Risk Assessment for Workplaces

The risk level in a workplace is affected by the level of COVID-19 transmission in the local community, amongst other factors. In areas where there is known COVID-19 spread, the likelihood that it could be introduced into your workplace or business is higher. 

WECHU has created a COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (PDF) and fillable Word document to help businesses and workplaces develop strategies to mitigate the risks.

Employers should assess the risk for employees and customers by considering the following:

Planning

• Does your workplace/business have a pandemic preparedness plan or safety plan?
• Do you have a risk communication plan to share information with your employees, contractors, and clients?

Policies and Practices

• Can your workplace/business support flexible workplace policies (e.g., teleworking arrangements, staggered hours)?
• Where do people gather, such as break rooms, production lines, or meeting rooms? Is there a way of ensuring physical distancing in these environments?
• Does your workplace/business offer, or know how to link, your employees to mental health promotion or support services?

Demographics of Your Workforce and Customers/Clients

• Do you know if some of your employees/clients are from demographic groups at greater risk of severe disease, such as those 70 or older, or people with underlying medical conditions?
• Are your clients at greater risk of spreading the disease (e.g., young children)?

Environment and Workplace Setting

• Consider the type of service your workplace/business provides (e.g., customer service, food service, manufacturing, hoteling, rideshare)?
• Will employees/clients be participating in activities that promote transmission?
• In what setting is your workplace/business located (e.g., a community-setting, large public space, office)?
• Is the majority of the work or services carried out indoors, outdoors or both?
• Can your workplace/business infrastructure be easily altered or modified to implement public health and infection prevention and control measures (e.g., additional hand cleaning stations, spatial separation of 2-metre between workstations)?
• How do clients/customers/contractors primarily access your workplace/business (e.g., by public transit or personal vehicle)?
• Are there restricted points of entry and exit that force people to be in close proximity and/or pass through high-touch areas (e.g. turnstiles, fingerprint entry, doors, elevators)?

Environmental Cleaning

• Does your workplace have existing environmental cleaning procedures and protocols? Can they be enhanced to align with public health advice?
• What surfaces are touched often (e.g., doorknobs, elevator buttons, light switches, equipment, shared tools)? What is the plan to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces frequently?

Occupational Health and Safety

• What job tasks or processes require workers to come into close proximity with one another or members of the public?
• What tools, machinery, and equipment are commonly used during the course of their work?
• Do your employees have access to Occupational Health and Safety services on site? How will symptomatic individuals in the workplace/business setting be managed? How will close contacts be managed?
• Have you or an Occupational Health and Safety member assessed risk associated with employee interactions with the public?
• Have you or an Occupational Health and Safety member assessed the risk of employees interacting directly with spaces occupied by the general public?

These questions will help business owners and operators to tailor their COVID-19 workplace safety plan so that it is in alignment with local and provincial public health requirements.

Minimizing the Spread

Hierarchy of Controls for COVID-19

Control measures are the steps you take to reduce the risks to your workers. With an infectious disease like COVID-19 your controls can help break the chain of transmission of the virus. The hierarchy of controls can help you choose the right controls for your workplace. In situations where one or more controls cannot be consistently maintained, it is especially important that other controls are in place. The levels are ordered from most effective to least effective. Focus on implementing the most effective methods first and then move onto the next level of control. In all cases, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette must be practiced.

Note: As per the various provincial regulations, municipal bylaws, and local orders, businesses, organizations, and workplaces are now required to ensure that all persons properly wear a mask or face covering while in an indoor area of their premises. For more information about these regulations, bylaws, orders, restrictions, or exemptions related to the wearing of face coverings, visit the Face Masks and Coverings webpage 

For more information about the hierarchy of controls, visit the Government of Ontario’s website.

Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) Controlling COVID-19 in the Workplace Infographic.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one of the tools in the hierarchy of controls that can be used to prevent and control COVID-19 transmissions. In order to accomplish this goal, they must be worn, removed, and disposed safely and correctly. Some examples of PPE include masks, respirators, eye protection, gowns, and gloves.

The level of risk of exposure informs the type and combination of PPE that is required for different settings. For more information about high and low risk exposures, visit the ‘Have COVID-19 or been exposed?’ webpage.

Requirements & Recommendations

• Non-medical face coverings are required for both employees and customers when in the workplace, with very limited exceptions. Eye protection for employees is also required in some cases.
• Identify workers who are required or may be in close contact with each other
• These groups should wear both a mask (e.g., non-surgical, cloth) and eye protection (e.g., face shield, goggles)
• If personal protective equipment is provided by the employer, employees must be trained on safe use, care, and limitations, including putting on and taking off equipment and proper disposal.
• If work involves direct contact with individuals confirmed or suspected to be infected with COVID-19, or direct contact with COVID-19 contaminated objects or environments, Public Health Ontario recommends that the appropriate personal protective equipment is used, such as gloves, gown, surgical/procedure mask, and face shield or goggles.

Donning & Doffing: How to Wear and Remove PPE

Donning and doffing refers to the proper way in which PPE should be worn. The table below illustrates the correct way the various PPE should be put on and removed after use.

Other Resources

• Public Health Ontario Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 Prevention