On April 30, 2020, the Ontario government, in collaboration with provincial health and safety associations, released the Health and Safety Association Guidance Documents for Workplaces During the COVID-19 Outbreak.

These guidance documents follow the government’s announcement of the development of a framework for reopening the economy following the COVID-19 outbreak emergency closure measures. The framework, which does not include any commitment to a formal timeline, provides an incremental outline for relaxing the emergency measures currently in place.

In preparation for the reopening of workplaces, the guidance documents provide sector-specific best practices to support employers in ensuring workers remain safe in the workplace during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The sectors included in the guidance documents are:

  • Construction
  • Transportation
  • Utilities
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • Office
  • Transit
  • Police and fire services
  • Retail
  • Food retail
  • Funeral
  • Manufacturing
  • Auto
  • Film/TV
  • Tourism
  • Agriculture

Employers may want to take the guidance documents into consideration when creating return-to-work policies once the emergency measures are relaxed.

Ogletree Deakins will continue to monitor and report on developments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and will post updates in the firm’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center as additional information becomes available. Critical information for employers is also available via the firm’s webinar programs.

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