Health and Safety ReportVol 23, Issue 08

It’s Amira’s first day back in the office since being off work with a COVID-19 infection and she’s looking forward to seeing her colleagues.

However, Amira notices that something feels off. She’s tired by lunchtime, has trouble concentrating during a meeting, and struggles to complete tasks that used to feel easy.

Although Amira tested negative and stayed home according to public health guidelines, she’s still experiencing fatigue, memory problems, and shortness of breath. These symptoms make it hard to keep up with her workload and maintain the focus her job requires.

What is post-COVID-19 condition?

Some people who recover from COVID-19 continue to have symptoms for weeks or even months afterward that interfere with their daily lives, including work. Symptoms that last for at least three months after the initial illness are known as post-COVID-19 condition, or “long COVID.”

Post-COVID-19 condition can look different for everyone. Many people report exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, or “brain fog” (problems thinking clearly). Others may feel short of breath, have joint or muscle pain, or struggle with mental health symptoms like anxiety or depression.

What makes the condition especially challenging is that symptoms can come and go. A person might feel better for a few days, then experience a setback after a physically or mentally demanding task.

Why it matters for workplaces

In Canada, an estimated 15 per cent of people who get COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms beyond three months. Some will continue to deal with health challenges for a year or longer. For many, this means missing work, falling behind on tasks, or needing more time and support than usual.

Post-COVID-19 condition can affect productivity, safety and morale. For workers dealing with symptoms, trying to keep up with their workload can feel overwhelming. For employers, the uncertainty around symptoms can make it hard to plan or assign tasks.

It’s important to take a flexible and supportive approach. Workplaces that adjust to employees’ changing needs can help people stay engaged and prevent burnout or extended absences.

How employers can help

Supporting someone with post-COVID-19 condition starts with understanding. Supervisors can help by encouraging workers to share what they’re experiencing and what would make work more manageable. This might mean adjusting a person’s schedule to allow for more rest or shifting more demanding tasks to times of day when energy levels are higher. It could also involve changing some job duties, giving more time to complete tasks, or where possible, allowing employees to work from home.

For someone struggling with memory or focus, it may help to provide notes or written instructions after meetings, or to create a quieter work environment to reduce distractions. In more physically demanding jobs, it might be necessary to reduce lifting, allow seated work, or assign less strenuous tasks for a while.

Keep in mind that symptoms may improve or get worse without warning. Be open to revisiting plans and making changes as needed while keeping the focus on supporting the team. It’s also important to keep any health information confidential.

Employers should work with health and safety representatives, human resources, and union representatives to make sure absence management policies are fair and supportive. Training for supervisors and colleagues can also go a long way in creating an environment where workers feel safe to speak up about what they need without fear of stigma or judgment.

What workers can do

People recovering from post-COVID-19 condition can take steps to manage their workload and protect their well-being. Let your supervisor know when symptoms are flaring up, ask for help when needed, or work at a slower pace during recovery. Getting medical advice and prioritizing rest can also make a difference.

Post-COVID-19 condition is unpredictable. It can affect anyone, and it may take weeks or months for a person to feel fully themselves again. With patience, flexibility, and clear communication, employers can help workers manage their health and keep contributing in meaningful ways.

Back in the office, Amira lets her manager know what she’s experiencing. Together, they agree on some adjustments: she’ll attend key meetings remotely, receive written notes afterward to help her stay on track, and take short breaks throughout the day. Over time, her energy begins to return, and with it, her confidence. Because her workplace listened and responded with care, Amira has the support she needs to recover and thrive.

Resources

• Post-COVID-19 Condition and the Workplace, CCOHS
• Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID), Health Canada
• Post-COVID-19 Condition and its continued impact on individuals and society, Government of Canada

Whether gripping a hammer or typing on a keyboard, your workers’ hands are one of their most valuable tools. They are also vulnerable to injuries, including cuts, burns, fractures, repetitive strain, infections and amputations. These injuries can lead to the loss of hand motion, dexterity and grasp, making it difficult to perform the simplest of tasks. The good news is hand injuries are preventable. Follow these tips to promote hand safety in your workplace.  

• Assess for hazards and risks. Look around your workplace for hazards like sharp edges, pinch points, chemicals and outdated or faulty equipment. Use the hierarchy of controls to eliminate and reduce any risk to your workers’ hands.
• Follow safe work practices. Implement procedures to protect workers’ hands during day-to-day activities, like using push blocks and guards when operating machinery and power tools. Make sure everyone follows the health and safety standards and regulations that apply to your workplace.
• Develop a lockout and tagout system. Have a process in place that puts machinery in a safe and de-energized state when being serviced or repaired. This can help prevent unintentionally restarting the equipment, which could lead to serious hand injuries.
• Prevent chemical exposure. Provide WHMIS training to workers so they understand how to read product labels and safety data sheets to safely handle chemicals.
• Dispose of sharp objects properly. Make wide-mouth, puncture-resistant sharps containers readily available for workers to safely dispose sharp objects and needles. Ensure they are sealed, collected, and disposed according to local regulations.
• Use appropriate hand protection. Ensure your team has the right protective gloves that fit well, are regularly inspected and in good condition, and don’t introduce new hazards. Gloves that don’t fit properly can get caught in power tools and machines, while gloves made with metal or with faulty insulation can put workers at risk of electrocution.
• Avoid rings and jewelry. Wearing rings and bracelets when operating machinery or power tools can lead to serious hand injuries. Where jewelry poses a risk, make it a policy to leave it at home or secure it in a locker.
• Use the right tools. Tools that vibrate or are too big, small, or heavy can lead to strains, sprains and other injuries. Use anti-vibration mounts or gloves when operating tools like chainsaws or jackhammers.
• Make time for hand exercises. Encourage workers to stretch and exercise their hands, wrists, and fingers before work and between tasks. This will help build hand strength and provide a rest from repetitive motions.
• Support good hand hygiene and care. Working hands can be prone to dryness and cracked skin, making them susceptible to cuts and infection. Gentle soap, hand sanitizer, barrier cream, and moisturizer can help keep them clean and free of irritation.  

Hands are essential to nearly every task your workers perform and, when they’re injured, the consequences can be serious and far-reaching. By being proactive in protecting your workers’ hands, you can reduce the risk of injuries in your workplace.

Resources 

• Hand Tool Ergonomics – Health Hazards, CCOHS
• Chemical Protective Clothing - Glove Selection, CCOHS
• Personal Protective Equipment - Body Type and Gender Consideration, CCOHS
• Our Hands at Work, Government of Canada
• HAND-ling injury Prevention, Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission
• When Are Work Gloves Dangerous, WorkSafeBC

Our podcast episodes help you stay current and informed about workplace health, safety, and well-being in Canada.

Featured podcast: A Safe and Welcoming Workplace for Newcomers 

Immigrants contribute significantly to Canada’s economy but often face challenges that could impact their health and safety. We speak with Bill Chen of Workplace Safety and Protection Services on how workplaces can create safer and more welcoming environments for newcomers. 

Listen to the podcast now. 

Encore podcast: Avoiding Harm on the Farm  

Farming is a way of life for many Canadian families - and one of the most hazardous occupations. In this podcast episode, CCOHS shares tips on how to work safely with tractors and other farming equipment.  

Listen to the podcast now.

See the complete list of podcast topics or, better yet, subscribe to the series on iTunes or Spotify and don't miss a single episode.

Work that involves repetitive motion, forceful movements, and awkward body postures can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, affecting the wrists, back, legs, shoulders, neck, muscles and joints.

The outcome for workers can be debilitating, leading to discomfort, fatigue, pain and injury. 

Our course, Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention and Ergonomics, can help you assess your workplace for hazards and risks, and develop an ergonomics program to prevent injuries.

Take a preventative approach to musculoskeletal disorders in your workplace. Register for the course today.

Time is running out but it’s not too late to apply for the $3,000 Chad Bradley Scholarship.  

If you’re a woman enrolled in a post-secondary occupational health and safety program at a Canadian college or university, this opportunity is for you. Apply by August 31, 2025. 

Learn more about the scholarship, essay criteria, and how to apply: www.ccohs.ca/scholarships/cbradley/.

Print and post our posters in celebration of Pride Season and to demonstrate your workplace is a safe, positive, and respectful place for everyone year-round.

Positive Space – Show your commitment to being a discrimination and harassment free workplace that supports the 2SLGBTQI+ community, their friends and allies. 

Respect: Everyone Deserves It – Display this poster as a reminder that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and that bullying, threats and abuse are not welcome. 

How our posters work

• Choose the poster you wish to purchase. You’ll receive a print-ready PDF file that can be printed in a variety of sizes.  
• Next, send the digital artwork to a local or online print shop to get full-colour, high-quality posters. Your workplace may also be able to produce printed posters onsite. 
• Plus, all of our posters are available for free as a smaller-sized download.  

Need a poster in a different size or want to add your company logo? Customization options are available. Contact us for details.