The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is offering rebates of up to $2,500 for construction companies to install life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on qualifying worksites.
Effective January 1, any ongoing construction projects in Ontario that have a duration of more than three months and have more than 20 workers employed regularly at the worksite must provide defibrillators. AEDs purchased between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027, are eligible for reimbursement.
This follows a 2025 regulation that was passed by the Ontario government requiring AEDs at certain construction projects, which included the reimbursement program. The goal of these measures was to improve safety on worksites by improving the chances of surviving a cardiac event by having the tools necessary to support a quick response.
“Seconds matter in a cardiac emergency and having a defibrillator on a construction site can save a life,” said the Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “This program puts proven, lifesaving safety tools directly on job sites and is another practical step we are taking to keep construction workers safe.”
AEDs are used to restore normal rhythm to a person’s heart if they are in cardiac arrest. When used together with CPR in the first few minutes after the cardiac event, they can significantly improve survival rates by more than 50 percent.
More information, including detailed eligibility criteria and how to apply for a rebate, can be found at wsib.ca/en/AED.
