Helping Employees with Professional Development

This Month's Comic: Vaccinations For All

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Throughout the course of our lives most of us will have several different jobs. These may be with the same company but in different positions, or with different companies altogether. Some people may even have several completely different careers in their lifetime.

I am Not Spontaneous

I am not spontaneous…and I’m okay with that.

Being spontaneous is often seen as something more positive than being a planner. For as long as I can remember, my family has been poking fun at me because I love to plan and organize.

Ontario Regulation Changes

As of July 1st, 2021, a new Regulation under the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) is in effect.

Ontario Regulation 420 / 21 – Notices and Reports under Sections 51 to 53 of the Act – Fatalities, Critical Injuries, Occupational Illnesses and Other Incidents.

The new regulation incorporates the critical injury definition (unchanged) and streamlines Employer reporting requirements into a single regulation that applies to all Ontario workplaces covered under the OHSA.

If you are a full service client of Dunk & Associates, we will be reviewing and updating the affected policies, forms, and training as applicable. Ensure your Supervisors/Managers and Safety Committee Members or Safety Representative are made aware of this new regulation.

The reporting requirements themselves have not changed. The only change is the location of where the requirements are legislatively housed, now in one single regulation instead of several individual ones, in an effort to make it easier on Ontario Employers to know their reporting requirements. Another change is that the retention of reports for critical injuries and fatalities is now 3 years (although we recommend that you keep them for longer than that).

The following regulations have been amended:

O. Reg. 429/21: Farming Operations
O. Reg. 426/21: Construction Projects
O. Reg. 427/21: Health Care and Residential Facilities
O. Reg. 428/21: Diving Operations
O. Reg. 421/21: Industrial Establishments
O. Reg. 422/21: Mines and Mining Plants
O. Reg. 423/21: Oil and Gas - Offshore
O. Reg. 425/21: X-Ray Safety
O. Reg. 424/21: Window Cleaning

PPE Guidance for Ontario Workplaces –

Eye Protection and Surgical/Procedural Masks

Because of the higher transmissibility of the variants of concern (VOCs), there have been changes to the assessment of COVID-19 transmission risk following an exposure.

There is some confusion about what this means for the application of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace. We have been given conflicting information on when eye protection and surgical/procedural masks are required. Whether it is when workers are within 2 meters of someone who is wearing a mask or not is unclear. However, we have been notified that the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) inspectors are looking for the use of eye protection with appropriate masking (surgical or procedural masks) when workers are within two metres of another person without a barrier between them, regardless of if the other person is wearing a mask or not.

Due to these changes, we are recommending that employers implement the PPE measures with the greatest protection for workers. Therefore, when workers are within two metres of another person without a barrier (e.g., Plexiglas, partition, wall), the following PPE should be worn:

Appropriate eye protection for COVID-19 which protects the wearer from exposure to respiratory droplets from the front and sides of the eyes (e.g., safety glasses with side shields, goggles and face shields).

Surgical or procedure masks (or masks that provide equal or greater protection). Cloths masks or face coverings are considered a source control, not PPE. Cloth masks/face coverings may still be used as a source control (not PPE) when workers are greater than 2 metres from others. PPE (surgical or procedure masks) must be worn when working within 2 metres of persons.

For more information on PPE and the use of masks and eye protection in the workplace, refer to Using masks in the workplace | Ontario.ca.

Please communicate your workplace’s PPE requirements to your employees. Now is also a good time to remind employees of the important of wearing their masks properly at all times.

Please ensure your COVID-19 risk assessment and other applicable policies and procedures are updated to reflect any changes to your PPE requirements in your workplace.

Success Stories

The pandemic has impacted us all in a variety of ways, but we want to focus on the positive. We want to hear your successes!

Do you have any "wins" in your workplace you want to share? For example, a wellness program implemented successfully, a new tool for collaboration, or maybe something you did for employee morale? It can be anything!

Share it with us by sending an email to info@systems24-7.com and see it featured in the next newsletter.

Your July Compliance Package will be posted

on July 1st

If you are enrolled in the compliance package program, your package will be posted on July 1. Login to your site to access your package under the compliance packages feature. All assignments must be completed to keep your Health & Safety Program in compliance.

Your Complimentary Resources this Month

Drink Water

Heat Related Illnesses

Safe Summer Driving

2021 Wellness Calendars

Our 2021 Wellness Calendars are something you don't want to miss this year. We are offering a black and white printer friendly version and an interactive-colour version. Each month is full of activities, monthly mottos, daily tips and so much more. Each month is different from the next so make sure you download the full year calendar to enjoy, if you only want one month at a time we are offering that as well.