Assessing Risks and Adjusting Controls

As COVID-19 continues to evolve, workplaces need to remain vigilant by continuously assessing the risks and adjusting control measures appropriately. Follow guidance from your local public health agency and stay informed to protect ourselves and each other.

Assessing Risks and Adjusting Controls

Assessing Risks and Adjusting Controls

Description: Assessing Risks and Adjusting Controls

As COVID-19 continues to evolve, so should workplaces. Keep adjusting your control measures to match the level of risk.

Follow guidance from your local public health authority and stay informed about:

Factors that can affect risk
How to know if the risk may be high
Community spread
 Many reported local COVID-19:
  • Cases
  • Hospitalizations
  • Absences from work due to illness
Dominant variant of the virus in the community
 A variant that can:
  • Result in serious illness or death
  • Spread easily
Vulnerable population within workforce
 Workers who are:
  • Older
  • Pregnant
  • Have a chronic medical condition or weakened immune system

Adjust your control measures to match the level of risk.

When risk is lower, consider these control measures
  • Using passive screening methods
  • Ventilating and filtering indoor air
  • Encouraging and practising good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
  • Regularly cleaning and disinfecting high-touch objects and surfaces, plus before and after use
When risk is higher, consider these additional control measures
  • Promoting remote work
  • Actively screening individuals before allowing entry into the workplace
  • Maximizing physical distancing between individuals
  • Applying occupancy limits
  • Setting up worker cohorts
  • Requiring respirators or masks
  • Requiring COVID-19 vaccination, when directed by public health authorities
For further information on COVID-19, refer to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Document last updated on: 2022-12-08