Guidelines for Reopening Business

To reduce the risk of passing on novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) at work, employers should:

• Screen people who enter the workplace
• Support self-isolation for workers with symptoms and workers who are close contacts of COVID-19 cases
• Ensure people maintain a physical distance of two metres or more
• Have workers, clients and visitors wear masks  
• Disinfect surfaces and objects
• Support hand hygiene, particularly handwashing
• Remind workers about good cough and sneeze etiquette and to avoid touching their face
• Work with the local public health unit if any workers have COVID-19 or are exposed to someone with COVID-19

The Province has outlined the following six questions that can guide businesses through preparing their COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan. 

1. How will you ensure all workers know how to keep themselves safe from exposure to COVID-19?
2. How will you screen for COVID-19?
3. How will you control the risk of transmission in your workplace?
4. What will you do if there is a potential case of, or suspected exposure to, COVID at your workplace?
5. How will you manage any new risks caused by changes to the way you operate your business?
6. How will you make sure your plan is working?

The hierarchy of controls (image and description below) can help you choose the right controls for your workplace. This applies to all workplace hazards, not just COVID-19. The levels in the hierarchy of controls, in order from most effective to least effective, are:

1. Elimination
2. Substitution
3. Engineering Constrols
4. Administrative Controls
5. PPE

When making your COVID-19 workplace safety plan, always start by considering the most effective controls first. First, try to eliminate the hazard altogether. Where eliminating the hazard is not possible, use multiple engineering and administrative controls. The higher the control appears in the diagram and the earlier it is in the list, the more effective it is.

To help overcome COVID-19, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit continues to recommend and remind us of the following advice:

• Maintain 2 metres (6 feet) of physical distancing from everyone outside of your household. 
• Wear a face covering indoors, outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained, or if wearing one is required.
• Face coverings should be tightly fitted to cover the nose, mouth and chin. Scarves and bandanas are insufficient. 
• Stay home from work if you have symptoms, even if they are mild. 
• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. 
• Cover your cough. 
• Download the COVID Alert mobile app. 
• Get tested if you have symptoms compatible with COVID-19, or if you’ve been advised of exposure by the health unit or through the COVID Alert mobile app.

Please reference the following range of health, safety and reopening guidelines resources, listed below, available to support your business throughout recovery and reopening.

International

• World Health Organization

Federal

• Canada Travel Guidelines
• Coronavirus Disease Awareness Resources
• Economic Response Plan
• Government Support Summary
• Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace
• Risk Mitigation Tool for Workplaces
• Statistics Canada
• Trade Commissioner Service Resources​

Provincial

• 2020 Burden Reduction Report
• COVID-19 Action Plan
• COVID Alert App Marketing Material for Businesses
• COVID-19 and Workplace Health and Safety
• COVID-19: Tackling the Barriers
• Essential Workplaces
• Framework for Reopening Ontario
• Guidance for Public Transit Agencies and Passengers in Response to COVID-19
• Online Training to Promote Safe Workplaces
• Ontario COVID-19 Webpage
• Ontario Newsroom
• Ontario Protects Workers, Volunteers and Organizations Who Make Honest Efforts to Follow COVID-19 Public Health Guidelines and Laws
• Provincewide Shutdown
• Stop the Spread Business Information Line
• Workplace Education and Enforcement Campaigns

Regional

• Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

Other

• Canadian Business Resiliency Network
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Ontario Chamber of Commerce
• POST Promise
• Simcoe County

• Canadian Construction Association
• Council of Ontario Construction Associations
• Infrastructure Health and Safety Association
• Province of Ontario
• Toronto Construction Association

• Music Ontario

•  Province of Ontario

• And Access
• Dine Safe
• Food and Beverage Ontario
• Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association
• Province of Ontario
• Restaurants Canada

• Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association
• Province of Ontario
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

• Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
• Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association
• Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
• Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
• Food and Consumer Products of Canada
• Ontario Aerospace Council
• Province of Ontario
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

• Building Owners and Managers Association
• Province of Ontario
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

• Province of Ontario
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

• And Access
• Bank of Canada
• Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers
• Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers
• Government of Canada
• Ontario Convenience Stores Association
• Province of Ontario
• Retail Council of Canada
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

• MaRS Discovery District
• Public Service Health and Safety Association
• Province of Ontario
• ventureLAB
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

• Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association
• Province of Ontario
• Tourism Industry Association of Canada
• Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

• Canadian Trucking Alliance
• Infrastructure Health and Safety Association
• Transportation Association of Canada
• Province of Ontario