The Worker’s Exposure Incident Form (form 3958A) is intended for voluntary use when an unplanned workplace exposure has resulted from a leak, spill, explosion, release, or an unexpected contact with a chemical or other substance, or psychological mistreatment. The event may have exposed workers to an infectious, chemical or other substance, or to psychological trauma. The purpose of this form is to obtain information about the exposure incident experienced by the worker should an illness or disease occur in the future.

Worker’s exposure claim adjudicative approach

WSIB Form and Explanation

OPSEU has developed a research summary of the Government of Ontario’s Employment Standards Amendment ACT (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020. Please read the attached Employment Standards Amendment Act – Summary or the brief description below.

The following are allowable reasons under this legislation to take this leave:
i) The employee is under individual medical investigation, supervision or treatment related to the designated infectious disease.
ii) The employee is acting in accordance with an order under section 22 or 35 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act that relates to the designated infectious disease.
iii) The employee is in quarantine or isolation or is subject to a control measure (which may include, but is not limited to, self-isolation), and the quarantine, isolation or control measure was implemented as a result of information or directions related to the designated infectious disease issued to the public, in whole or in part, or to one or more individuals, by a public health official, a qualified health practitioner, Telehealth Ontario, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada, a municipal council or a board of health, whether through print, electronic, broadcast or other means.
iv) The employee is under a direction given by his or her employer in response to a concern of the employer that the employee may expose other individuals in the workplace to the designated infectious disease.
v) The employee is providing care or support to an individual referred to in subsection (8) because of a matter related to the designated infectious disease that concerns that individual, including, but not limited to, school or day care closures.
vi) The employee is directly affected by travel restrictions related to the designated infectious disease and, under the circumstances, cannot reasonably be expected to travel back to Ontario.
vii) Such other reasons as may be prescribed.

Coronavirus FAQs
As of March 26, 2020

Personal-Protective-Equipment-PPE-use-during-the-COVID-19-Pandemic-1
Recommendations on the use and conservation of PPE from Ontario Health
Release date: March 25, 2020

Ethics Table Policy Brief #2 – Priority Setting of Personal Protective E…
Version date/time: 03-25-2020, 3:30 PM

Ethics Table Policy Brief #3 – Priority Setting of Personal Protective E…
Version date/time: 03-25-2020, 3:30 PM

Friday, March 27th 2020

Dear Sisters, Brothers and Members of OSPEU Local 500

As we enter the third week of working under the corona virus pandemic reality, I am glad that with modern communication I am able to reach out to so many of you at once. The phrase ‘modern communication’ may seem old fashioned to some. For me, as we experience working and living through this pandemic, my thoughts at times have turned to the Spanish Flu pandemic of over 100 years ago. I have found myself thinking if I had been the president of a large bargaining unit as Local 500 is, how much more difficult communication would have been.

I would be remiss if I did not begin this note by offering on behalf of myself, the Executive and the Stewards our deepest thanks for the way that you have taken up the challenge of working in these extraordinary days when the entire world is all but shut down due to the corona virus pandemic. This applies equally to those of you who are deemed essential and have been coming to the workplace every day as well as those who have had to adapt their jobs to be able to work from home.

My thoughts and concerns are also with the members of our Local who have had to take time away from their jobs with their own personal health issues, child or elder care issues to name the top three that the Local has been supporting. I would encourage all of us to check in with the members we know more personally to provide any support to them that we can.

The pandemic situation in the world has been growing progressively worse daily. Of course this is causing grave concern and anxiety to people all over the world who just wish to be healthy and resume their regular day to day lives as quickly as possible. This makes the work that we do even more valuable and important.

Working in the field of mental health and addictions, we deal daily with very challenging populations for whom the message of self isolation is sometimes difficult to convey and be understood. In my walks to various units and at screening stations I have witnessed your great efforts to keep our clients and ourselves safe and healthy. This has been, for me, completely inspiring.

Please do check our website daily for updates and information. Our incredibly skilled and talented Web Master, Rossana Coriandoli, will be posting updates that the Local is receiving from OPSEU’s central office as well as from the Mental Health and Addiction Division to which our Local belongs. I will also continue to post updates.

Please feel free to reach out to myself or any member of the Executive or a Steward if you have any concerns or need any support.

In closing, thank you all again for the support that you are giving me, the Executive, the Stewards and, most importantly, each other as we continue to live and work in this time of pandemic.

In Solidarity,

N. Thomas Andersson

President
OPSEU Local 500
1001 Queen Street West
Unit 1 Basement, B-2A
Toronto, ON
M6J 1H4

TEL: 416 535-8501 X32330
FAX: 416 583-1254

http://www.opseu500.ca

1. Frontline worker rights during COVID-19 Pandemic. Includes:
– “Rationale for PPE Use in Healthcare;
– OPSEU COVID-19 Pandemic Prep Checklist for Healthcare – Employer Obligations;
– OPSEU COVID-19 Pandemic Healthcare Worker Checklist – Worker Actions)

2. Ministry of Health coronavirus situation report #58 – March 23, 2020

3. OPSEU president offers potential solution to health care capacity crunch

Please find attached documents prepared by OPSEU’s health and safety department on PPE.

COVID Employer obligation checklist healthcare_March22

Worker Actions Checklist healthcare_March20

OPSEU position PPE HCW draft_March20

Our Government needs to do more to protect all workers.

Every hour governments in Canada delay in bringing real protections for workers, more people face the risk of contagion and financial devastation.

Can you join us in signing this petition to demand immediate action?

We urgently need Health Emergency Labour Protections (H.E.L.P.): including 21 paid emergency leave days for ALL, enhanced access to employment insurance and an emergency fund that leaves no one behind.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) provided a link to a webpage (www.camh.ca/covid19). This website was developed to help people manage their anxieties around COVID-19.

The employer hopes that this will be a support to some of us as well.

There will be a Phase 2 that will include a discussion group, which the employer is hoping to get up and running soon.

Please share this far and wide with the membership and networks.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Join fellow Local 500 members for the next General Membership Meeting!

When: Tuesday, March 31, 5:30 – 8 PM
Where: Faculty Club, University of Toronto, 41 Willcocks  Street

AGENDA:

• Elections of  delegates and alternates for the OPSEU Convention, May 21 – 23, 2020
• Reports from Local 500 executive
• General discussion – Q & A

Door prizes — A light dinner will be served!

QUORUM IS NECESSARY FOR THIS MEETING