When Adam Kadir left home Thursday morning to work as a carpenter at a west-end construction site, he immediately noticed the air was smokier and heavier than the day before.
At 7 a.m., his supervisor sent a message in the construction company’s group chat acknowledging the poor air quality and telling employees they could decide whether to come to work.
Kadir, 25, decided to show up. He said he was young and had worked the previous day without any issues. But after about an hour outside without a mask and three hours indoors, he became dizzy and felt intense pressure in his head, ending his shift early.
“In the beginning, you can still breathe, but the air definitely smells smoky,” said Kadir. “But the longer you are outside, it gets worse and worse.”
On Thursday, Toronto’s air quality was at a very high risk level, among the worst in the world, according to IQAir, because of smoke from Northern Ontario wildfires, with Environment Canada warning people to limit time outdoors.
But even as the city closed outdoor pools, pulled lifeguards from beaches, and cancelled or rescheduled outdoor programs, thousands of people like Kadir — including construction workers, delivery couriers, landscapers and garbage and recycling collectors — could still be seen working outside across the city, many without masks or with only a scarf covering their mouth and nose.
Experts say this puts them at a unique risk, and they need to be protected.
A worker at the RBC Amphitheatre told the Star they are frustrated that the venue is still going ahead with tonight’s Tim McGraw concert, saying they are concerned about working in the current environment.
The Star is not naming the worker because they fear speaking publicly could jeopardize their job. A spokesperson for Live Nation, which runs the venue, said in an email that the safety of their employees is a top priority.
“We have advised staff that if they do not feel comfortable coming to work due to air quality conditions, they are not required to do so,” the spokesperson added.
“It has been communicated that requests for additional breaks, early departures, or other reasonable adjustments will be accommodated as needed. N95 masks are also readily available for all staff.”
“I need money more than anything else,” the worker said, explaining why they decided to work on Thursday. The worker added their supervisor gave employees the option not to work and will provide N95 masks on-site.
Deena Ladd, executive director of the Toronto Workers’ Action Centre, said the poor air quality is resulting in a situation where some people can stay home but others don’t have a choice, similar to what occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To me this whole situation speaks to the role of the government in stepping in and protecting people who don’t have a lot of voice and protection at work,” she said.
Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work, and if they are in a union, a health and safety rep can help with this, she said. But without one, workers may be afraid to say they aren’t comfortable with performing what they consider to be risky tasks.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers have to take every precaution reasonable to protect workers from outdoor hazards: including ensuring people have access to personal protective equipment such as N95 masks, and are able to take breaks, Ladd said.
Ideally, the Ministry of Labour would step up with public messaging to employers that they need to take this threat seriously, she added.
Otherwise, it’s “putting individuals in a really difficult situation,” Ladd said. “It’s hard for people to be able to speak out without jeopardizing their jobs.”
The Ministry of Labour did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
A spokesperson for delivery app DoorDash said in an email that because delivery people choose their own schedules and what deliveries to accept, “no individual is obligated to work when subpar air quality exists.”
“We encourage Dashers to consult air quality guidance from the government of Canada to make an informed decision about whether or not to dash,” they added.
Dr. Farhan M. Asrar, a family physician and public health physician, and the associate dean at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine, said outdoor workers “are at greater risk of being exposed to smoke-related, harmful particles.”
This can cause a range of symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches and dizziness as well as worsen existing health issues like asthma, heart disease and diabetes.
Employers can protect workers by staying informed about air-quality warnings, providing N95 masks and even rescheduling outdoor work for another time, if possible, he added.
If people do feel unwell, “they should definitely seek some medical attention,” Asrar said.
