Keep COVID-19 out of the plant
Prevent COVID-19 from entering your facility
Monitor and screen anyone entering your facility, and support workers to stay home when feeling ill
Educate workers to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms and reinforce that no worker should be at work if they are ill. Make sure that all workers understand your policy, recognize the symptoms, and know how to complete an online self-assessment or contact HealthLinkBC.
Support sick workers to stay home Recognize that employees may have anxiety related to sick time and staying home when feeling ill. Develop effective policies, and communicate often to support workers. Review your sick leave policies to ensure they are flexible and support public health guidance around sick time.
Ensure that employees are aware of the support available to them if they have to stay home sick or self-isolate. In addition to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, workers can take advantage of extra time to file income tax, mortgage payment deferral, and the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers.
Screening of employees, contractors, and any visitor to your workplace for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, congestion). Conduct health checks in a way that provides sufficient physical distancing between the screener and the employee. To prevent stigma, ensure that employee health checks provide privacy, and keep employee health information confidential.
Plan ahead for scenarios you may experience in your workplace
| Example | Action |
|---|---|
| Worker has traveled outside of Canada but is NOT experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 | The returning employee must:
|
| Worker is living with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 | The worker will be asked to self-isolate at home by their local health authority. Employee will notify employer and maintain contact until the worker can complete isolation and testing protocols and ensure they are fit for returning to work. |
| Worker has tested positive for COVID-19 | If a worker has COVID-19, the health authority will investigate, trace contacts, and guide the employer through the essential steps to minimize the risk of exposure and spread of the virus to others at the worksite. If additional measures need to be taken in your workplace, public health will inform you.
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| Worker tested positive for COVID-19 but has been cleared by health authorities to return-to-work | Two negative tests are required before a worker can be considered recovered. COVID-19 may cause other complications that may make it unsafe for the employee’s own health to return to work, even after they are cleared. The health authority and the worker’s health care provider may provide additional protocols for a safe return-to-work. |
