Numbers Show Ontario Construction Site Deaths Remain Stubbornly High
The death of two construction workers killed in December when the building they were working on in southwest London suddenly collapsed serves as a sombre reminder that in Ontario, workplace deaths continue to stay stubbornly high. According to Ontario Labour Ministry statistics, 19 workers died while working on construction jobs in the fiscal year ending […]
COVID-19, the new ‘occupational disease’?
Thousands of workers compensation claims filed over coronavirus infections. The majority of applications for aid in the four biggest provinces have been approved. But there’s disagreement over how liberally aid should be meted out. Workers compensation boards across Canada have received thousands of claims from employees who say they contracted COVID-19 on the job, underscoring […]
Physicians Shift to Virtual Care in First of Pandemic
Physicians in Canada generally opted to offer virtual care services options instead of in-person care amid the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. In April, 55 percent of patient visits, physician-to-physician consultations and psychotherapy were provided online or by phone, according to the report. […]
Work Refusals, Mental Health Among Hot-Button Safety Issues
The current global pandemic has provided many lessons for occupational health and safety professionals, according to experts. Work refusals, remote worker safety, management of anxiety, and health privacy issues have all come to the forefront as a result of COVID-19. “A number of employers really are in hard times,” said Dylan Short, managing director of […]
Current Situation for Teachers is “Grim” and “Utterly Unreasonable” Reveals Reports
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) recently released results from a survey conducted in October on mental health among teachers amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Teacher Mental Health Check-In survey, which received almost 14,000 responses, found “unbearable” levels of stress anxiety, and a struggle to cope with the demands of teaching during the pandemic. The […]
Ontario Nurses’ Union Backs Report Criticizing Province’s
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) has backed a report from the province’s auditor that accused the government Premier Doug Ford of “delays and confusion in decision-making” in its response to the pandemic. In a scathing report, Ontario auditor general Bonnie Lysyk found a “number of contributing […]
How to Deal with Coronavirus Burnout and Pandemic Fatigue
We have been living with the coronavirus for several months and the spread of COVID-19 is still going strong in many areas of the world. As the pandemic wears on, it is understandable that some people are feeling burnout and exhaustion caused by the situation. As the pandemic still remains present, mental health is continuing […]
The Flu & COVID: 4 Questions Answered
Canada is in the midst of its second wave of COVID-19. There have been thousands of new cases of COVID announced, as well as more deaths. Concurrently, seasonal influenza or “flu” affects millions of Canadians every year. Flu season is usually defined as being in the fall and winter, peaking between December and February. Most […]
Marketplace Tested Over 20 Different Masks. Here’s What Will Best Protect You and Others During the Pandemic
Wearing a mask is critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19, but rigorous tests conducted on behalf of CBC’s Marketplace found that while some work very well, others offer little protection from the particles that transmit the novel coronavirus. One type of mask can even spread those particles to others. Months into the pandemic, there […]
Canada: Fines Of Over $120,000 Imposed For Serial Violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
Not ensuring a safe workplace can be a costly mistake as one London, Ontario rebar fabricator recently found out. During the summer of 2018, a Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development Inspector issued 18 orders to AGF Rebar Inc. (“AGF”) requiring that certain machinery inside its building be equipped with guarding, and that existing […]
