How do you conduct a COVID-19 workplace risk assessment and safety plan?

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is helping out employers to conduct risk assessment and safety planning to keep workplaces and workers safe from COVID-19.

CCOHS has developed and released a free online course in English and French to help employers in this regard.

“The health and safety of all workers should be a priority for employers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether they are working onsite, at home, or plan on returning to work,” read part of the course description.

“Workplaces in Canada must take every precaution reasonable to protect their employees from the transmission of COVID-19, and can do so with workplace risk assessment and safety plans, which outline the steps to reduce exposure; procedures to monitor exposure and health; and what to do if anyone reports or shows signs or symptoms of infection.”

The course outlines the steps needed to plan and conduct a COVID-19 workplace risk assessment, and to plan and evaluate a workplace safety plan. Topics include:

• planning workplace risk assessments for COVID-19 transmission
• identifying key factors for assessments
• identifying risk factors
• planning and evaluating a COVID-19 workplace safety plan

CCOHS also released a return to the workplace course for employers last year.

“Managers, supervisors, and health and safety committee members or representatives will learn the work and personal factors to consider when assessing and preventing the risk of exposure, reviewing a safety plan to ensure it is effective, and keeping up to date with current COVID-19 guidelines,” according to CCOHS.

The course, which can be completed in 20 minutes, is available here.

CCOHS are developed by subject specialists in the field, and reviewed by representatives from labour, employers, and government to ensure the content and approach are unbiased and credible, it said.

Recently, WorkSafeNB reminded employers to develop their COVID-19 plans as they continue to operate during the health crisis.

In February, WorkSafeBC said it is launching a province-wide, multi-language campaign focused on several specific actions workers and employers need to take to keep workplaces safe from COVID-19.