COVID-19 FAQ | Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC

For Employees

Information for employees about COVID-19 in the workplace.

2 Questions

Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence

Your questions about OSSE certification or re-certification during the COVID-19 pandemic answered.

6 Questions

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Our occupational hygienist and other experts answer your questions about cleaning and sanitizing your workplace during COVID-19.

6 Questions

Physical Distancing

Find answer to you questions about implementing physical distancing in your plant or facility.

10 Questions

Personal Protective Equipment

Find answers to your questions about personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace during COVID-19.

18 Questions

WorkSafeBC Claims

Do you need to know what WorkSafeBC's stance is on COVID-19 claims - this faq group will help.

3 Questions

Employer Responsibilities

Information on employer responsibilities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

8 Questions

Joint Health and Safety Committees

6 Questions

Travel

What you need to know for your employees to travel safely during COVID-10

3 Questions

Employees who have tested positive for COVID-19

Learn how to protect your workers when one of your employees has tested positive for COVID-19.

12 Questions

Exposure Control

Do you know the potentially riskiest points for transmission of COVID-19 in a manufacturing plant?

14 Questions

First Aid

There are additional considerations of first aid attendants and the delivery of first aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.

4 Questions

Recently Asked

Why is there a 14-day isolation period instead of 10 days like other countries?

1 attached resources.

covid-19exposure-controlwebinar-dec1

What is the current false positive rate associated with the testing that is being used to determine case counts in Fraser Health and in the rest of BC and Canada?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1

Is there an app or digital option available for the daily questionnaire?

1 attached resources.

covid-19health questionnairescreeningwebinar-dec1

Under the PHO are non-medical / cloth masks safe to use?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1mask

Our workers are required to wear safety glasses. When wearing a mask, the glasses fog up and create hazards with vision. We've implemented mandatory face shields that cover the face, but does this comply with the PHO? We've tried all the anti-fog treatments, but nothing seems to prevent fogging the safety glasses.

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1masks

It is my understanding that masks are mandated for the public but not for all workplaces yet. Is this true? Particularly in an outdoor setting.

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1masks

Should we be closing down staff kitchens?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1exposure control

What are your suggestions when it comes to employees carpooling?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1carpoolingtravel

We have an ISO level 8 facility air exchange in certain rooms of once an hour. Does high-volume air exchange affect some of the precautions as far as distancing and additional PPE? Are there some specifications on air exchange?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1ventilation

For workplace tasks that require workers to work within 6 feet where a barrier cannot be installed, is a face shield/mask combo a significant control in reducing the risk of exposure as a barrier would?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1exposure control

What is the policy for out of town training? Are we allowed to have peoples from out of town/province come to workplace to train or not allowed?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1travel

If we are seeing increased outbreaks and the introduction of COVID-19 in schools — do we have a plan on tightening the protocols specifically for schools? If so, how can we effectively encourage students to follow protocols - especially the younger ones?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1

What is the difference between a cluster and an outbreak?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1

Are we able to ask for employee travel plans and events they will be attending during the holiday season without violating their right to privacy?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1travel

In a factory/manufacturing setting, do we need to shut down for deep cleaning once a positive case arises? Can we deep clean without shutting down?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1cleaning and sanitizing

Is there a place for face shield or the shields that we have seen in restaurants which fit on the chin and come up as a shield?

1 attached resources.

covid-19face shieldsmaskswebinar-dec1

Looking at the government and WorkSafeBC wording on mask policies. The only area that has a mandatory mask policy it seems are public areas and public accessed workplaces? A closed-door manufacturer that does not have public access would they not be excluded from the mandate?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1masks

I heard that a beard breaks the seal in the face mask barrier. What are our obligations to educate workers on this issue and have you heard about cases that beards are an issue?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1masksbeards

What about if some workers are not willing to wear masks?

1 attached resources.

covid-19webinar-dec1masks

Is a face shield good enough instead of using a face mask?

1 attached resources.

covid-19maskswebinar-dec1

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Frequently Asked Questions

Recently Asked

Why is there a 14-day isolation period instead of 10 days like other countries?

What is the current false positive rate associated with the testing that is being used to determine case counts in Fraser Health and in the rest of BC and Canada?

Is there an app or digital option available for the daily questionnaire?

Under the PHO are non-medical / cloth masks safe to use?

It is my understanding that masks are mandated for the public but not for all workplaces yet. Is this true? Particularly in an outdoor setting.

Should we be closing down staff kitchens?

What are your suggestions when it comes to employees carpooling?

We have an ISO level 8 facility air exchange in certain rooms of once an hour. Does high-volume air exchange affect some of the precautions as far as distancing and additional PPE? Are there some specifications on air exchange?

For workplace tasks that require workers to work within 6 feet where a barrier cannot be installed, is a face shield/mask combo a significant control in reducing the risk of exposure as a barrier would?

What is the policy for out of town training? Are we allowed to have peoples from out of town/province come to workplace to train or not allowed?

If we are seeing increased outbreaks and the introduction of COVID-19 in schools — do we have a plan on tightening the protocols specifically for schools? If so, how can we effectively encourage students to follow protocols - especially the younger ones?

What is the difference between a cluster and an outbreak?

Are we able to ask for employee travel plans and events they will be attending during the holiday season without violating their right to privacy?

In a factory/manufacturing setting, do we need to shut down for deep cleaning once a positive case arises? Can we deep clean without shutting down?

Is there a place for face shield or the shields that we have seen in restaurants which fit on the chin and come up as a shield?

Looking at the government and WorkSafeBC wording on mask policies. The only area that has a mandatory mask policy it seems are public areas and public accessed workplaces? A closed-door manufacturer that does not have public access would they not be excluded from the mandate?

I heard that a beard breaks the seal in the face mask barrier. What are our obligations to educate workers on this issue and have you heard about cases that beards are an issue?

What about if some workers are not willing to wear masks?

Is a face shield good enough instead of using a face mask?