March 8, 2022
Free HEPA filters for agri-food employers
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) announced it will provide 5,500 HEPA air filter units to employers with international agri-food workers (IAWs) living in congregate settings.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our government has provided unprecedented levels of support to protect our provincial agri-food supply chain, and it is critical that we continue doing everything we can to keep agri-food workers safe,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These HEPA filters will provide farmers with another tool to use to help in the fight against COVID-19, all while ensuring agri-food workers have a safe environment to work and live in, and people can continue to access the safe and healthy food grown and made in Ontario.”
HEPA filter units, in conjunction with other prevention and control strategies, can help remove harmful airborne pathogens and improve air quality. The HEPA 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.
Farms and agri-food businesses that employ and provide housing to IAWs are eligible for one HEPA filter unit per employer-provided congregate living setting. In order to calculate the number of HEPA units each business is eligible for, businesses are asked to update the registry with all locations where housing is provided and the number of structures at each location. Learn more at omafra.gov.on.ca.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our government has provided unprecedented levels of support to protect our provincial agri-food supply chain, and it is critical that we continue doing everything we can to keep agri-food workers safe,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These HEPA filters will provide farmers with another tool to use to help in the fight against COVID-19, all while ensuring agri-food workers have a safe environment to work and live in, and people can continue to access the safe and healthy food grown and made in Ontario.”
HEPA filter units, in conjunction with other prevention and control strategies, can help remove harmful airborne pathogens and improve air quality. The HEPA 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.
Farms and agri-food businesses that employ and provide housing to IAWs are eligible for one HEPA filter unit per employer-provided congregate living setting. In order to calculate the number of HEPA units each business is eligible for, businesses are asked to update the registry with all locations where housing is provided and the number of structures at each location. Learn more at omafra.gov.on.ca.