Reminder of the rules for operating a boom truck

The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) has been informed of the conclusions of the CNESST investigation into the work-related accident on July 18, 2018, that cost the life of Mr. Louis Ouellet while he was making a delivery to a residential construction site in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

This tragic accident serves as a reminder to everyone to follow the rules applicable to operation of a boom truck.

Above all, we must remember that delivery of construction materials does not fall under Act R-20. Therefore, companies and workers performing these tasks are not subjected to the same obligations as are those that handle and permanently install materials on construction sites. When the project falls under Act R-20, only duly qualified individuals may operate a boom truck.

The driving and operation of a boom truck involves risks: that is exactly why the construction industry has changed the rules to require 80 hours of obligatory training, combined with a qualification exam, for all holders of journeyman competency certificates who wish to operate this type of machinery.

The parameters of this regulation have been endorsed by the construction industry’s employer and union associations and validated by the CNESST.

The CCQ has a presence on sites to ensure compliance with the regulation. It also sees to application of the collective agreements and compliance with trade definitions on construction sites. It immediately follows up on all reports submitted to it and conducts verifications in all regions of Québec.

Have you witnessed a non-compliant situation? Report it to the CCQ!

If you have witnessed a situation that does not comply with the rules in force or the construction industry’s collective agreements, you can report it at ccq.org, in the section “Report  situation or make a complaint.”

The CCQ processes all reports submitted to it, and does so in full confidentiality.