News release: August 25, 2021
Peel Public Health strongly recommends businesses include employee vaccination policies in their COVID-19 workplace safety plan
Brampton ON. (August 25, 2021) – Today, Peel Public Health has issued a strong recommendation that all employers in Peel review and update their COVID-19 workplace safety plans, which are required under the Reopening Ontario Act, to:
- Consider the promotion of COVID-19 vaccination to workers,
- Outline actions for unvaccinated workers, as necessary and
- Speak to identifying workers’ vaccination status for outbreak prevention and control.
Workplace safety policies should also include:
- An assessment of risk of COVID-19 exposure in the workplace and whether vaccination may be necessary based on identified risk.
- Measures that workers must take, where the need for vaccination is identified, including requiring:
- Proof of a complete vaccination series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization; or
- If unvaccinated, written proof of a medical reason, from either a physician or nurse practitioner, that also includes whether the reason is permanent or time limited.
- Measures that the business will employ to protect the privacy of employees if using employee vaccination status to take actions to mitigate COVID-19 risk.
- Specific measures that the business may implement during an outbreak in the workplace, which may depend on vaccination status.
- Specific plans for additional infection prevention and control measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission for unvaccinated workers. These may include COVID-19 testing, strict adherence to and enforcement of masks/personal protective equipment, physical distancing and appropriate ventilation.
These recommendations are not intended to replace or conflict with provincial or federal legislation or directives, including Directive 6. Occupational health and safety in Ontario is within the scope of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Other statutes and considerations may also apply.
Vaccination is currently our best defense against severe illness or death from COVID-19 and may also support short and long-term business continuity, and a safer workplace environment. It’s important that employers help to protect their employees as best as possible and encouraging vaccination is one of the best ways to do that.
Dr. Lawrence Loh, Medical Officer of Health, Peel Region.
Media contact
Ashleigh Hawkins
Communication Specialist
Region of Peel
416-818-4421
About Peel Region
Peel Region works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.5 million people and over 175,000 businesses in the cities of Brampton and Mississauga and the Town of Caledon. Peel's services touch the lives of residents every day. For more information about the Region of Peel, explore peelregion.ca and follow us on Twitter @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
