Back To Work?

It’s the dog days of summer, Labour Day is fast approaching. That means cooler weather is on its way and with it comes new challenges as we try to find our footing in a post-pandemic world. 

Virtually every business has been affected by the lockdown and safety precautions that COVID-19 has necessitated, whether it was lay-offs, working from home, providing essential services, operating with a skeleton staff or finding innovative ways to provide goods and services. The full impact of COVID-19 is yet to be realized but we do know that it has taken a toll on our economy, our lifestyles, our livelihood and our mental health. 

It’s undeniable, COVID-19 has changed us, at work, rest and play. It has changed the way we do business, the way we interact, the way we travel, the way we shop, the way we entertain ourselves and the way we receive healthcare. Some of the changes may be for the better and some changes may be more challenging but in the end, change is change and for better or worse we must remember to adjust the focus on safety accordingly.

Whether it is rotating work schedules, permanently working from home, reconfiguring the workplace or just ensuring that all COVID-19 safety protocols have been met, it more important than ever to ensure your Health and Safety Management Program (HSMP) is up to date and that all your employees are aware of their new work environment and how to stay safe within it.

Once you have figured out how to reopen or relaunch your business, the important next step is to review your current HSMP and ensure that it is still effective in regards to your new organizational structure. There will be modifications and adjustments to existing procedures as well as new protocols that will have to be adopted, all of which will require a fresh look at risk assessment, hazard identification and safety protocols. 

This not only applies to the physical component of workplace safety but to the mental wellness of your employees whether they are working from home, returning to work permanently or some combination of both. The amount of stress that this pandemic has had on everyone should not be underestimated and ensuring that the mental wellbeing of your staff is addressed can be instrumental in the successful reopening of your business.

As always, we are available to answer your questions or address your concerns to the best of our ability. You can reach us directly, during business hours, using our chat feature or by phone 1-844-377-9545, or you can contact us by email at [email protected], [email protected], and you can always connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Further details and information on relaunching or reopening your workplace can be found as follows:

For additional assistance on how to safely get back to work, you can check out the following toolkits:

• Government of Canada: Click here
• BC: Click here
• Workplace Safety North: Click here
• Denton’s: Click here
• Dialogue: Click here