Bulletin
Recent Provincial Health Officer Order
November 9, 2020
To: All MoveUP Members in BC
The Provincial Health Officer orders issued this weekend attempt to halt the deadly spread of Covid-19. These orders direct that all people and places of work in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley must significantly reduce their level of social interactions and travel. The order is in effect from November 7, 2020 to November 23, 2020 at 12:00pm.
With the number of confirmed cases rising sharply, trips into and out of the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley should be limited to essential travel only. If such travel is scheduled for you by the employer, we encourage you to confirm whether the trip is essential.
The B.C. Government’s website provides the following information about workplace safety:
Workplace safety
All businesses and worksites must conduct active daily in-person screening of all onsite workers using the COVID-19 symptom check list that is part of every business restart safety plan.
- Workplaces must ensure that all workers and customers maintain appropriate physical distance and wear masks when appropriate
- Extra care should be taken in small office spaces, break rooms and kitchens
- Employees that can work from home, should work from home at this time
We note that these requirements have already been in place. This order reinforces Covid-19 vigilance.
We are asking that MoveUP members on Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees to review your workplace’s Covid-19 Safety Plan to ensure that all measures are being implemented according to the PHO order. This review includes ensuring that your workplace has active in-person screening measures, has installed appropriate barriers, has trained employees on wearing masks when they cannot physically distance, and is only allowing essential travel while at work.
Your employer must post your workplace’s Covid-19 Safety Plan and train and educate everyone at the workplace of the contents of that plan.
Workplace screening measures include preventing attendance at the workplace of:
- Anyone who has had symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 10 days, including fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and new muscle aches or headaches;
- Anyone directed by Public Health to self-isolate; and
- Anyone who has arrived from outside Canada within the last 14 days.
All employees must be trained on these screening measures and what to do if they feel sick.
We recommend that all members who interact with the public, or who cannot maintain two meters distance from others, wear a mask to prevent droplet transmission.
We know MoveUP members take workplace health and safety very seriously. That diligence is essential to keep our members, our families, and our communities as safe as possible as the pandemic worsens in our region.
If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact Niki Schnurr at nschnurr@moveuptogether.ca.
In Solidarity,
Niki Schnurr
WCB Appeals & OHS Representative