The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS) has made a number of its online resources free in an effort to help support employers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We hope that the courses and publications that we have made publicly available can help prevent ergonomic injuries and maintain positive mental health amongst those who are working through this unprecedented time in history,” says CCOHS president and CEO Anne Tennier.

The organization reminds employers to promote frequent handwashing and healthy hygiene practices such as physical distancing to help prevent the spread of infection and to put plans in place that describe how they will continue to function during or after the pandemic. This includes planning how key services or products can be continued, and the recovery of key business and systems.

Some of the courses and publications being offered include:

Courses

• Pandemic Planning
• Mental Health: Health and Wellness Strategies
• Mental Health: Signs, Symptoms and Solutions
• Mental Health: Psychologically Healthy Workplaces
• Mental Health: Communication Strategies
• Musculoskeletal Disorders Prevention
• Office Ergonomics
• Pandemic Awareness
• Mental Health: Awareness
• Musculoskeletal Disorders Awareness

Publications

• Emergency Response Planning Guide
• Telework and Home Office Health and Safety Guide
• Flu and Infectious Disease Outbreaks Business Continuity Plan

“In addition to having contingency plans in place to help them function, we can’t stress enough the importance of maintaining close communication within the organization,” says Tennier. “Reach out frequently to employees who become ill or are in quarantine. Have regular contact with those who are working from home to monitor their well-being, let them know you care and help with any feelings of isolation they may have. If you have the technology, video chats are a great way to keep an active connection going.”

More information is available at www.ccohs.ca.