Workplace Specific
What you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy
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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. Where there is a conflict between provincial, municipal, or local orders, the stricter requirements are to be followed.
The Resources & Signage section of this webpage contains downloadable and printable signs that you may display to communicate the new face covering requirements with the people accessing your indoor spaces.
Sector-Specific Guidelines for Health and Safety of Businesses and Workplaces
The following section contains links to resources for a variety of sectors that are already open or preparing to open. For more sector-specific health and safety guidance, directions, legislation, and additional preventative measures to protect workers, customers, and employers, please refer to the resources provided by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and the various provincial health and safety associations on the Government of Ontario’s website.
Continue to monitor the Government of Ontario’s ‘O. Reg. 364/20: Rules For Areas in Stage 3’ page for the latest changes to the ‘Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act’ outlining provincial restrictions for businesses, places of work, public/private spaces, and more. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the specific rules and regulations in Stage 3 of the provincial reopening plan may be found by visiting Reopening Ontario or WECHU’s Restrictions & Guidance page.
WECHU Safe Return to Business Checklists
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Checklist for Organizations Working with Vulnerable Populations - FR
- Checklist for Outdoor Recreation & Individual Sports
- Checklist for Outdoor Recreation Team Sports
- Checklist for Personal Service Settings
External Checklists
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety’s (CCOHS) Pandemic Planning: Reopening for Business course outlines common steps that can be taken to safely reopen during COVID-19 and will help you put controls in place to protect workers and customers to minimize the impact of the pandemic.
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Post Pandemic Business Resumption Checklist for Businesses Operating Through the Pandemic
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Post Pandemic Business Resumption Checklist for Businesses Returning after Shutdown of Operations
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Post Pandemic Business Resumption Checklist for Businesses Returning to the Workplace after Working Remotely
Farm workers, greenhouse workers, equipment operators, maintenance workers, truck drivers, administrative staff, and others working in the agricultural sector must comply with the requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Businesses or workplaces employing temporary foreign workers are required to follow additional procedures upon their entry to Canada, including self-isolation.
- Canadian Agricultural HR Council (CAHRC) Information and Tips on COVID-19
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety COVID-19 Tip Sheet for Agriculture
- Government of Canada Guidance for employers of temporary foreign workers regarding COVID-19
- Government of Ontario Agricultural health and safety during COVID-19 Guidance Note
- Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers COVID-19 Health & Safety Portal provides links to mental health resources, public health guidance, workplace planning tools, and industry updates specific to the agricultural setting
- WECHU’s Temporary Foreign Workers webpage
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Health and Safety Guidance for Agricultural Supervisors during COVID-19
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Service Managers, Service Technicians and other Vehicle Sales and Service Employees during COVID-19
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Vehicle Sales and Service Sector during COVID-19
Day camps for children may open if they operate in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines for COVID-19 for summer day camps produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Camps that provide supervised overnight accommodation for children must continue to remain closed.
Resources
- COVID-19 Guidance Document for Child Care
- Public Services Health & Safety Association COVID-19: Precautions When Working In A Day Camp
- Ministry of Education Operational Guidance During COVID-19 Outbreak: Child Care Re-Opening
- Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Summer Day Camps (Version 2 - June 28, 2020)
- Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Emergency Child Care Centres
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety COVID-19 Tip Sheet for Daycares
- Public Services Health & Safety Association COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Childcare Provider
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Employers of Child Care Centres
- Public Services Health & Safety Association COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Conservation & Fisheries Worker
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Conservation & Fisheries Employers
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety COVID-19 Tip Sheet for Construction
- Government of Ontario Construction site health and safety during COVID-19 Guidance Note
- Government of Ontario Additional sector guidance for Construction
Drive-in cinemas and businesses or places that provide drive-in or drive-through concerts, artistic events, theatrical performances or other performances may open if they comply with the following conditions:
- Each person in attendance at the drive-in cinema or the business or place, other than persons who perform work for the drive-in cinema or the business or place, must remain within a motor vehicle designed to be closed to the elements except where necessary,
- to purchase admission, food or beverages,
- to access a washroom, or
- for the purposes of health and safety.
- The driver of a motor vehicle at the drive-in cinema or the business or place must ensure that it is positioned at least two metres away from other motor vehicles.
- Every performer or other person who performs work at the drive-in cinema or the business or place must remain at least two metres apart from motor vehicles and from every other person, except:
- If it is necessary for the performers to be closer to each other for the purposes of the performance,
- where necessary for the purposes of facilitating the purchase of admission, food or beverages, or
- where necessary for the purposes of health and safety.
- Food and beverages may only be sold to persons in attendance at the drive-in cinema or the business or place if:
- the food or beverage is sold at a concession stand that requires patrons to stand at least two metres apart while waiting to be served and that requires patrons to immediately return to their motor vehicle after being served, or
- the food or beverage is delivered directly to the patron’s motor vehicle.
- No materials may be exchanged between persons in attendance at the drive-in cinema or the business or place, except:
- materials exchanged between members of the same motor vehicle,
- materials exchanged between persons who perform work for the drive-in cinema or the business or place, and
- such materials as are necessary to facilitate the purchase of admission, food or beverages.
Resources
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health Safety for Outdoor Recreation and Drive-In/Drive-Thru Entertainment Settings during COVID-19
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety COVID-19 Tip Sheet for Places of Worship
- Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Advice: Religious Services, Rites or Ceremonies: ENG | FRE
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety Places of Worship During COVID-19
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety COVID-19 Tip Sheet for First Responders
- Public Health Ontario has created the COVID-19 Guidance: Paramedic Services
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Fire Services
- Public Services Health & Safety Association COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Paramedic
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Police Services
- Public Services Health & Safety Association COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Correctional Officer
A food court or other dining area that is not already described in section 1 may open if it is configured so that patrons seated at different tables are separated by:
- A distance of at least two metres; or
- Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier.
Resources
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety COVID-19 Tip Sheet for Restaurants and Food Services
- Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development Restaurant and Food Service: Guidance for Health and Safety Tip Sheet
- Restaurants Canada Navigating COVID-19: Guides, webinars and partner resources
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety For Restaurant Servers, Cooks and Dishwashers during COVID-19
- Contact Tracing Form Food Premises
*Complaints related to Restaurants should be directed to the WECHU at 519-258-2146 ext. 4475.
- Bereavement Authority of Ontario COVID-19 Information Index
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Funeral Workers during COVID-19
- Public Services Health & Safety Association COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Library Worker
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Library Employers
The Ministry of Health COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart is a general document that can be applied in addition to specific guidance for regulated and *unregulated health professionals.
- Audiologist and Speech Pathologist
- Chiropractor
- Dental Sector: Dentist | Dental Hygienist | Dental Technologist | Denturist
- Dietician and Nutritionist
- Homeopath
- Massage Therapist
- Midwives
- Naturopath: Ministry of Health COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector | Directive #2
- Occupational Therapist
- Optician | Optometrist
- Personal Support Workers, Physician Assistant, Physiotherapy Assistant: Ministry of Health COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart
- Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician: Pharmacist’s Guide | Pharmacy Staff Return to Work Guidance
- Physicians: Ministry of Health COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector | Directive #2
- Physiotherapist: Ministry of Health COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector | Directive #2
- Podiatrist and Chiropodist
- Psychotherapist
- Psychologist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Social Workers
- Sonographer and Medical Radiation Technologist
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturist
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Dental Offices
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Health Care Provider Webpage
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Physician and Primary Care Provider Employers
- Government of Ontario Manufacturing health and safety during COVID-19 Guidance Note
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Employers of Office Settings
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Office Administration and Secretarial Staff during COVID-19
- Community Garden - Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Community Garden Sector during COVID-19
- Government of Canada - Risk mitigation tool for outdoor recreation spaces and activities operating during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Marinas and boat clubs - Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Marinas during COVID-19
- Parks - Public Services Health & Safety Association COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Parks & Recreation Worker
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Parks & Recreation Employers
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Outdoor Recreation and Drive-in/Drive-Thru Entertainment Settings during COVID-19
- Basketball – Ontario Basketball Latest COVID-19 News
- Golf courses – Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for the Golf Course Sector during COVID-19
- Pickleball – COVID-19 Guidelines & Updates from Pickleball Ontario
- Tennis - COVID-19 Resources & Updates from Tennis Canada
- Volleyball – COVID-19 Updates from Volleyball Canada
- WECHU Frequently Asked Questions for Personal Service Settings
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Personal Services Settings During COVID-19
- Hairdressing, Salons, and Tattooing – Allied Beauty Association Re-Opening Information
- Government of Ontario Guidance for Professional Meeting and Event Facilities during COVID-19 applies to venues and settings such as convention centres, hotels, motels, resorts, banquet halls, and conference centres.
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) strongly recommends that real estate businesses follow the direction of public health authorities by limiting showings to situations where they are absolutely necessary. Real estate businesses are further advised to look into alternative technological solutions to minimize the need for in-person interactions with their clients.
- For more detailed guidance and FAQs on how to conduct business safely and efficiently during the COVID-19 pandemic, real estate personnel and those actively looking to purchase or rent a home are encouraged to visit the RECO’s website.
- Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development Restaurant and Food Service: Guidance for Health and Safety Tip Sheet in English | Arabic | Farsi | Gujarati | Korean | Punjabi | Simplified Chinese | Tagalog | Traditional Chinese | Urdu
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) Retail Pandemic (COVID-19) Tip Sheet for Retail.
- Garden Centre - Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Garden Centre Sector During COVID-19
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Cashiers during COVID-19
- Food Retail - Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Food Retail Sector during COVID-19
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety For Stock, Produce, Meat or Grocery Associates during COVID-19
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Retail General Labour Employees during COVID-19
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Sales and Customer Service Representatives during COVID-19
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety COVID-19 Tip Sheet for Transportation
- Public Transit - COVID-19: Precautions When Working As A Transit Worker
- Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) COVID-19 Resources
- Public Services Health & Safety Association Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Transit Employers
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Public Health Memo: Taxi and Rideshare Services during COVID-19
- Trucking – Trucking HR Canada COVID-19 Resource Guide for Trucking & Logistics Employers
- Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Tips for Carriers When Reviewing and Updating Internal Policies
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety for Drivers and Truck Drivers During COVID-19
- Workplace Safety & Prevention Services Guidance on Health and Safety For Veterinary Services (Pet Groomers/ Dog Walkers/Pet Boarding/ Animal Care Providers) During COVID-19