Communicable Disease Prevention information for BC Public Service employees
Last updated on June 19, 2025Employers are obligated to reduce the risk to their workers from communicable diseases in their workplaces.
Workplaces learned two major lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Workplace communicable disease prevention is very important in protecting workers’ health and safety
- Workplace health and safety measures implemented are very successful in reducing or eliminating workplace transmission of communicable disease
Communicable disease prevention was added to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations in 2021. The regulations require employers to reduce communicable disease risks in BC workplaces. From the OHS Guidelines:
“Communicable diseases are illnesses caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occur through the direct or indirect transmission of an infectious agent or its products from an individual or another vector.”
Examples of communicable diseases are influenza, coronaviruses (e.g. colds, COVID-19), measles, norovirus and Mpox.
There are five general workplace measures for communicable disease prevention:
- Policies to support staff with illness symptoms
- Hand-hygiene facilities
- Clean environment
- Building ventilation
- Supporting vaccination
Each workplace must have a Communicable Disease Prevention Plan (CDPP) (PDF, 92KB) that addresses how their workplace measures are implemented and supported.
​On this page
- Measles awareness, prevention and risk management
- Latest updates
- Health and well-being
- Workplace posters
- Quick links
Measles awareness, prevention and risk management
Measles cases are increasing in Canada and there are concerns that it may continue for many months. The number of measles cases in Canada in 2025 is far more than the average number of cases in previous years and cases are increasing weekly. The number of cases in B.C. is quite low, while cases have been much higher in other Canadian provinces (for example, Alberta and Ontario).
The Public Service Agency Workplace Health and Safety team is tracking the measles situation. For more information or to inquire about your work situation, contact a Workplace Health and Safety Specialist via AskMyHR.
More information is available in the Measles Awareness, Prevention and Risk Management (PDF, 92KB) document.