“ A labour union representing Ontario’s construction industry says its members won’t use the federal government’s new COVID-19 tracking app because it requires the use of smartphones, which are prohibited on job sites for safety reasons.” G&M article...
There are so many things wrong with this that I am forced to break my recent abstinence from internet commentary to question this particular bit of BS.
Firstly why ANY construction company or government would ban the CARRYING of a smart phone at any time is so off the wall as to be bizarre. I note that some government run nursing homes require their staff to leave their cell phones in their lockers also, but at least there a phone system and other staff are very close which is not always the case on a construction site. The USE of said phone for personal communication whilst on the job is an entirely different issue. A worker on the job may well need to quickly call emergency services and personal cell (even though as an 'old fart' I do not normally carry one)phone greatly improve such availability. However on the other hand this application is to report and track the spread of Covid and I cannot see the need or detraction from its use if 'workers' can access it from other than work locations.
In short both Unions and Governments NEED TO SMARTEN UP.... you both are making a mountain out of a mole hill on this one but if it one or the other then workers should insist that they have access to emergency services via cell at all times IMHO.
Rant Off....
PS The friggin 'application' wont work on many older phones or certain systems anyway so its once again a good idea with a failed initiation!
