Ale (KSW Lawyer): Employers are expected to accommodate a worker to the point of undue hardship, the point at which it is too difficult, unsafe, or expensive to remove barriers so that injured workers can return to work. If creating a new position is financially unfeasible for a business, the employer can establish that doing so would cause undue hardship.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is permissible to drive an employee to medical services for a minor injury. However, the employer must create procedures for transporting an injured worker.
First aid attendants receive training on when to refer workers to medical aid. First aid procedures should include procedures for:
- How an injured worker will be transported to hospital or medical services (e.g., walk-in clinic) if the worker is ambulatory and their condition in stable and not life-threatening
- How an injured worker will be transported to hospital if the worker is not ambulatory, or their condition is unstable or life-threatening (per rapid transport criteria [link to come])
The vaccine will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives by preventing disease, especially for people most likely to have severe illness or die. If enough people get vaccinated, it makes it difficult for the disease to spread. This gives everyone protection, or what is known as community (herd) immunity. We hope that as more Canadians get vaccinated, we can return to activities that haven’t been possible during the pandemic.
No, generic first aid procedure templates will not be provided by WorkSafeBC. First aid procedures are very specific to your work location and work processes.
Manufacturers and businesses need to create their own specific templates that includes several first aid procedures—at minimum those marked by an asterisk:
- Coordination of multiple attendants (e.g., major/minor injuries)
- Location of, and how to summon first aid (e.g., regular work, evacuations)
- * Responding to a first aid call (i.e., how to leave assigned duties)
- Authority of attendant over treatment of injuries (worker/public)
- Reporting injuries/illness to WorkSafeBC
- * Where injured not accessible how to treat and move for BCEHS
- * Transporting worker to medical services if not ambulatory (remote)
- * Maintaining the first aid program including equipment, supplies, facilities, services (i.e., coverage, scheduling, inspections, etc.)
Not at this time, but potentially in future. Some workplaces are continuing to receive priority vaccination based on overall risk assessments in the health regions, but the remainder of the current AstraZeneca supply has been diverted to high-risk neighborhoods and pharmacies.
Pharmacies with supply in other communities are also continuing to offer COVID-19 immunizations, so encouraging employees aged 40+ in high-risk neighborhoods to register (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/neighbourhood), and those outside those neighborhoods to make appointments at a participating pharmacy may be the quickest route to getting your team members immunized.
A complete list of participating pharmacies can be found here: http://www.bcpharmacy.ca/resource-centre/covid-19/vaccination-locations
No, not unless the temperature exceeds 40 degrees centigrade.
Technology that is available today is incredible. Observations made by the owners of a large courier company who have implemented back up cameras and cameras in the cabs. They found a tremendous benefit, but they also did a lot of work in training, education and deciding how and when the cameras would be implemented. Continuous follow up throughout the process. It is a sensitive issue, but done properly it has tremendous positive results. Louise would be happy to take this conversation off line for further conversation.
First aid training providers can either develop their own curriculum; aligned to CSA Z1210-17, and have it approved by WorkSafeBC, or enter into a training agreement and use the WorkSafeBC developed first aid curriculum.
First aid training providers are subject to periodic quality assurance audits to ensure that WorkSafeBC requirements and standards are adhered to.
WorkSafeBC approved training providers: Workplace First Aid Training Providers | WorkSafeBC
People who have registered will stay on the provincial registry until their age cohort becomes eligible. However, they can get faster access to vaccination now by booking with a participating pharmacy. A complete list of participating pharmacies can be found here: http://www.bcpharmacy.ca/resource-centre/covid-19/vaccination-locations
If they are on their personal time (commuting - is not considered part of work), if they are truly free to spend their lunch as they see fit, and not working, than that would be a personal incident.
There are exemptions to be wearing masks. People who cannot wear a mask or who cannot put on or remove a mask on their own are exempt. Some people cannot wear a mask for psychological, behavioural, or health conditions. Be respectful of people who can't wear a mask.
Alternative options may potentially be considered, however this is based on your risk assessment, as well as the above criteria.
Source: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/masks
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (Regulation) contains legal requirements that must be met by all workplaces under the inspectional jurisdiction of WorkSafeBC. Generally, WorkSafeBC does not get involved with federally regulated workplaces, as it is out of their jurisdiction.