Bulletin
ICBC – Protect Yourself – Wear Your Full PPE
January 5, 2022
To: All MoveUP members at ICBC DLO Locations
The number of COVID-19 cases in BC continues to be a concern for all of us. No question, the omicron variant is the most highly transmissible version of this virus, to date. Although the severity of the illness seems to be lower than previous strains, the rapid spread through our communities is worrisome. We are strongly encouraging all Driver Examiners, Client Service Representatives and applicable supervisors to immediately begin to use the full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), during every road test and where 2 metres of physical distancing cannot be maintained.
ICBC has assured us that there is ample PPE available at every Driver Licensing Office around the province. This should include all Service BC locations and private testing locations for commercial road tests. If the equipment is not readily available, please discuss this with your manager and have it moved to a location where it is easily accessible and encourage your coworkers to use it right away.
We have also been assured that there is ample time between each road test for each of you to don, doff and properly sanitize all necessary surfaces. If this is not the case, please advise your manager, your local job steward and your Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee immediately. Wearing the supplied PPE during every road test, and where physical distancing cannot be maintained, will help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and, most importantly, protect you. We recommend you do this for the rest of January or until we see significant drops in the spread of COVID-19.
In November, we wrote to Minister Farnworth asking that he direct ICBC to require all examinees be vaccinated – something we have heard from Driver Examiners right across the province. A copy of the letter we sent to the Minister is attached. This, along with effective PPE will help to protect the safety and health of our members, their families and the broader community. Unfortunately, we have not heard back from the Minister, so we will be following up again.
Finally, please remember to monitor your health closely. If you are looking for information on COVID-19, including when to be tested or when to self-isolate, you can check this link . If you are sick, you should advise your manager, follow the advice of the public health officials and stay home during your time of self-isolation*. If you are advised to self-isolate due to close contact, please discuss this with your manager. You may be entitled to either paid Special Leave for quarantine, or a claim with WorkSafe BC, if there is clear evidence you contracted COVID-19 at work.
If you have more questions about COVID-19, please see the links and helpful information we have assembled on our website.
We wish everyone a very happy New Year and hope that this surge in COVID-19 comes to an end very soon.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth, Vice-President, ICBC
Kevin Smyth, Senior Union Representative
* Our sick leave entitlement, replenished on January 1, 2022, is available for when you are sick, COVID-19 or otherwise.