A province-wide workplace inspection blitz is coming to Halton.
From Tuesday, February 2nd – Friday, February 5th, Provincial offences officers will be visiting businesses and a variety of workplaces across Halton. In a release, the Halton Region says the primary focus of the blitz is educating employers and staff on the latest guidance to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace and how to stay safe. Tickets may be issued to businesses and patrons who are not in compliance with measures set out in the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr thanks residents for their work during the pandemic to keep themselves and everyone else safe.
“Most Halton businesses are taking their responsibilities seriously and taking the necessary precautions to ensure their employees and customers stay safe and healthy. I want to thank our business community and our residents for their ongoing efforts to protect themselves and others. In addition to these educational and enforcement blitzes, our Economic Development and Public Health teams at Halton Region continue to make sure that businesses and workplaces have all of the information they need to operate safely.”
There are certain industries being targeted with this blitz. The Region says retail establishments, restaurants providing take-out, essential service-sector establishments, warehouse and storage facilities, agricultural operations and food production facilities and construction and manufacturing operations are all likely to be inspected. The Province is looking at higher risk areas and will be enforcing adherence to capacity limits, physical distancing, mask and face coverings and having a visible, accessible safety plan.
Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health, continues to remind residents of the role they play in keeping each other safe while out in the community and shopping for essentials.
“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 has always been a community effort. While businesses continue to do their part to protect workers and customers, we all need to take individual action by following public health measures when out in public. If you need to visit a store for essential goods and services, please wear a mask and keep your distance. It can be that simple.”
For the latest public health guidance, including Regional guidance for organizations and businesses, or for more information on resources for businesses, please visit halton.ca. For information on Ontario’s workplace inspection blitz, please read the Province’s January 29 news release.
