Introduction
Every year thousands of temporary foreign agricultural workers come to Canada to work in the agriculture industry – including 20,000 arriving in Ontario to work on farms and in greenhouses. These workers play a vital role in the industry, and therefore, in Ontario’s economy.
The Provincial Expert Advisory Panel on Occupational Health and Safety, and subsequently, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL), have identified this labour force as a group who face barriers in accessing effective occupational health and safety resources and support.
As migrant farm workers spend the majority of their time at work, and farm work can be physically demanding, involving a variety of hazards, an occupational health and safety focus is particularly important for supporting the health of this population.
Since 2006 we have offered our services to migrant farm workers, their employers and community partners with the aim to continue to become valued partners in agricultural and horticultural occupational health and safety.
Regions we Serve
Every season we connect and work with more and more Ontario growers, with farms in: Durham, Haldimand-Norfolk, Niagara Regions, Brant County, Lambton County
We support them in addressing the challenges of working with a diverse workforce. Part of OHCOW’s role is to ensure that occupational health and safety guidelines and programs are understood and effective in the form of Workshops, video and literary resources, enforcing strategies and best practices through health and safety programs, consultation services and translation services.
OHCOW RESOURCE
CONFERENCE VIDEOS
Work, Migration and Health Forum: Precarity, Vulnerability, Health and Safety Among Newcomers and Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada
2018
A selection of 18 20-30 minute videos on topics such as Health and Social Services, Advocacy, Policy, recommendations for change, presented by expert speakers.
OHCOW RESOURCE
WEBINAR
International Agricultural Worker Health and Safety Workshop
Day of Mourning 2021
A 90 minute presentation on the effect of Covid-19 on Farmworkers, including the Deputy Chief Coroner’s Review: COVID-19 Related Deaths of Temporary Foreign Agricultural Workers in 2020, Health and Safety in the Time of COVID-19 – What Does It Mean for International Agricultural Workers? and more.
Workers’ Rights Apply to Temporary Foreign Workers
Migrant and Foreign workers are covered by the same laws as anyone working in Ontario, and employers of temporary workers have the same responsibility to provide a safe work environment. This is important because foreign workers may not know their rights. For instance, a worker can refuse unsafe work at any time and cannot be fired from their job for doing so. If a worker is injured or becomes ill due to an incident or conditions at their job, they are entitled to compensation.
OHCOW RESOURCE
VIDEO SERIES
Health and Safety Rights of Temporary Foreign Workers
Four videos about the health and safety rights of temporary foreign agricultural workers in Ontario, including workers’ compensation if they get injured or sick because of their job.
Building a Positive Health and Safety Culture for Migrant Workers
Migrant workers perform strenuous and sometimes hazardous physical work. They are at also risk of hazards to their mental health. OHCOW offers an inventory of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing resources and services. These are available to Latinx and Caribbean International Agricultural Workers (IAWs) in Ontario, created from research that involved a scoping review of scientific literature, structured interviews with IAWs and other stakeholders, including community groups, employers, employers’ associations, primary health care clinics.
These resources include those developed by NIOSH, CAL OSHA, the US National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH), among others.
OHCOW RESOURCE
PDF BOOKLET
Mental Health and Psychosocial
Supports for International
Agricultural Workers in Ontario
May 2021 to March 2022
An inventory of available mental health and psychosocial wellbeing supports and services available to International Agricultural Workers (IAWs) in Ontario.
Resources for Temporary Foreign Workers
Video Series, pdfs, infographics, posters and more.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For Both Workers and Employers
Use the tabs below to filter the list of resources:
- All
- 2015
- 2016
- 2018
- 2021
- 2022
- Advocacy
- Agriculture
- Awareness / Empowerment
- Best Practices
- Bullying
- Calling 911
- Communication
- Community
- Confidence / Culture
- Control Methods
- Coroner Reports
- COVID (MFW)
- Day of Mourning
- Emergency Preparedness
- Ergonomics
- Eyes
- First Aid
- Hazards
- Legislation
- Masks / Respirators
- Mental Health
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Outreach
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Pesticides
- Policies / Procedures
- Prevention
- Psychosocial
- Rights / Responsibilities
- Sexual Health
- Social Services
- Stress
- Support Services
- Supportive Spaces
- Training
- Transmission / Exposure Control
- Vulnerability
- Work Refusal
July 2022
[VIDEOS]
OHCOW Migrant Farm Worker’s Team
September 2022
[VIDEOS]
Available in English and Spanish
[WALLET CARDS]
Available in English, Spanish and Thai
OHCOW’s Migrant Farm Workers Team
[POSTER]
Available in English, Spanish (Espanol), and Thai
OHCOW’s Migrant Farm Workers Team
[POSTER]
Available in English, Spanish (Espanol) and Thai
OHCOW Migrant Farm Workers Team
May 27, 2022
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Eduardo Huesca, Community Program and Outreach Coordinator and Leonor Cedillo, Research Lead, OMAFRA Project, OHCOW
March 25, 2022
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
OHCOW Research Team
Sharing findings from the “Community & Workplace Psychosocial Supports for the Mental Health of IAWs in Ontario” Project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
March 25, 2022
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
OHCOW Research Team
Sharing findings from the “Community & Workplace Psychosocial Supports for the Mental Health of IAWs in Ontario” Project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
April 25, 2022
[REPORT]
A report prepared by OHCOW for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
April 28, 2022
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Marking the 36th Day of Mourning for workers killed and injured on the job through the lens of nine international agricultural worker (IAW) deaths during the pandemic, from the perspectives of investigators, regulators and researchers.
February 2022
[VIDEO]
Available in English and Spanish (Espanol)
Government of Canada, Kairos, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
February 28, 2022
[VIDEO]
Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) Migrant Agricultural Workers Program, as part of the KAIROS project, Empowering Temporary Foreign Workers during COVID-19
[INFOGRAPHICS]
A series of four colourful and informative infographics that contain helpful information for workers who need to exercise their rights for a healthy and safe work environment.
[POSTERS]
Nine colourful posters to help workers find the mental health and psychosocial assistance they need while working in Ontario’s Agriculture Industry.
(Available in both English and Spanish)
April 26, 2022
[WEBINAR EVENT]
OHCOW Research Team
Sharing findings from the “Community & Workplace Psychosocial Supports for the Mental Health of IAWs in Ontario” Project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
February 3, 2022
[INFOGRAPHIC]
Available in English, Spanish and Tagalog
OHCOW
Aerosol Transmission Coalition
November 26, 2021
(RECORDED WEBINAR]
Part of the OCC-TOBER Webinar Series
Exposures of concern for firefighters, the evolution of ODAP and COVID information needs of agricultural workers are discussed
April 2021
[WEBINAR EVENT]
Marking Canada’s National Day of Mourning for Injured & Killed Workers reflecting on lives lost, health impacted and strategies learned to fight COVID-19, plus other workplace hazards
April 2021
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Dorothy Wigmore, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
April 2021
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Dr. Leah Vosko, Professor at York University and Canada Research Chair in Political Economy of Gender and Work
April 2021
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Dr. Janet McLaughlin, Wilfrid Laurier University and Migrant Worker Health Expert Working Group
2020
[FACTSHEET / HANDOUT]
Government of Ontario
2020
[FACTSHEET / HANDOUT]
Government of Ontario
2020
[FACTSHEETS / HANDOUTS]
A series of colourful, information handouts available in both English and Spanish.
June 9, 2020
[REPORT]
Bob Barnetson, PhD, C. Susana Caxaj, RN, PhD, Amy Cohen, MA, Donald Cole, MD, MSc, FRCP(C), Carlos Colindres MLT, MSc, CIC, Natalie Drolet, MA, LLB, Jason Foster, PhD, Jill Hanley, PhD, Jenna L. Hennebry, PhD, Eduardo Huesca, MA, Stephanie Mayell, MA, Janet McLaughlin, PhD, Michelle Tew, RN, BScN, DOHS, COHN(C), Leah Vosko, PhD
June 4, 2020
[PERSPECTIVE PAPER]
Donald C Cole, MD, DOHS, MSc, FRCP(C) Occupational, Environmental and Public Health Medicine Consultant
April 2020
[WEBINAR EVENT]
Marking Canada’s National Day of Mourning for Injured & Killed Workers reflecting on lives lost, health impacted and strategies learned to fight COVID-19, plus other workplace hazards
2018
[FACTSHEET / HANDOUT]
OHCOW Migrant Farm Workers’ Team
2018
[FACTSHEET / HANDOUT]
OHCOW Migrant Farm Workers’ Team
2018
[RECORDED PRESENTATION]
2018
[RECORDED PRESENTATION]
2018
[RECORDED PRESENTATION]
2018
[RECORDED PRESENTATION]
2018
[RECORDED PRESENTATION]
World Health Organization (WHO)
May 2018
[RECORDED EVENT]
A Forum on Precarity, Vulnerability, Health and Safety Among Newcomers and Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada
September 13, 2018
[INFOGRAPHIC]
Available in English, Spanish (Espanol), Tagalog
OHCOW Migrant Farm Workers Team
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Eduardo Huesca, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Laura Comiskey
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Dr. Michael Pysklywec, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Aaron Diaz Mendiburo, Postdoctoral fellowship, International Migration Research Centre, Wilfred University with additional speakers from AIDS Committee of Windor and Durham, and Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS).
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Stephanie Mayell, McMaster University
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Camille Roberts, Outreach Volunteer
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Eduardo Huesca, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
John Aird, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)
2016
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Lynn Van Maanen, Ontario Pesticide Education Program (OPEP)
October 14, 2015
[RECORDED WEBINAR]
Eduardo Huesca, OHCOW (Hamilton)
September 28, 2022
[HANDOUT]
Available in English and Spanish (Espanol)
The Northeast Centre for Agricultural Health | The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health | Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN)
September 28, 2022
[HANDBOOK]
US Department of Health and Human Services | Centres for Disease Control and Prevention | NIOSH
FOR EMPLOYERS
Heightened COVID-19 Risks to Temporary Foreign (Migrant) Agricultural Workers (TFAWs) and Recommended Actions in the 2020 Agricultural Season Occupational Medicine
A Perspective Paper
by Donald C Cole MD, DOHS, MSc, FRCP(C), Occupational, Environmental and Public Health Medicine Consultant
Recommendations for Overcoming Health Challenges Faced By Migrant Agricultural Workers during the COVID-19-Virus Pandemic
Report to ESDC (last update June 9, 2020)
Health and Safety Guides and Toolkits
(many are related to agricultural work)
Source: Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
EVENT RESOURCES
- All
- 2016
- 2018
- 2021
- Advocacy
- Agriculture
- Awareness / Empowerment
- Best Practices
- Coroner Reports
- Data Collection
- Day of Mourning
- Employment Agencies
- Hazards
- Legislation
- Mental Health
- Migrant Farm Workers
- Newcomers / Refugees
- Pesticides
- Policies / Procedures
- Precarious Work
- Sexual Health
- Social Services
- Supportive Spaces
- Training
- Vulnerability
- Worker Feedback
EVENTS
OHCOW hosts, and partners with other organizations, to bring special events to the migrant farm worker community.
Previous events include:
Migrant Farm Worker Forums • Work, Migration and Health Forum
International Foreign Agricultural Workers Workshop
plus many others
Presentations from the past events can be found above under Additional Resources.
CASE STUDIES
The following case studies are provided …
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CONSULTATION SERVICES
We offer both Workplace and Clinic Consultations as part of our Migrant Farm Workers Program.
Learn more about each service in the blocks below.
Register for a free consultation using the contact form or phone number below.
Workplace Consultations
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Clinical Consultations
For individuals with occupational health concerns
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Translation Assistance
If you need help translating your existing occupational health and safety program material into a second language,
please contact us using the contact form or phone number below.
RELATED VIDEOS
We have a large library of videos related to Migrant Farm Workers.
Most of these videos are generated from speaker sessions at our various events/forums.
To view these videos by event, see the Past Event Resources section above.
QUÉ ESPERAR CUANDO LLAME AL 911
LLAME AL 911
Cuando necesite atención médica de emergencia
Migrant Farm Workers
VIEW PRESENTATION
[PDF]
Mental Health Among Jamaican Farm Workers
VIEW PRESENTATION
[PDF]
Temporary Foreign Agricultural Workers
Pesticide Safety in Ontario
CONTACT US
Use the following form to contact the OHCOW Migrant Farm Workers Program:
You can also call us about the Migrant Farm Workers Program if you prefer:
1-877-817-0336
From Our Partners
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)
POSTERS/INFOGRAPHICS
Working in the Heat
Heat-Related Illness: Watch for Signs
Keep Your Cool
PUBLICATIONS
Working in Hot Environments: Health and Safety Guide
FACTSHEETS
Humidex Rating and Work
Cold Environments – General
Cold Environments – Health Effects and First Aid
Cold Environments – Working in the Cold
Hot Environments – Control Measures
Hot Environments – Health Effects and First Aid
Humidex Rating and Work
Temperature Conditions – Cold
Temperature Conditions – Hot
Temperature Conditions – Legislation
Government of Ontario
WEB PAGES
Working Outdoors
Managing Heat Stress at Work
Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO)
TOOLKIT
Heat Stress Awareness Guide
Heat Stress Awareness Poster
Heat Stress Awareness Wheel Tool
