COVID-19 Health and Safety Practices

If you’re working during this pandemic, it’s essential that your employer takes additional health and safety precautions to limit exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. This applies whether you are returning to the workplace, or you never left. The following provides general guidance and leading practices for CUPE members to consider as we continue to work through the time of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is the disease that is caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2 or the virus). During the infection process, the COVID-19 virus enters cells and tricks them into making copies of the virus’s genetic information. This genetic information is like a building plan. Using this building plan, new viruses grow and go on to infect other cells. COVID-19 symptoms appear and then worsen as more and more cells become infected.

This checklist tool is designed to help workplaces think about all aspects of COVID-19 transmission, including the hazards of aerosols and variants of concern (VoCs).

There is a lot of information to take into consideration when determining which practices to follow when returning to a physical workplace during the pandemic. The biggest source of confusion is how public health directives/guidelines compare to workplace safety practices, particularly with the use of masks. In our view, public health advice informs workplace health and safety practices but does not overrule the Employer’s legal workplace health and safety obligations, which include taking every reasonable precaution to keep workers safe.

This checklist tool is intended to evaluate the part of the COVID-19 response program that deals with exposures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new health and safety hazards into our workplaces. It has also impacted the severity of existing hazards, including those related to mental health. Although the mental health impacts of the pandemic have been widely discussed, the workplace perspective is often missing from these conversations.

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Since 2020, workplaces have implemented a wide range of control measures to reduce the risk of a worker’s exposure to COVID-19.

Any identified hazard to workers requires that information, instruction and supervision be provided to workers for their protection while they are working.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act(s) states that the employer must take all reasonable precautions in the circumstance to protect a worker. A component of this duty includes risk assessments of hazards and processes used in the workplace. Multiple CUPE workplaces have introduced or are planning to introduce the use of fine spray devices to disinfect surfaces potentially contaminated with the COVID-19. CUPE has concerns about the effectiveness of this practice and the effect on the health and safety of workers and others when a chemical is sprayed in the workplace.

The best way to address health and safety concerns is to put the COVID-19 response plan in place before workers are re-introduced into the workplace. Where work has never stopped, existing hazard (or risk) assessments should be reviewed in light of COVID-19.

As the global pandemic of COVID-19 persists, CUPE wants to ensure that employers and members continue to implement leading practices to prevent workplace exposure to the virus which causes COVID-19.

To help keep the work environment safe from COVID-19, the promotion of good hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette is an easy way that everyone can participate. Check out these printable posters that can go up in your workplace.