CNESST Launches “Watch Your Back” Campaign to Prevent Deadly Backover Accidents on Quebec Construction Sites

Source: CNESST

Quebec City, May 28, 2025 — With dump trucks involved in 50% of fatal construction site accidents involving reversing vehicles, Quebec’s CNESST is taking action. The commission has launched a major awareness campaign, “Watch Your Back”, to address the recurring problem of backover fatalities on job sites across the province.

Running from May 12 to June 1 and again from August 4 to 17, 2025, the campaign features radio ads, web banners, and educational articles aimed at construction workers, employers, and site managers. Its key message: every worker’s safety is a shared responsibility—and no one should lose their life to a preventable maneuver.

In a typical scenario reenacted by the campaign, a pedestrian worker doesn’t hear or heed the beeping of a reversing vehicle amid the daily noise. The driver, unaware of the person in their blind spot, tragically hits the worker—a reality that occurs far too often.

“Too many tragic accidents still happen every year because of poor traffic and backup maneuver planning,” said Jean Boulet, Quebec’s Minister of Labour. Anouk Gagné, CNESST’s CEO, added: “Proper planning and compliance with safety measures can mean the difference between life and death.”

The CNESST stresses that site supervisors must restrict reversing as much as possible. When unavoidable, designated backing zones or trained signalers must be used to guide drivers.