Workplace Safety North Guidance on mining during COVID-19

Guidance for best practices in mining sector during COVID-19

Employers and contractors have an obligation to protect workers from hazards in the workplace as set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations and the directives coming from the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Ontario is currently in the midst of a global pandemic. While the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly, the legislation and regulations used to govern Ontario’s workplaces are not.  Under Ontario law, employers have the duty to keep workers and work sites safe and free of hazards. Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work. If health and safety concerns are not resolved internally, a worker can seek enforcement by filing a complaint with the ministry’s Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008. Failure of the employer or constructor to comply with the OHSA and its regulations could result in a stop-work order upon inspection by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Download the attached guideline for reference.