The United Steelworkers Union is asking for changes to the road signage industry as the summer work blitz is about to start in Montreal.
Union officials want the Quebec government to increase its involvement in what they see as a major cleanup of the industry.
Union spokesperson Martin L’Abbée is worried about the lack of rules on construction sites, which endangers the lives of road signal workers.
In the past eight years, there has been a fourfold increase in workplace accidents on Quebec roads.
In 2022, 215 workers were hurt while working, according to the province’s workplace safety board.
Since 2008, there have been 19 deaths in the industry.
L’Abbée believes that better enforcement of existing laws would make a difference.
L’Abbée mentioned, "Now you have people from companies saying that everyone has the right certifications, even in downtown Montreal. Most companies don’t have proper certification and they are putting lives at risk, including those on the road."
According to L’Abbée, safety standards have dropped, leading to serious security problems.
The union wants to see a single government body oversee the certification of traffic control companies, equipment verification, and comprehensive training.
The Quebec Transport Ministry claims it is working on and will continue to work on improving safety on roads.
Meanwhile, the union plans to set up a hotline for the public to report any signage safety issues on Quebec roads from May to October.
— with files from The Canadian Press
