Changes in migrant worker housing, food trucks, home businesses, impacts health unit

Many farmers in Haldimand and Norfolk have changed the housing provided to migrant workers, the health unit’s program manager of environmental health, says.

“Large farm operators are choosing to build numerous smaller units rather than large bunkhouses with shared facilities,” Alexis Atkinson, of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, said. “In response to the pandemic, they are housing fewer workers per unit and incorporating infection control practices such as maintaining a minimum of two meters of space between beds and leaving top bunks vacant.

“These are positive changes that improve the quality of life for international agricultural workers.”

However, the changes mean health unit inspectors will require more time to assess and approve units, Atkinson said.

The two communities welcome more than 4,500 migrant workers annually and the seasonal housing continues to grow, Atkinson said.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health and Social Services advisory committee, Atkinson said the health unit inspected 742 units in 2022. Of those, 665 were compliance checks, 41 were follow-up inspections, two were complaint-based and one was a pre-operational inspection.

The health unit also completed 33 inspections on units designated to be used in response to a COVID-19 outbreak on a farm.

The report, presented by Atkinson at the advisory committee meeting, was prepared by Matthew Harrington, a senior public health inspector.

The change in migrant worker housing is among the many emerging trends identified by the health unit following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other emerging trends include working remotely, which has become mainstream.

Job losses during the pandemic forced some people to find ways to sustain and create opportunities for themselves.

There has also been an increase in home-based food and personal service, mobile food businesses and demand for special events and tourism promotion has also increased, Atkinson said.

Changes to provincial legislation in 2020 removed some of the barriers that made it difficult for people to operate food businesses from their home. The health unit has helped numerous people start home-based food businesses, Atkinson said.

“We currently have 25 known and active premises throughout both counties (and) 17 of them are using their private, residential kitchen to prepare food for sale to the public.”

These kinds of home-based businesses are challenging for public health inspectors. Although, inspectors have the right to enter all kitchens, unless there is a separate entrance, the owner can block access by denying entry to the entire house.

As a result, health unit officials have to take a more nuanced and collaborative approach to conduct inspections, she said.

The health unit has approved 23 new food trucks since 2021 but Atkinson said that of those, only eight are still operating. Food trucks are inspected between once and three times a year.

Meanwhile, health unit staff also find it challenging to check on home-based personal service businesses offering beauty salon services such as eye-lash extensions and micro-blading. Micro-blading, a cosmetic procedure to enhance the look of one’s eyebrows, is a form of tattooing.

Many personal service business owners aren’t aware of municipal business license or health unit inspection requirements. As well, many only advertise online through social media, Atkinson said.

As a result, it’s difficult for health unit staff to enforce food safety and personal service setting regulations.

“We may not know they exist and therefore cannot assist them in becoming compliant to ensure they are providing safe products and services,” Atkinson said.

The report was received as information by the health and social services advisory board.

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