Month in Review – Prince Edward Island

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Laws

Feb 9: Nearly a year after the surprise resignation of Dennis King, new Progressive Conservative leader Rob Lantz was sworn in as the thirty fourth Premier of Prince Edward Island. Lantz served briefly as interim Premier before winning the permanent position in the recent provincial election.

New Laws 

Feb 6: The Pharmacy Plus PEI program now covers strep throat testing and treatment as part of sore throat assessments. Since not all sore throats are strep, a pharmacist must assess a patient's symptoms to determine whether testing is required. 

Action Point: Find out how to create a legally and clinically sound workplace Exposure Control Plan to protect your employees against the risk of strep and other infectious illnesses.

Health & Safety

Feb 1: Newly effective Public Health Act regulations establish health and safety requirements for personal service operators, including hair, nail, esthetic, and tattoo businesses, which previously were subject to only voluntary guidelines. The new regulations standardize infection-control practices, including equipment sterilization and record-keeping, and require businesses to register once every three years.

Mental Stress

Jan 23: The WCB issued new guidance explaining workers' compensation psychological injury coverage and claims filing rules. In PEI, as in most provinces, such injuries are deemed work-related, and thus compensable, if they're diagnosed by a psychologist or psychiatrist and caused by either traumatic events or work-related harassment.

Action Point: Find out how to implement an effective workplace mental health policy for your employees.