Our facilities have lifeguards, can their certification be accepted as equivalent to any level of OFA under the new regulations?Jean Fong2024-08-26T15:59:32-07:00A National Lifeguard designation will not be considered equivalent to an Intermediate or Advanced first aid certificate unless the National Lifeguard course has been submitted, reviewed, and accepted by WorkSafeBC as an equivalent first aid course. If/when the National Lifeguard courses are submitted for acceptance by WorkSafeBC and align to the CSA Z1210-17 and B.C. Plus, WorkSafeBC will provide equivalency at that time. First aid attendant certification - WorkSafeBC

Our facility is in Greater Vancouver (Langley), so we are not remote. However, with the traffic issues the Lower Mainland faces, anyone would be hard pressed to get anywhere in less than 30 minutes. Does traffic issues deem a workplace as “remote”?Jean Fong2024-08-15T10:47:13-07:00“Normal travel conditions” should be determined by the average time it takes to drive to (or from) the nearest ambulance station by a motor vehicle following the rules of the road, during the normal working hours of the employer’s workplace. Employers must consider known barriers that may affect BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) response time, such as road conditions which may make a workplace inaccessible to BCEHS or other barriers such as train crossings, lift bridges, temporary road closures, construction zones, etc. Where barriers to transport are identified, the employer should take all reasonable measures to eliminate or otherwise minimize the impact of these barriers on the time it may take to transport a worker to medical treatment.

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?MSABC System Account2021-02-18T12:59:46-08:00This depends on your risk assessment and internal policies in terms of having visitors on site. In regards to restrictions — see below: Coming from outside of B.C. At this time, people travelling to B.C. from another province or territory within Canada should only come for essential reasons. If you do travel, you are expected to follow the same travel guidelines as everyone else in B.C.

• The restriction of all non-essential travel at the Canada-U.S. border remains in effect
• Travellers to and from the United States going to and from Alaska must proceed directly to their destination and self-isolate during any necessary overnight stops
• International travellers returning to B.C. are required by law to self-quarantine for 14 days and complete the federal ArriveCAN application

Flights to and from B.C. The order does not restrict flights entering and leaving B.C. Source: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions#travel-precautions

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?MSABC System Account2021-02-18T12:36:46-08:00

See the video answer to this question.

If a person tests positive, how long does it take to complete contact tracing both inside and outside our facility?MSABC System Account2022-01-04T13:59:37-08:00Public Health no longer conducts contact tracing for all cases of COVID-19. If an employee has tested positive for COVID-19 or been told that they have COVID-19, they will need to self-isolate, manage their symptoms, and let their close contacts know. However, contact tracing is important to help identify people who may have COVID-19 sooner and prevent the virus from spreading in the community. Notifying close contacts helps protect people in the community.

If a worker is living with a family that is COVID-19 positive, is it ok for the employer to ask employee to stay home for 14 days ?MSABC System Account2022-01-04T14:07:26-08:00Close contacts of a COVID-19 positive worker will need to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and self-isolate IF they are not fully immunized. If your worker is fully vaccinated or has had COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they are not required to self-isolate and can continue to participate in routine activities, such as work or school, as long as they do not have any symptoms. Those who are NOT fully vaccinated are required to self-isolate for 10 days from the day they last had contact with the person who has COVID-19, even if they do not have symptoms.

Does an employer receive notification from health services if a positive case has recovered and is cleared to return to work?MSABC System Account2022-01-04T14:11:46-08:00Employers will not receive notification from their local health authority if a worker with COVID-19 has recovered and can return to work. Fully vaccinated workers can return to work when at least 5 days have passed since their symptoms started. They should wear a mask, even in settings where a mask isn't required and avoid higher-risk settings.

If an employee has tested positive for COVID-19 should employees that have worked in close proximity to that worker be required to self isolate?MSABC System Account2022-01-04T14:12:28-08:00Close contacts of a COVID-19 positive worker will need to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and self-isolate IF they are not fully immunized.

Are there recommendations on how to handle work station when someone gets sick, is there any specific way on how to handle the cleaning and sanitation?MSABC System Account2021-02-18T11:18:09-08:00

For cleaning and sanitation procedures, refer to ‘EACO Emerging and Existing Pathogen Cleaning - Best Practices for Environmental Professional Services’ (Version 1 2020) plus ‘Updated Safer Disinfectants List’ (March 26, 2020).  

If a person has had Covid-19, what does the research show about the possibility of contracting it again or are they considered immune?MSABC System Account2021-02-18T11:18:09-08:00

At this time, it is considered highly unlikely they will get it again but not impossible. There is not enough data to date to answer this definitively.

Do the health authorities notify an employer if their employee tested positive to ensure they are aware that the rest of the staff may be infected?MSABC System Account2022-01-04T14:13:33-08:00No - the health authority will not always notify an employer when an employee has tested positive. Workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 should contact their close contacts.

What if one of your workers lives with another person who works at a facility experiencing an outbreak?MSABC System Account2022-01-04T14:14:04-08:00If your worker is fully vaccinated or has had COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they are not required to self-isolate and can continue to participate in routine activities, such as work or school, as long as they do not have any symptoms. Those who are NOT fully vaccinated are required to self-isolate for 10 days from the day they last had contact with the person who has COVID-19, even if they do not have symptoms.