COVID-19 and workplace health and safety

Develop a workplace safety plan

Use the workplace safety plan builder

It’s important that employers have a plan for how they will protect against COVID-19 transmission in their workplace. This will help all businesses across Ontario to stay open and open and safe.

The workplace safety plan builder will lead you through an easy three-step process to help you develop a customized plan for your business. It will help you think through some of the risks in your workplace and choose the actions you are taking to make your workplace safer.

If you would like more information on developing a safety plan for COVID-19:

• read the guide
• review online webinars (provided by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services)

Know your responsibilities as an employer

Make sure you understand and comply with all requirements under the:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act, the health and safety rights and duties of everyone in the workplace
• Employment Standards Act, minimum standards of employment including job-protected leaves
• Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act (ROA), public health measures and restrictions

Public health restrictions

Employers need to understand the restrictions that apply to their workplace as described in the Roadmap to Reopen. Find out what measures are in effect in your region and check your local public health unit website in case they have additional restrictions and requirements.

Screening

Employers are required to actively screen every worker before they enter the workplace at the start of their shift. A worker and employee screening tool is available.

Learn more about workplace screening for COVID-19covid 19 and how rapid antigen screening can fit into your screening program.

Read COVID-19 workplace guidance

General resources for all workplaces:

• using masks in the workplace
• screening for COVID-19covid 19: guidance for employers
• meal and break periods at work
• COVID-19covid 19 vaccines and workplace health and safety

Depending on your sector, there may be specific situations you will need to consider and steps you should take to protect yourself and your workers. Use the resources here to refine your workplace safety plan.

Most popular sectors

Education

• Guidance note

Construction sector

• Tip sheet
• Guidance note

Restaurant and food services sector

• Tip sheet
• Guidance note

Child care

• Guidance note

Find your sector

Guidance is provided by the Government of Ontario or our partner health and safety associations.

Contact your health and safety association

Find more guidance documents and videos specific to your sector:

• Infrastructure Health and Safety Association, for example construction, transportation
• Public Service Health and Safety Association, for example health care, education, municipalities
• Workplace Safety North Workplace Safety North, for example mining, forestry
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, for example small business, manufacturing

Find PPE and sanitization suppliers

If you need personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies to keep your employees and customers safe, you can access the Workplace PPE Supplier Directory. You can also access our guide to  using masks in the workplace to help ensure you select the right type of masks for your employees.

Access posters for your workplace

Cleaning

• Clean regularly touched items
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Clean tools before and after use
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Clean work surfaces often
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Wipe equipment before and after use
• Wash your clothes as soon as you get home
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)

Equipment

• Wash your clothes as soon as you get home
• Maintenance crews should travel in separate vehicles
• One person to offload and onload equipment where possible
• Use your own tools where possible
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Limit the number of people using equipment
• Wipe equipment before and after use
• Clean all rental equipment and supplies before and after use

Gardening and landscaping

• Create a planting schedule to help maintain physical distancing
• Post a tending calendar to help maintain physical distancing
• Keep staff physically distanced when watering plants

Retail transactions

• Minimize contact by having customers pre-pay
• Use cashless payment to limit contact
• Clean payment keypads often
• Ask customers to open car remotely for loading
• Mark pick-up locations
• Ask customers to stay in their vehicles when loading orders

Workplaces

• Clean regularly touched items
• Clean tools before and after use
• Clean work surfaces often
• Conduct meetings outdoors
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Post health and safety signage in most spoken languages
• Increase space by staggering lunch breaks
• Use boot sanitizing trays
• Stay 2 metres apart while working
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Maintain space between crew members during transport
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Open doors and windows to let in more fresh air
  (also available in Spanish and Thai)
• Get fresh air by going outside during breaks
• COVID Alert app

Workplace safety posters

Other supports for businesses

Business information line

If you represent an Ontario business and have questions about COVID-19 and your business that are not answered elsewhere on this web page, please call our toll-free line 1-888-444-3659.

This information line will support Ontario businesses with questions about the province's emergency orders, at-risk workplaces or recommendations by Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Help is available from Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 a.m.―5:00 p.m.