In Ontario, property managers and building owners are responsible for more than just the outcome of the work performed on their buildings. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA) and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) place significant obligations on owners who engage contractors — even when those contractors are hired to perform routine maintenance.
What Is WSIB and Why Does It Matter to You?
WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) is Ontario's workers' compensation system. If a contractor working on your property is injured and their employer doesn't have WSIB coverage, you — the property owner — may be held liable for their lost wages and medical costs. This is not a hypothetical risk; it's a well-established legal exposure under Ontario law.
Before any contractor begins work on your property, request a WSIB Clearance Certificate. This document, issued directly by WSIB, confirms the contractor's account is in good standing. It's valid for 90 days, so ask for a fresh one for each project.
General Liability Insurance
Separately from WSIB, any building services contractor should carry commercial general liability (CGL) insurance. For window cleaning and rope access work, look for a minimum of $2 million in coverage — $5 million is the standard for mid- and high-rise work. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming your property ownership entity as an additional insured.
For Rope Access Work: Method Statements and Risk Assessments
For any work involving access to the exterior of a building above two stories, the contractor should provide a written method statement (how the work will be performed) and a site-specific risk assessment before work begins. This is industry standard and required by the OHSA for high-hazard work. If a contractor can't provide these documents, that's a significant red flag.
SPRAT Certification for Rope Access
SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) is the leading certification body for rope access in North America. SPRAT Level 1, 2, and 3 certifications indicate that technicians have passed standardized competency assessments for working at height. Always confirm that the technicians performing rope access on your building are individually certified — not just the company.
The One-Vendor Risk Reduction
Managing multiple contractors across different scopes increases your administrative burden and creates gaps in accountability. A single provider who covers window cleaning, janitorial, pressure washing, and exterior maintenance gives you one point of contact, one set of insurance certificates to maintain, and one team that knows your building. It also simplifies your compliance documentation at year-end.
Inceptra Building Services provides WSIB clearance certificates and certificates of insurance on request before any work begins. Contact us to request documentation for your property.