or within the toilet facility in which the toilet is located,

(ii) is connected to a waste-holding tank within the toilet unit or within the toilet facility in which the toilet is located,

(iii) has a trap or positive seal separating the bowl from the waste- holding tank, and

(iv) in which waste is flushed from the bowl by means of a flow of clean water or a mixture of clean water and chemicals;

3 Chapter 7 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 13 the following Section:

13A (1) Where an employer is required by the regulations to make accessible a toilet at a workplace [that is a construction site], the employer shall

(a) provide a fixed flush toilet unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so;

(b) where it is not reasonably practicable to provide a fixed flush toilet, provide a portable flush toilet unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so; and

(c) provide a chemical toilet only if it is not reasonably practicable to provide a fixed flush toilet, portable flush toilet or a toilet of a similar type.

(2) Where an employer is required by the regulations to make accessible a toilet at a workplace, the employer shall review the workplace on an ongoing basis to assess the employer’s compliance with subsection (1).

 

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