COVID-19 Workplace Safety for BC Public Service Managers & Supervisors

All Workplaces in BC must take steps to protect against COVID-19 transmission.

 Most BC Public Workplace requires a Communicable Disease Prevention Plan (PDF, 429KB). Many of the layers of protection in the Communicable Disease Prevention Plan are things that we have become accustomed to over the course of the pandemic. COVID-19 protocols can be customized to fit individual worksites and circumstances.

The Communicable Disease Prevention Plan must be posted at the workplace and available for staff to review.  Supervisors and managers must ensure all employees are knowledgeable about the communicable disease prevention plan and are following it while working.

Workplaces must regularly review the Communicable Disease Prevention Plan and must implement any additional additional prevention measures ordered by a Regional Medical Health Officer or the Provincial Health Officer.  These increased measures would be based on an increase of transmission in the community or workplace settings and the additional prevention measures could be regionally based, location specific, or activity based. Workplace Health and Safety will post updated requirements for Communicable Disease Prevention Plans on MyHR: COVID-19 information for BC Public Service employees.

For information on PHO orders or specific Health Authority orders and guidance, please see the PHO Orders website (link needed) where regional Medical Health Officer orders will also be posted.

Workplaces with medical or mental health facilities, congregate living settings, and some specialized services require an Exposure Control Plan or COVID-19 Safety Plan. Please contact Workplace Health and Safety using MyHR for assistance if you are unsure if your workplace requires one of these plans or needs to update an existing plan.

Although the employer has the ultimate responsibility to provide a safe workplace, employees  and unions play important roles. It is important for ministries and workplaces to consult employees, unions and employee associations as they develop and review their Communicable Disease Prevention Plan or Exposure Control Plans.   

Workplace Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees should be including a review of the Communicable Disease Prevention Plan and how how the protocols have been implemented as part of their regular workplace inspections and talking with staff about any issues or improvements that could be made to the plan.