The Ontario government has launched a workplace education and enforcement campaign across the province and is targeting regions without notice to ensure businesses are complying with health and safety requirements, according to employment and labour lawyers Sherrard Kuzz LLP.
The government’s campaign aims to ensure businesses are taking the necessary steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and are doing so by having approximately 200 provincial offences and by-law officers visit workplaces. They will verify that businesses are complying with requirements in the Ontario Regulation 364/20 and 263/20 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020.
“In early November, officers visited businesses in the regions of Peel and London-Middlesex,” said Sherrard Kuzz in its news release. “The campaign is currently underway in Waterloo Region and will move next to the regions of Ottawa, York, Eastern Ontario and the City of Toronto” — if they have not already done so.
Sherrard Kuzz said fines and penalties for non-compliance range from a ticket of $750 and up, and that if convicted, an individual can be fined up to $100,000 — or $500,000 if that person is a director or officer of a corporation. Individuals could also face imprisonment of up to one year, while a corporation can be fined up to $10,000,000.
“Every business should review its health and safety protocols to ensure adequate control measures to address COVID-19,” said Sherrard Kuzz. “Any business required to have a workplace safety plan should ensure it is prepared and available for inspection.”
Businesses in a region of the province not currently coded “Green/Prevent” that are required to have a workplace safety plan include restaurants, bars and food or drink establishments, sports and recreational facilities, meeting and event spaces, and malls and personal care services. Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments, as well as cinemas and performing arts facilities are also on the list.
Businesses, including auto dealerships across the province, may need to review their protocols and ensure it complies with the government requirements.
