Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Publishes Further Update to its Screening Tool for Workers
Date: February 18, 2021
On February 10, 2021, the Ontario government updated its “COVID-19 Screening Tool for Businesses and Organizations (Screening Workers)” (Tool).
The update clarifies that the Tool applies to all regions in Ontario (Rules for Areas in Stages 1, 2 and 3) and that employers must ensure that workers are screened before they go to work or start their work shift (previously, the Tool stated that employers must screen the workers). A worker may only enter the workplace if they have passed the screening.
The updated Tool also expands the employer’s record retention obligations with respect to the screening results:
- businesses and organizations must now maintain a record of the date and time that workers were in the workplace as well as their contact information
- the information may be requested by public health for contact tracing
- the records must now be maintained for a period of at least a month
- any record created as part of worker screening may only be disclosed as required by law.
Should you have any questions regarding these new screening requirements, please contact Nadine Zacks or your regular Hicks Morley lawyer.
The article in this client update provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. This publication is copyrighted by Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP and may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP. ©
