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Health Unit Provides Workplace Safety Tips To Combat COVID-19

The local health unit is providing some tips on workplace safety with provincial restrictions set to loosen next week.

With new strains of COVID-19 being identified in the province, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit says it’s more important than ever to take necessary precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace.

Public Health Inspector with the health unit, Courtney Shaffer says these strains have caused them to be even more cautious about workplace safety. 

“These variants have the ability to spread quicker,” Shaffer said. “So, if there are people who are sick, we can act quickly to reduce the number of cases and have those safety measures in place so that there is less transmission or no transmission.”

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The health unit says in order to help keep your workplace healthy, employees should screen themselves for COVID-19 symptoms every day.

If you’re not feeling well, you should isolate yourself, and get tested. 

Shaffer says an outbreak in a workplace can have a detrimental impact on a business.

“Some businesses, if they’re small and most of their workforce is home-isolating, they might have to close,” Shaffer said. “So, keeping contacts to a minimum really ensures your business can continue to operate, even if there are cases identified.”

The health unit adds following public health guidelines, like mask-wearing and physical distance are especially vital during these times. 

It’s also important for employers to take a look at the workplace setting, whether it is indoors or outdoors, and ensure their employees are not in close contact.  

Shaffer says if you do become aware of a worker testing positive, contact the local public health unit for advice on next steps.

“We’re there to help guide you through the next steps, so, do that assessment of who would be a contact and what they need to do,” Shaffer said. “Then we will provide advice to the contact of what they should do next – so, staying home, where to get tested, that kind of thing.”

All workplaces are required to have a workplace safety plan to help identify areas where employees might be at risk of contracting COVID-19, and the necessary measures to prevent transmission.

You can find more information on the template by heading to the health unit’s website.

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