CCOHS provides guidance on safe return to work during COVID-19

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released two free online courses to help workplaces and employees prepare for a safe return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Return to Work During COVID-19 provides employers, managers, supervisors, and operations staff with an overview of COVID-19 control measures. The course discusses how to identify actions needed to prepare the building for occupancy, recognize the importance of communication with workers and identify if controls should be kept, revised, or discontinued. Participants also learn how to keep their workplace safe for the long term.

Return to Work During COVID-19: Preparing Workers is intended to help employers, managers, and supervisors prepare their workers for a safe return to the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course outlines steps to take and identifies considerations when preparing workers for their return.

Both courses are available for free on the CCOHS website.

“There are many factors’ businesses must consider as they re-open their workplaces during this pandemic,” said Anne Tennier, CCOHS’s president and CEO. “There is a lot to navigate, from developing a safe return to work plan to maintaining COVID-19 workplace controls until public health restrictions are reduced. We hope these courses and guidance materials can guide workplaces in the right direction so they can stay operational and safe for the long term.”

Quick facts

• The average time to complete each of these courses is approximately 30 minutes.
• CCOHS courses are available in English and French.
• CCOHS courses are unique in that they are developed by subject specialists in the field, and reviewed by representatives from labour, employers, and government to ensure the content and approach are unbiased and credible.