Ford upbeat on reopening economy, announces sector-specific guidelines for employers
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is advising businesses to get ready once they lift pandemic restrictions. “I’m feeling more positive overall, over the last four or five days, but this changes day-by-day,” said Ford.
The province announced new health and safety guidelines Thursday designed to help businesses and workplaces be prepared for when the economy “gradually” reopens.
Ford is telling businesses “the time is coming” but says the economy can’t open overnight. He says the new health and safety guidelines will give employers and businesses time to prepare.
These are the new guidelines businesses should begin exploring
“14.5 million people have taken this virus seriously, and today we’re on the path to reopening the economy because that curve is flattening,” said Ford. “There’s a light at the end of tunnel. We will open things up in phases as it comes safe to do so – based on health and science.
Minister Monte McNaughton says they have hired 58 new labour inspectors to ensure workplaces are safe.
Food industry
Retail
These new sector-specific guidelines feature recommended actions employers can begin to plan for as they prepare to adapt to the new reality during COVID-19, including:
- Ways to ensure appropriate physical distancing, like eliminating pay-at-the-door options, holding team meetings outdoors, staggering shift times and using ground markings and barriers to manage traffic flow.
- Changes to the workplace, like installing plexiglass barriers, increasing the air intake on building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to increase air flow, and using boot sanitizing trays.
- Promoting proper workplace sanitation, providing personal protective equipment, substituting dry dusting with vacuuming, ensuring customer-facing staff are given hand sanitizer, providing a place to dispose of sanitizing wipes, and enforcing handwashing before and after breaks.
more to come…
