On March 29, 2020, Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer provided updated guidance to help employers meet their Occupational Health and Safety responsibilities and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 on job sites. The update, found here, addresses topics such as:
- providing better on-site sanitation, including a focus on high-touch areas like site trailers, door handles and hoists
- communicating roles, responsibilities, and health & safety policies, by, for example, posting site sanitization schedules and work schedules
- enabling greater distances between workers by staggering shifts, restricting site numbers and limiting elevator usage
- protecting public health, by tracking and monitoring workers
The Ministry reminded Employers that under Ontario law, employers must take every reasonable precaution to keep workers safe. Also, the Ministry stated that Inspectors are continuing to inspect job sites.
We will continue to update our clients with information as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this or other COVID-19 questions, or would like assistance developing and/or reviewing pandemic plans, please do not hesitate to contact a Mathews Dinsdale lawyer, or refer to the Firm’s other COVID-19 website resources.
