Mitigation Activities: SWPH builds positive relationships with community partners in our region to gather insights and establish collaborative pathways. We will continue to incorporate these activities in our program planning.
HIRA Disclosure
In alignment with the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Management Guideline (2024), Southwestern Public Health (SWPH), in collaboration with the broader health sector and community partners as applicable, is required to conduct an annual Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) that maintains ongoing awareness of:
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Public health hazards and risks particular to the health unit area may give rise to an emergent event.
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Hazards and risks particular to the health unit area (e.g., extreme weather, respiratory season, climate change, other community risks, etc.) that may give rise to emergencies, planned events or disruptions with public health impacts.
The SWPH Board of Health shall use the results of the HIRA to consider priority populations in the community and the potential for them to experience disproportionate health impacts from emergencies.
SWPH Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
These are the current public health hazards and risks identified for Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas. These risks are reviewed annually.
Medium Risk: New, emerging, or escalating local crises
High Risk: Lack of data and evidence-informed sources for new health inequities
Mitigation Activities: SWPH works with program teams to identify new data sources to explore possible data-sharing agreements. This work is reflected in the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan.
High Risk: Cyber threat trends that could impact health data and service delivery
Mitigation Activities: SWPH continues to update its procedures and playbooks to manage and prepare for incidents.
High Risk: Health impacts of climate change
Mitigation Activities: SWPH has completed its Climate Change Action Plan and continues to work with local municipalities to address climate change issues and priorities in their region to ensure public health is considered in their emergency responses.
Medium Risk: Increased disease outbreaks
Mitigation Activities: SWPH continues to work on local emergency preparedness plans and to actively liaise with provincial monitoring bodies for surveillance intel. Ongoing work will continue to emphasize educating our local community and health care providers.
High Risk: Delivering the full scope of our public health mandate
Mitigation Activities: SWPH will continue to complete priority setting via our program planning work, explore opportunities to retain and recruit highly skilled staff, and seek other streams of revenue to support program delivery for sustainable and adequate funding for local public health priorities.
Contact Us
Southwestern Public Health (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday)
St. Thomas Site
(Administrative office)
1230 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1G9
Woodstock Site
410 Buller Street
Woodstock, ON N4S 4N2
Call us toll free: 1-800-922-0096
Email us
Work with us
Southwestern Public Health values our people. We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.