Category: Worker Safety

Employment Standards Webinar with the Ministry of Labour – April 12th

OMAFRA and the Ministry of Labour are hosting a webinar on Employment Standards in the Agricultural Sector on April 12th from 10am- 12pm.

The session will provide an overview of:

  • Employer obligations under the Employment Standards Act (ESA)
  • Rights of employees, including Temporary Foreign Workers, under the ESA
  • Exemptions and Exceptions relating to the agricultural sector
  • Temporary Help Agencies, placement employees, and the client business – what are their roles?
  • Obligations relating to COVID-19 and the ESA
Continue reading “Employment Standards Webinar with the Ministry of Labour – April 12th” →

COVID-19 Updates with WSIB Webinar – March 22nd

OMAFRA and WSIB are hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 12:00PM to provide information that will help protect workers and assist agri-food stakeholders throughout the changing pandemic.  The session will provide an overview of:

  • A review on reporting claims
  • A reviews on coverage for Temporary Foreign Workers
  • Updates on COVID-19 and WSIB
  • Online Services for Businesses

There will also be time for questions and discussion.

Continue reading “COVID-19 Updates with WSIB Webinar – March 22nd” →

COVID-19 Infection, Prevention and Control Webinars

OMAFRA is hosting province-wide free webinars on COVID-19 Infection, Prevention and Control on Jan 6th (tomorrow!) and 18th from 12 to 1 PM. This is a great resource as we move into a new production year in the pandemic. It will provide a refresher on best practices and updates on important information for business owners and HR managers on how to keep workers safe against the virus and its variants.

Topics Include:

  • Infection, Prevention and Control measures for employer health and safety awareness 
  • Workplace inspection process
  • Ontario’s Workplace Safety Plan Builder
  • Available supports from OMAFRA to protect worker health and safety including programming under:
    • Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP)
    • Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)

To sign up for one of these webinars, please fill in the form. Zoom details will be emailed after registration.

Safely transitioning your greenhouse operation into Step 3

Ontario continues to make tremendous progress in its vaccine rollout. Keeping your greenhouse safe during reopening is a priority for the sector, and having a vaccinated workforce is a key measure in this effort. Receiving a vaccine is a voluntary and personal choice: read on for resources to enable your greenhouse staff to make informed decisions.

Continue reading “Safely transitioning your greenhouse operation into Step 3” →

OMAFRA’s Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Program Extended until Friday, March 12.

Enhaced Worker Protection ProgramHave you applied for OMAFRA’s Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP), to help mitigate risks and costs from COVID??? If not, there’s still time!

The deadline for submitting eligible expenses has been extended.  Eligible applications for project expenditures incurred as of March 15, 2020 are received and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Financial assistance is available until March 12, 2021. 

More information is available at OMAFRA’s COVID-19 landing page. Links to expenses covered under the EAWPP program are included in the post below. Continue reading “OMAFRA’s Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Program Extended until Friday, March 12.” →

Apply for Covid-19 Funding: Application Webinar on Feb 2nd.

Enhaced Worker Protection ProgramHave you applied for OMAFRA’s Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP), to help mitigate risks and costs from COVID??? If not, there’s still time!

Funding continues to be available until February 26th, 2021 on a first come, first serve basis. Funding up to $15,000 per farm is available for preventative health and safety measures.  Up to $100,000  is available per property for on-farm worker safety improvement programs.

Links to expenses covered under the EAWPP program are included in the post below. Additionally, OMAFRA is running a webinar on Feb 2nd, 2021 to help growers navigate applying for the different program categories. Keep reading for details. Continue reading “Apply for Covid-19 Funding: Application Webinar on Feb 2nd.” →

Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program: Additional Funding

Enhaced Worker Protection ProgramOn May 14, 2020 the ministry announced the launch of the Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program for Producers.   The government has recently announced an additional $11.6 M in funding.

Many in the greenhouse made pro-active improvements to workplace safety in light of Covid-19, which is why the program accepts applications for changes made as far back as March 15, 2020.

The program has also been simplified to provide faster assistance by eliminating pre-approval. Growers can now submit eligible expenses up to the farm maximum ($7500). 

The program includes accommodation and/or transport costs related to outbreak prevention, as well as workplace modifications and purchases of personal protective equipment. More program details can be found below and on the OMAFRA website. Continue reading “Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program: Additional Funding” →

PROGRAM EXPANSION: Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program

On May 14, 2020 the ministry announced the launch of the Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program for Producers. The intake is open to interested applicants and program materials have been posted online.  As of June 12, the program has been expanded, in terms of available funding. Applications are being accepted until funding runs out. More details on this program can be found below. Continue reading “PROGRAM EXPANSION: Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program” →