Tag: farm worker safety covid

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 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.

Confused About Covid Programing? Introducing OMAFRA’s COVID-19 Webinar Series!

With information on Covid-19 changing over time, and funding programs evolving to keep up with grower needs, it can be hard to keep track of what’s happening week-to-week regarding Covid and agriculture.

To help deliver up-to-date information to stakeholders, OMAFRA will be delivering a COVID-19 OMAFRA Monthly Webinar Series.

The series will be an opportunity to provide information, address concerns and promote tools and resources offered by OMAFRA.   The first webinar in the series is TOMORROW (May 18th) at noon, and will cover changes to the Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program. Be sure to keep reading for how to access it!

Continue reading “Confused About Covid Programing? Introducing OMAFRA’s COVID-19 Webinar Series!” →

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.” →

COVID-19 Resource List for Growers.

If you’re anything like me, you might be having trouble keeping track of all of the resources related to managing Covid-19 on your farm.

To help, OMAFRA has created a landing page with a list of resources relevant to Ontario farmers.

Continue reading “COVID-19 Resource List for Growers.” →

Worried About Access to Farm Labour? This Webinar Can Help.

Workers on a packing line in a greenhouse.

Access to migrant workers as a key source of Ontario’s agricultural labour is a current a source of worry for many growers, in light of the ongoing pandemic.

OFVGA and OMAFRA are joining forces to bring you 3 talks to update you on the situation and provide resources. So keep your calendars open on Feb 11th.

Pre-registration is required for this free webinar.

Continue reading “Worried About Access to Farm Labour? This Webinar Can Help.” →

Upcoming Webinars: Surviving Covid-19, Workplace Inspections and WSIB.

A farmworker, considered an essential worker under the current COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, wears a mask as he works at a flower farm Wednesday, April 15, 2020, in Santa Paula, Calif. (April 2020)

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Covid-19 is going anywhere in Spring 2021.

Given that it’s the upcoming busy season for floriculture operations and workers, here’s a look at some upcoming webinars related to Covid safety, worker compensation, and surviving as a business during Covid.

So keep your calendars open on Feb 2nd, 3rd, 10th and 17th! More information on these webinars and registration can be found below.

Continue reading “Upcoming Webinars: Surviving Covid-19, Workplace Inspections and WSIB.” →

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” →