The Alliance is collecting information from employers actively seeking immunization for their workers and will share this information with the health regions as they request it to support their programs.
To register your interest in a future phase of workplace immunizations, please send an email to [email protected] with your company name, production facility address(es), number of employees at each facility, and key contact name, and email, and phone for each facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carry out a risk assessment to see whether or not a higher level of protection is required for these individuals. Factor in the frequency of contact between individuals, surfaces, etc., as well as the type of work. You may also factor in other controls in place (hygiene procedures, physical distancing, etc.), to justify whether or not a higher level of protection is needed.
Face shields can be used in the workplace in combination with face masks to provide added protection. They cannot be used to replace face masks or other protective measures.
The vaccines are given by injection as a series of two doses. It is important to get both doses of the vaccine for full protection. Second doses will be offered 16 weeks from the first dose based on provincial and national recommendations, including for those who have already received their first dose. Data from jurisdictions around the world shows one dose of vaccine provides a high level of protection. When it’s time to receive your second dose, you will be invited to receive it just as you were for your first. Please retain your paper record of immunization to bring back to the clinic with you at that time.
Anyone interested in becoming a Certified OSSE External Auditor can visit this page to learn more about the qualifications and requirements.
It was an all out effort and was identified as a priority for the country; political buy in, bureaucrats with public safety campaigns, educational campaigns for drivers, employers, pedestrians and the general public were all involved. Rules of the road changed and that required leadership and buy in a large scale. They have seen positive and steady results, but that again is due to the all in mentality from the top down. Change can happen.
Small workplaces that do not have a designated joint health and safety committee or designated safety representative can involve workers at safety meetings or during a toolbox talk. In the first aid assessment template there is a field to provide the name(s) of the worker(s) consulted.
Both of these vaccines are viral vector-based vaccines. They use a harmless virus, such as an adenovirus, as a delivery system. When a person is given the vaccine, the vector virus contained within the vaccine produces the SARS-COV-2 spike protein. This protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19 infection. This protein will not cause COVID-19 infection or make the individual sick. Through this process, the body is able to build a strong immune response against the spike protein without exposing you to the virus that causes COVID-19 infection.
The vaccine enables our body to produce protection (such as antibodies) against the COVID-19 virus. This immune response protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use a new method (messenger RNA – mRNA, the genetic code for a capsule protein of the virus) to help our bodies make this protection.
Ensure a proper infection control cleaning protocol is implemented to clean and sterilize the potentially contaminated work area(s). Follow these directions from the Centre for Disease Control.
Take care to sanitize frequently used areas and objects such as doorknobs, handles, telephones, cellphones, computer keyboards and mice, refrigerator doors, countertops and desks, coffee machines, and water dispensers.
Disinfect your PPE regularly.
If using gloves to protect yourself, be sure to remove them carefully, taking care not to contaminate your hands when removing them.
After cleaning, wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, and do not forget to wash and scrub under your nails. If using a hand sanitizer, ensure that it contains more than 60% alcohol.
And always avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
In order to comply with health protocols, review your walkways to ensure that your employees have enough space to maintain their distance while walking between workstations, break rooms, and other commons areas. This might require one-way direction flow for entrances and exits, for example.
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that even if you can’t fix something right away, how you respond makes all the difference. I make it a point to acknowledge the concern right away, explain the steps we’re taking or planning to take, and be honest about the limitations, whether it’s time, budget, or if a larger issue, could require an entirely new process.
What I believe matters most is that employees don’t feel ignored or unheard. I’ll often say, ‘You’re right to report this and it’s on our radar, and here’s what we’re doing about it so far…’ Even if it’s a longer-term solution, I check in regularly and keep them updated. That kind of communication builds trust and shows that we’re not brushing things aside, we’re just managing them the best we can, and their input is still highly valued.
To determine the concentration of a contaminant in the air, specialized equipment is needed for this assessment. Typically, air sampling pumps and/or specialized media is put on a worker for the duration of the shift (or a representative time). This media is then sent off to a lab for analysis, and a report is generated indicating the concentration a worker is exposed to during the sampled time. Comparison is then made with the regulatory exposure limits. Other means of assessment also involve using direct reading instruments. With this, we are able to get a concentration in that moment, and it does not require the sample to be sent off to a lab for further analysis. These would be, in simplest terms, the way to truly determine contaminant concentrations.