COVID-19 AND coMMUNICABLE DISEASE PLANS

Beginning in Step 3, effective July 1, 2021 employers will no longer be required to maintain a COVID-19 Safety Plan, and will instead transition to communicable disease prevention. 

On June 17, BC’s provincial health officer, Dr Bonnie Henry, issued a statement to employers on transitioning from COVID-19 Safety Plans to communicable disease prevention. Beginning with Step 3, employers will no longer be required to maintain a COVID-19 Safety Plan, and will instead transition to communicable disease prevention.

To assist employers in the fundamental components of communicable disease prevention, WorkSafeBC has developed Communicable disease prevention: A guide for employers. Developed in consultation with public health, the guide describes a four-step process to help employers reduce the risk of communicable disease in their workplace.

Employers will continue to be supported by WorkSafeBC and the PHO as they transition, and can visit WorkSafeBC’s Preparing for Step 3 of BC’s Restart: Communicable disease prevention page for details, including a comprehensive guide for employers, FAQs, responding to elevated risks, and more.

While the province is transitioning from existing COVID-19 safety plans to communicable disease prevention, businesses should still demonstrate that they are continuing to practice the fundamental aspects of disease prevention and control. Learn more: www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19/bcs-four-step-restart

Prior to Step 3 employers were required to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.