Knowledge Base Questions Archive - Page 9 of 23 - Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC 2025

How effective are the vaccinations with the variants we are seeing now?

They have good effectiveness across the board. It does vary as some vaccines have decreased effectiveness on some variants, but these are minimal changes. We expect the emergence of more variants, and something we are keeping a close eye on.

How effective is using handheld laser temperature readers for screening employees? Do the readers have to be geared for reading body temperature?

If an employee's temperature exceeds 37.8, the employee should not be allowed to enter the workplace, and should contact a physician to be tested. However, keep in mind that only 30% of symptomatic COVID cases include fever; your screening process should address other recognized symptoms (cold/flu or gastrointestinal symptoms, loss of sense of smell) as well.

How is the experience rating calculated if a company has only been open for 1 or 2 years?

As soon as the first year (with payroll) hits the 3-year window, ER will commence. For instance, if the company started in 2020, the earliest ER starts is 2022.

How long does it take to see improvements to your rate?

Improvements may be observed as soon as the current year hits the 3-year window for rate calculation. For instance, if there are noticeable improvements in claims costs in 2022, the first year 2022 will appear in the 3-year window for rate calculation is in 2024.

How many accommodated workers is too many?

Teresa (WorkSafeBC): There is no limit prescribed. If the work is being completed regardless of accommodations than there is no effect. If providing accommodations becomes an undue hardship, then that will be reviewed. Make sure you document why an accommodation is not possible. Amanda (TeksMed Services): There is no set figure.

How will I know when it is my turn to get the vaccine?

Vaccine is being administered through a phased approach developed by the Ministry of Health, starting with priority groups first. Sequencing of these groups is based on recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and on our own epidemiological data to reduce the risk of infection to those most vulnerable to severe disease and death following COVID-19 infection, and to protect our health care system. For more information on the provincial immunization plan and priority groups, visit the BC government website. For frontline and essential workers, appointment information will be communicated clearly and directly to each sector and employer.

How would you handle a refusal of unsafe work if our only control is physical distancing and washing hands (no disinfectant to spray down equipment due to short supply)?

Follow the refusal of unsafe work procedures.

I already had COVID-19. Do I still need the shot?

If you had, or may have had, COVID-19 you should still get the vaccine. This is because you may not be immune to the virus that causes COVID-19 and could get infected and sick again.

I am confident that most of the organizations in BC have effective controls. But to control and eliminate COVID-19 incidents in BC, we must think not as individuals or organizations, but as a community. Is there anything else we can do aside from training and awareness in our organizations to encourage people to follow guidelines outside of work?

The safety culture of your organization should impact your ability to influence workers beyond the workplaces and into the actions they take at home and in their communities.

I have heard from a friend in another food processing plant that they called Fraser Health to enquire about vaccination for their EEs. Sounds like they made their point and got their staff all vaccinated although they did not had any outbreak or specific reason to be on the priority list. Do you know if there is any such opportunity?

The Alliance is collecting information from employers actively seeking immunization for their workers and will share this information with the health regions as they request it to support their programs. To register your interest in a future phase of workplace immunizations, please send an email to [email protected] with your company name, production facility address(es), number of employees at each facility, and key contact name, and email, and phone for each facility.

I have heard that the rise in numbers is because of the vaccination, that case numbers are rising because of the vaccine and not separating the new cases vs cases created because of vaccine reaction. Are the counts showing this? Where can we find affected cases after vaccine vs non vaccinated cases?

None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines cause an immunized person to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If a recently-immunized person tests positive, it means that they were infected just before, or possibly after, receiving the vaccine. No vaccine is 100% effective in preventing the virus, but they have been shown to substantially reduce the incidence of asymptomatic infection and have demonstrated a high level of efficacy in preventing symptomatic and severe disease.

I have not found information on how maximum room capacity is affected by ACH during COVID. For example, if a 120 cubic meter room has 1 ACH, how do I calculate my maximum occupancy? How long can people can stay in a shared space?

Occupancy limits are set as per floor space area rather than ACH. Generally, you would want to give ~5 square meters of unencumbered floor space per person to establish occupancy limits. The BC Building Code dictates the determination of occupancy limits. See this link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/fire-safety/legislation-regulations-codes/occupant-load. As specified in the Industrial Ventilation — A Manual of Recommended Practice, "Air changes per hour" or "air changes per minute" is a poor basis for ventilation criteria where environmental control of hazards, heat, and/or odors is required. Air changes per hour are calculated by taking the supply airflow into the room (in units of cubic feet/min) times 60, and divided by the volume of the room. Occupancy limits are set accordingly with the area of the room, as well as intended use of the room. See attached PDF for this formula to determine relationship between ACH and Occupancy limit. From the numbers that provided, further information is needed for the calculation (Area of the room and acceptable area/person).

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