Ontario Bill 190: Are You Truly Compliant… or Simply at Risk? (Complete Guide 2026)
- Karl Bedard
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
Compliance is no longer enoug
Since the introduction of Bill 190, the management of sanitation and cleaning operations in Ontario has fundamentally changed. What was once considered a best practice is now a regulated and verifiable legal requirement.
Today, simply cleaning your facilities is no longer enough. You must be able to demonstrate, at all times, that cleaning tasks have been carried out properly, at the right time, and in a fully traceable manner.
This is precisely where many organizations find themselves exposed, often without even realizing it.
What is Bill 190?
Bill 190, introduced through the Working for Workers Five Act, establishes new requirements aimed at improving health, safety, and transparency in the workplace.
In practical terms, this regulation introduces two major changes. First, employers must maintain sanitary facilities that are clean, functional, and accessible at all times. Second, they must document these operations and make the information available.
The objective is clear: to move from perceived cleanliness to a standard that is measurable, verifiable, and transparent.
What the law actually requires (2025–2026)
Since July 2025: a traceability requirement
Since 2025, organizations have been required to structure their sanitation management processes. Each intervention must be documented with precision to ensure full traceability.
This includes recording:
the date of cleaning
the time of the intervention
the identity of the responsible person
This information must be kept up to date and made available in the event of an inspection.
Since January 2026: a transparency requirement
Since 2026, the regulation goes even further by requiring direct accessibility to this information.
Records must now be:
visible near the facilities
or accessible through a digital solution
They must also clearly display the two most recent cleaning activities, including the date and time.
This evolution transforms compliance into a continuous requirement that can be observed in real time.
Why most organizations are not ready
On the ground, one observation comes up frequently: current methods do not meet the real requirements of Bill 190.
In many buildings, paper logs are still being used. While they may seem simple to implement, they quickly reveal significant limitations.
Common issues include:
incomplete or forgotten records
a lack of standardization across sites
difficulty verifying the accuracy of information
limited visibility for managers
In this context, it becomes extremely difficult to demonstrate real compliance during an inspection.
Paper logs or digital solution: a strategic choice
At first glance, paper logs may seem sufficient to meet basic requirements. However, as soon as operational realities come into play, their limitations become clear.
Paper is fragile, difficult to control, and nearly impossible to audit effectively at scale. It also does not provide a comprehensive view of operations.
Conversely, a digital solution completely transforms compliance management.
It enables, in particular:
automatic and reliable time-stamping
instant access to data
centralized multi-site information
full traceability of every intervention
This shift to digital is not just an improvement, but a necessary evolution to meet current requirements.
The real risk: inspections, fines, and reputation
Bill 190 falls under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This means organizations must be prepared to demonstrate compliance at any time.
In the event of an inspection, it becomes essential to quickly provide clear and reliable proof.
The risks associated with non-compliance are multiple:
significant financial penalties
interventions from the Ministry of Labour
employee complaints
damage to the organization’s reputation
Beyond fines, it is often the loss of credibility and trust that has the greatest impact.
An opportunity to improve your operations
Although demanding, this new regulation also offers a unique opportunity to modernize your practices.
Organizations that take the lead are able to turn this obligation into a performance driver. They improve not only their compliance, but also their overall efficiency.
This results in:
better management of cleaning teams
a reduction in complaints
standardized processes
an improved occupant experience
In other words, compliance becomes a tool for optimization.
How ValkarTech makes you compliant… and more efficient
At ValkarTech, we have developed an approach that radically simplifies compliance with Bill 190 while improving service quality.
Service+ Screen: making compliance visible
The Service+ Screen displays, directly within the facilities, information related to completed cleaning activities.
Occupants can therefore see in real time that cleaning is being carried out, which reinforces transparency and builds trust.
A complete digital platform
In addition, our platform enables you to structure all your operations.
Each intervention is automatically recorded with precision. Data is accessible in real time, centralized, and easy to leverage.
Managers can therefore monitor, analyze, and optimize their operations without complexity.
A concrete result
With this approach, our clients benefit from:
continuous and verifiable compliance
instant access to proof
a significant reduction in paper usage
improved perceived quality
Conclusion: the real challenge is proof
Bill 190 marks a fundamental shift in the management of sanitation and cleaning operations.
It is no longer just a matter of execution, but of proof.
Organizations that structure their practices now gain a strategic advantage. Others expose themselves to increasing risks.
Take action
Want to know if your facilities are truly compliant?
ValkarTech supports you in assessing your current situation and implementing simple, effective solutions tailored to your reality.
👉 Get a quick assessment
👉 Move to frictionless compliance
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