Province releases guide on developing workplace safety plans
For those employers that are unsure of how to protect workers, customers and clients as they re-open their doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government has good news.
On June 16, the province released a downloadable toolkit for businesses that contains tips and information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"As more regions enter Stage 2 of reopening, we want to give businesses the tools and resources they need to adapt and succeed in this new environment," said Premier Doug Ford. "By providing this guide on COVID-19 workplace safety, employers, employees and customers can have the confidence they need to resume business as usual with the right health and safety measures in place."
The guide was created to help employers develop safety plans that are unique to their workplaces. It includes a template form that employers can complete to build their own plans, and which addresses such issues as how to:
- identify risks for transmitting the virus through person-to-person contact and though contact with contaminated surfaces and objects;
- determine those controls needed to help mitigate risk, such as engineering controls like the installation of plexiglass to separate workers from customers, administrative controls limiting the number of workers in a space at one time, and personal protective equipment including face and eye protection;
- create a workplace safety plan based on the identified risks and appropriate controls specific to the employer's workplace;
- implement the plan in the workplace, and review and update it as the situation evolves; and
- communicate the actions being taken to workers and other people entering the workplace.
Supporting the guide is a series of more than 120 workplace resources created by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in consultation with provincial health and safety associations to help protect workers from the spread of the virus. These resources contain safety guidelines and posters with tips for such sectors as construction, food, agriculture, manufacturing and long-term care.
"Nothing is more important than protecting the health and safety of workers and others during these unprecedented times," said Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton. "I strongly encourage all employers in the province to visit our website at Ontario.ca/covidsafety. The tools are there. The resources are there. The most up to date information is there. As more businesses reopen, we want to ensure they are able to adapt to this new environment quickly and efficiently.”
As of the middle of June, inspectors from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development have inspected 10,716 workplaces. They have issued 6,405 orders—including 23 stop-work orders—relating to COVID-19.