Health & Safety
Biological Hazards

Health-care workers are potentially at risk from exposure to biological hazards in the workplace.

These exposures can include medical waste, microorganisms, viruses or toxins from biological sources that can affect health. Over the past decade, a number of outbreaks related to infectious diseases (such as norovirus, Clostridium difficile and influenza) have affected workers and others in health and community care workplaces.

Employers have a responsibility to control these biological hazards in the workplace.

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Resources

ONA Guidance and Resources

The following guidance documents will help you to learn more about biological hazards and infectious diseases in your workplace.

Occupational Health and Safety: A Guide for ONA Members

org/ohs-guideJune 2021

Memo ``Notice about discontinuance of 3M N95 respirators model 9210 (to be discontinued December 31, 2013) and model 1870 (to be discontinued December 31, 2014)`` November 26, 2013

pdfNovember 2013

Memo ``Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) update (link): Tools for Preparedness: Triage, Screening and Patient Management of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infections in Acute Care Settings`` October 29, 2013

pdfOctober 2013

Memo ``Use of appropriate protective gowns`` October 19, 2012

pdfOctober 2012

Ministry of Labour / Guidance Notes

The Ministry of Labour can inspect workplaces or investigate complaints, injuries or accidents with a view to determining compliance with health and safety law.

When inspectors find violations, they can lay charges and prosecute offenders or issue orders. Consult with your ONA bargaining unit leadership and Labour Relations Officer for help, but if danger is imminent, call your local Ministry of Labour office.

Prosecutions

MOL Prosecution: Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Corporation (December 8, 2009)

pdfDecember 2009

Guidance Notes

#2 Issue: Pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) Influenza Recovery This Guidance Note is intended to assist Boards of Directors, CEOs, administrators, supervisors, health care workers, joint health and safety committees (JHSCs), health and safety representatives (HSRs) and trade union representatives in all health care sectors to effectively review their response to the 2009 influenza pandemic and to plan for a possible next wave of H1N1 influenza.

pdfMarch 2010

#5 Issue: Application of Hazard Control Principles, including the Precautionary Principle to Infectious Agents This Guidance Note is intended assist the workplace parties to understand how to select appropriate controls to protect workers from infectious diseases and biological hazards which may occur at a workplace by using a risk based and precautionary approach.

pdfOctober 2011

Joint Health and Safety Committee Resources

Your safety committee/co-chair has the power to write recommendations to your employer and the employer has to respond in writing within 21 days. Tailor the templates below to help you get started.

Sample Template - Hazards/Concerns and Recommendations to Employer: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

docJanuary 2013

Sample Template - Hazards/Concerns and Recommendations to Employer: Gloves

docJanuary 2013

Sample Template - Hazards/Concerns and Recommendations to Employer: Gowns

docJanuary 2013