COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The disease was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.
Help stop the spread
covid 19 can be a deadly disease. You can take actions to help stop the spread:
- Only travel if it’s essential, and isolate for 14 days if you do.
- Stay home – save lives and don’t put others at risk.
- Practise physical distancing – stay 2 metres away from anyone who is not in your household.
- Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.
- Learn about face coverings – how to use, clean and dispose.
- Get the facts about covid 19 – basics, symptoms and treatment.
- Get sector-specific resources to prevent covid 19 in the workplace.
- Updates and resources from Public Health Ontario.
Best Practices
- Province of Ontario Construction site health and safety during COVID-19
- Weir Foulds Construction Site and COVID-19: Health and Safety Resources
In the Workplace
The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is responding to inquiries regarding worker protections for COVID-19 and continues to investigate all complaints related to workplace health and safety to provide support, advice and enforcement, including proactive inspections as needed to ensure the health and safety of Ontario’s workers.
- Employers are required to report all occupational illnesses, including COVID-19, to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in writing within four days. Employers are also required to notify their joint health and safety committee or a health and safety representative and a trade union, if they exist.
- Ensure health and safety policies are updated and posted for all employees to see. Use industry resources including those produced by the IHSA will improve on site understanding.
- All employees need to have COVID-19 policies that are posted and communicated with to all employees and contractors/trades.
- Keep workplaces clean and hygienic – increase frequency of cleaning high-touch surfaces such as elevator buttons, keyboards, mouse, phones, desks, computers, seating areas, lunch tables, kitchens, washrooms, etc.
- Work from home if possible
- Employers should advise all workers experiencing symptoms to contact public health.
- Stay home if they are sick
Government of Ontario
The government is advising essential workplaces to put the necessary measures in place to protect the health and safety of their employees and the public, including safe physical distancing and hand-washing.
If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659.
For employees
If you have to go out to get food or other critical supplies, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care or go to an essential job, be sure to practice safe physical distancing.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers must take precautions to keep workers safe, including keeping them informed, creating health and safety policies and procedures and ensuring workers use the right protective equipment. As a worker, you also have the right to refuse unsafe work.
If you have concerns about your health and safety that your employer is not addressing, you can file a complaint with the Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008.
If you think you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, take a self-assessment to help determine how to seek further care.
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to support Canadians and businesses facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Support for individuals
- Support for businesses
- Support for sectors
- Support for organizations helping individuals
- Other measures
- Completed measures