The Ontario government is distributing up to 5,500 free HEPA filters to improve ventilation in agri-food congregate living settings.
The province said in a release the filters will add an additional layer of protection to keep agri-food workers safe and reduce the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks on farms and in workplaces across the food supply chain.
Farms and agri-food businesses that employ and provide housing to international agri-food workers are eligible for one HEPA filter unit per employer-provided congregate living setting. These units will be deployed in partnership with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services at no cost to employers through the voluntary Registry of Employers International Agri-food Workers.
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International agri-food workers are a vital part of the province’s agricultural workforce. The province said in the release it is working closely with municipal, provincial, federal and health partners and the farming community to help farmers protect all of their employees during the pandemic.
“We appreciate the Ontario government’s commitment to delivering another tool that will assist greenhouses in keeping their workers safe and mitigating COVID-19 risks,” said George Gilvesy, chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.
“Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers have worked hard during the pandemic, adapting to evolving public health requirements to keep our critical agri-food workforce safe,” said Bill George, chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
This initiative builds on the supports provided by the province to respond to COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of workers, such as distributing personal protective equipment and rapid antigen tests (RATs) and providing $36 million through the Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has developed a voluntary registry of employers under the agricultural streams of the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to enhance its support of the agri-food sector.
Eligible employers that require additional HEPA filters can apply for financial assistance through the Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program until February 15, 2022. Other supports are also available.
