Ministry of Transport construction sites: Employees forced to relieve themselves in the woods

Sanitation facilities at construction sites managed by the Ministry of Transport are minimal and employees manage as best they can.

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“Because the trails are so far away, they have to go into the woods and do their business, #1 #2,” laments Jimmy Tremblay, president of the regional union of the Union of Public and Parapublic Services of Quebec (SFPQ).

For a year, the union has been gathering evidence that it describes as damning and shocking.

“Our workers feel shortchanged,” he continued. The situation is even more problematic for women, who are present in large numbers on construction sites and have different privacy concerns, especially when menstruating.

“We also had managers, I don’t know in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, but certainly in Quebec, who told their workers to go to them. the cup Pee like men,” the president said.

The Ministere des Transports (MTQ) said it was shocked to learn of the situation. Verifications are requested.

The union alleged that the employees were not allowed to go out with the vehicle to relieve themselves in business. Practice rejected by MTQ. “We are talking about essential requirements, the government cannot ignore it, the government will make corrections if necessary,” said transport ministry spokesman Gilles Payer.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act Mandates that the employer must provide sanitary facilities to his staff.