Navigating the Solar Eclipse: A Guide to Employer Responsibilities Under OHSA and Worker Safety
As North America anticipates the 2024 Solar Eclipse on April 8th, ensuring solar eclipse worker safety is a critical responsibility for employers. The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, public health agencies across Ontario, and NASA have issued warnings about the risk of “eclipse blindness” or retinal burns from staring at the sun during the eclipse. It is important for employers to understand their duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) for protecting workers from potential hazards during this awe-inspiring natural spectacle.
Are workplaces required to protect workers during a solar eclipse?
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) explicitly mandates under Section 25 that employers have a general duty to safeguard the health and safety of their employees. This provision gains particular significance during events like a solar eclipse, where there’s an elevated risk of eye damage, notably solar retinopathy—a condition that results from the retina’s direct exposure to the sun’s rays, leading to potential vision impairment or blindness.
In response to these concerns, employers should plan for the solar event and implement measures to ensure worker health and safety. Here are 5 essential tips to ensuring solar eclipse worker safety.
Tip 1: Assess the risk of harm to workers during an eclipse
It is important for employers and supervisors to understand where workers will be during the solar event. Whether workers may be on a roof, driving, excavating, climbing a tower or pole, or performing other outdoor tasks, identifying where workers will be during the eclipse is important so that appropriate measures can be taken. The Government of Canada provides detailed timing of the eclipse here.
Tip 2: Plan measures and procedures for solar eclipse worker safety
Develop strategies to minimize outdoor work during the eclipse. This could include scheduling indoor meetings or adjusting work hours to ensure minimal exposure to staring at the sun.
Tip 3: Communicate Responsibilities to Supervisors and Managers to ensure solar eclipse worker safety
Inform managers and supervisors about the risk and measures your company has decided to implement. Explain their role and responsibilities for keeping workers safe during the event.
Tip 4: Communicate the Risk and Measures to Workers
It is also crucial to inform workers about the risk during the eclipse. Companies can host a safety talk or a meeting before the event to discuss the risks to the eyes, the precautions your company has decided to take, and the expected cooperation by workers. Workers should also be informed about the symptoms of exposure to the sun. For example, injury is generally painless and delayed, potentially leading to blurred vision or a central blind spot. Companies may also post warning signs at exits of a building or trailer to warn workers about the eclipse timing.
Tip 5: Be prepared to handle any reports of injuries due to the eclipse
Emphasizing the importance of prompt injury reporting is critical. Reports of eye injuries should be handled the same way as other workplace incidents. This could include reporting incidents to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) and investigating what went wrong.
The 2024 Solar Eclipse brings to the forefront the expansive duty employers have under Section 25 of the OHSA to protect their workforce. By following simple measures, employers not only comply with legislative requirements but also demonstrate a deep commitment to preserving workplace health and safety.
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