Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Workers still working during the COVID-19 crisis need your help.

This is especially true of health care workers interacting closely with suspected, presumed or confirmed COVID-19 patients.

While personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defence for most workers confronting COVID-19 – behind hygiene and social (physical) distancing – for health care workers PPE is absolutely essential.

Much needed supplies

If you, your employer, or someone you know can provide the following medical and hygiene supplies the Ontario and Canadian governments want to hear from you.

• Disposable N-95 masks
• Disposable surgical masks
• Nitrile (rubber) gloves
• Vinyl gloves
• Medical gowns and coveralls
• Tyvek suits
• Goggles and face shields
• Hand sanitizer
• Ventilators
• Thermometers.

If you can help, please fill out the Ontario government’s online form. If in turn, you need help making an online submission, call 1-888-777-0554.

Please check Canadian government specifications to ensure the standard of effectiveness for any supplies you might provide.

The Ontario government is also looking for your ideas and innovative solutions to help confront the COVID-19 virus.

WHSC COVID-19 information resources

For our part, Workers Health & Safety Centre has produced a host of online information resources to assist workers from all sectors deemed essential during the COVID-19 crisis. These resources include information on appropriate hygiene and social (physical) distancing measures, safe use of PPE when all other safeguards are not possible, what disinfectants are effective against COVID-19, as well as information on worker rights and employer responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

As Dave Killham, WHSC Executive Director observes, “Reasonable precautions must be in place to safeguard the health and safety of all workers still working during the COVID-19 crisis. No emergency must be allowed to undermine worker rights enshrined in health and safety law.”

To this end, with the closure of more businesses, the Ontario government has announced the addition of 60 special consultants and officers at the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Further, they report doubling the number of phone agents at their Health and Safety Call Centre to 50. The call centre phone number is 1-877-202-0008. Workers who fear losing their job can call anonymously with their concerns.

Further questions or concerns? Although we are working remotely, we are here for you. Send us an email at contactus@whsc.on.ca or call us toll free at 1-888-869-7950.