Oakville, ON (August 5, 2025) – PCL Constructors Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as a Safe Employer under the Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers (SOSE) program. This recognition identifies that PCL has met the high standards set by the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) to prevent injuries and illness in the workplace.
SOSE is the first program of its kind in Canada. The voluntary Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development program is run by the CPO.
It recognizes employers across Ontario who successfully implement an accredited occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) in the workplace and promote excellence in occupational health and safety.
“We are proud to be recognized among Ontario’s safe employers, which symbolizes our commitment to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for all,” said Geoff Howe, senior vice president and district manager for PCL Toronto. “The journey to being a part of the SOSE program reflects our dedicated efforts to ensuring a proactive health, safety and environment program.”
In Ontario, PCL operates out of Toronto, Ottawa and Sudbury to carryout diverse operations in the buildings, civil, industrial and special projects sectors. As of September 2024, PCL was the second general contractor in the province to be a recognized employer with Certificate of Recognition (COR®) 2020 implemented as its accredited OHSMS.
PCL first achieved COR® 2020 certification in 2022. COR® 2020 is the enhanced national accreditation standard for an employer’s OHSMS, as established by the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association.
PCL has a robust OHSMS through its industry-leading internal safety program. The rigorous program includes district-specific HSE manuals, a comprehensive health, safety and environmental (HSE) plan for each project, formal HSE operating procedures, and a web-based safety management system.
As part of dedicated action toward continuous improvement and safety leadership, PCL has facilitated initiatives such as:
· Joining Canada’s leading general contractors as a founding member to form the Canadian Construction Safety Council.
· Adopting Type II hard hats with integrated chin straps for superior head protection.
· Implementing falling object prevention campaigns and proactive safety measures.
· Reinforcing glove use on all PCL project sites as part of hand and finger injury prevention.
· Partnering with a medical group in the province to provide enhanced support for employees and trade partners experiencing non-emergent workplace injuries.
“For 16 years, PCL Construction has rightfully earned its place as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers—and they’ve reached another remarkable milestone. Congratulations to the entire PCL team on being recognized as a Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) Recognized Employer through the Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers (SOSE) program,” said Dr. Joel Moody, Ontario chief prevention officer, assistant deputy minister, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
“By implementing a CPO-accredited occupational health and safety management system, PCL is leading by example—setting the standard for what a strong safety culture should look like. This achievement isn’t just about compliance—it’s about care, commitment, and a passion for protecting workers. That’s what Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers is all about.”
In 2024, PCL reported zero lost-time incidents across the entire organization, including with its trade partners on PCL projects, with 46,896,923 hours worked. It was the first time this happened in PCL’s 119-year history, representing a truly exceptional safety record across the whole construction industry.
About PCL Construction
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $11 billion CAD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.