WorkSafeBC | Preparing for Step 3 of
BC Restart
Dear Accommodation Community and Stakeholders,

This week, our industry is being met with a number of operational challenges between our current heatwave, a workforce shortage, substantial increase in bookings, flooding in parts of BC, and changing protocols as we expect to enter Step 3 of the BC Restart Plan on Thursday, July 1st.

The BCHA has been working around the clock with our industry partners to deliver a 'Step 3 BC Restart Communications Toolkit' that will address many of the questions you have on how to best address these changes, and communicate them to both your staff and guests.

The exact details of Step 3 have not yet been confirmed but are expected to include:

  • Masks no longer mandatory but recommended for indoor settings.
  • Physical distancing no longer required, instead, individuals must engage in careful social contact. 
  • Safety Plan no longer required as province shifts to communicable disease prevention plan
  • All domestic Canada-wide recreational travel will be allowed
  • BC will lift the Provincial State of Emergency and Public Health Emergency
  • Indoor and outdoor social gatherings can “return to normal,” such as attending a family reunion or having a sleepover
  • Capacity for indoor and outdoor organized gatherings will increase, although safety plans will still be required (weddings etc.)
  • No group limit for indoor and outdoor dining
  • Fairs and festivals can operate with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place
  • Liquor service restrictions lifted | Casinos and nightclubs can operate with a limited capacity
  • Continued return to the workplace | Seminars and bigger meetings allowed
  • All indoor fitness classes allowed, usual capacity

Industry Rule of Thumb for Operational Changes

As we anticipate that many of our protocols such as distancing, mask use, and barriers will be relaxed as we enter Step 3, the provincial health officer has issued a statement recommending that employers maintain some of their current protocols, specifically those that do not negatively impact business operations.

Many guests and employees may feel uncomfortable with eased restrictions and it will take time for people to have confidence in pre-pandemic level operations. We recommend you review your existing policies and ensure your team is in alignment.

  • Should you wish to be cautious with your policies, businesses are private entities, and will therefore able to determine and implement their own heightened safety measures in continued alignment with Step 3.
  • In recognizing that ensuring guest and employee safety is the number one priority of all operators, we encourage you to continue maintaining some safety protocols where applicable. In doing so, we continue to build confidence in travel and the safety of our sector.
  • Our partners at go2HR have developed scripts for responding to difficult guest situations which we encourage you to explore.

From COVID-19 Safety Plans to communicable disease prevention

Today, WorkSafeBC released guidelines for employers to best prepare for Step 3 of the BC Restart Plan, outlining in greater detail, the shift from COVID-19 Safety Plan to a Communicable Disease Prevention Plan. Unlike the COVID-19 Safety Plan, employers will not have to write or post plans for communicable disease prevention or have them approved by WorkSafeBC. 

Communicable disease prevention focuses reducing the risk of workplace transmission. Ongoing measures to maintain include:
  • Policies to support staff who may be sick with a communicable disease, so they can avoid being at the workplace
  • Promoting hand hygiene
  • Maintaining a clean environment
  • Ensuring building ventilation is properly maintained and functioning
  • Supporting employees in receiving vaccinations

Employers must also be prepared to implement additional prevention measures as required by a medical health officer or the provincial health officer to deal with communicable diseases in their workplace or region, should those be necessary.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Measures, Controls, Protocols

Am I required to limit the number of customers and workers in my workplace or in spaces such as lunchrooms?

It is anticipated that, beginning in Step 3, employers are not required to limit the number of customers and workers in their workplace as part of ongoing communicable disease prevention measures. In cases of elevated risk, a medical health officer or the provincial health officer may direct employers in a specific region, industry, or workplace to implement occupancy limits.

Are workers or members of the public required to wear masks in the workplace?

As B.C. moves through the Restart plan, Public Health will provide guidance on the use of masks for both workplaces and public spaces. Employers are advised to follow the direction of Public Health with respect to the use of masks. This may include guidance, requirements, or recommendations for both workers and members of the public.

Employers may choose to implement mask policies for workers and/or members of the public that exceed the requirements of Public Health.

Can I take my barriers down?

It is anticipated that, beginning in Step 3, barriers are no longer required in workplaces as part of ongoing communicable disease prevention measures. However, the provincial health officer has issued a statement recommending that employers maintain some existing COVID-19 protocols that do not negatively impact business operations, so if employers have existing barriers in place that are not interfering with operations, they are advised to keep these in place for the time being.

Can I remove the directional arrows from my workplace?

The provincial health officer has issued a statement recommending that employers maintain some existing COVID-19 protocols that do not negatively impact business operations. If directional arrows are effective in managing areas of congestion in your workplace, and if they do not negatively impact business operations, it is recommended that you keep these in place until this recommendation from the PHO is revised or removed.

How can I manage ventilation in a building that I don’t own?

Employers should discuss the ventilation system in their building with property managers or owners to ensure that it is properly maintained and functioning appropriately. Employers can also take other measures to improve air circulation, including opening windows where possible. Learn more by reading COVID-19 frequently asked questions: General ventilation and air circulation.

Can I require a worker to be vaccinated as a condition of employment?

No, but employers should support workers to be vaccinated for vaccine-preventable conditions if they are able to do so. Under provincial law, workers are entitled up to three hours of paid leave to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Are there industry specific protocols available for communicable disease prevention?

Communicable disease prevention is based on basic principles for maintaining worker health and reducing the risks to workers in all workplaces from communicable disease. More information is provided in Communicable disease prevention: A guide for employers.

Do I need to keep some of the existing protocols from my COVID-19 Safety Plan?

Some of the fundamental elements of communicable disease prevention are similar to the measures employers and workers have been following during the pandemic, including:

  • Not coming to work if you are sick
  • Healthy hand hygiene practices, including hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes
  • Maintaining a clean work environment
  • Ensuring adequate ventilation
  • Supporting employees in receiving vaccinations for vaccine-preventable conditions to the extent that you are able

It is anticipated that, beginning in Step 3, other protocols, like distancing and barriers, will no longer be required. However, for the time being during the transition period, the provincial health officer has issued a statement recommending that employers maintain some of their current protocols, specifically those that do not negatively impact business operations.

There may also be instances where, based on direction from Public Health, employers may need to re-introduce additional safety measures if there’s an elevated risk of COVID-19 transmission in their workplace or community.

Transitioning to a Communicable Disease Prevention

Do I need to maintain a COVID 19 Safety Plan?

No, beginning with Step 3 of BC’s Restart, employers will no longer be required to maintain a COVID-19 Safety Plan and will instead transition to communicable disease prevention. This involves focusing on basic risk reduction principles to reduce the risk of workplace transmission of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.

Do I need to develop a written communicable disease plan, and does this need to be posted at my workplace like the COVID-19 Safety Plan was?

Employers are expected to take reasonable steps to manage health and safety in their workplace, including preventing communicable disease transmission. Other than in specific instances where Exposure Control Plans are required to control the transmission of communicable disease, such as health care, your plan does not need to be written, posted, or approved by WorkSafeBC. Employers may refer to Communicable disease prevention: A guide for employers for steps they can take to effectively manage communicable disease.

What can I expect from a WorkSafeBC inspection for communicable disease prevention?

During an inspection, employers may be asked to demonstrate that they have practices in place to prevent communicable disease transmission in their workplace, and that they are following any orders, guidance, or recommendations from their regional health authority or the provincial health officer that applies to their workplace.

Is moving away from a COVID-19 Safety Plan safe? Are workers at risk?

COVID-19 Safety Plans were necessary due to the elevated risk of community transmission of COVID-19, and the need to reduce the risk of transmission to workers and the public. Now that COVID-19 is better managed through vaccination, a COVID-19 Safety Plan will no longer be required beginning with Step 3 of BC’s Restart.

Employers will need to remain vigilant in keeping their workplaces healthy and safe because COVID-19 and other communicable diseases will still circulate. Employers will need to maintain the fundamental measures to reduce the risk of communicable disease transmission in their workplace, and monitor Public Health guidance in the event of elevated risk in their region, location, industry, or workplace.

Responding to Periods of Elevated Risk

How will I know if there is an elevated risk of COVID-19 in my workplace or community?

Employers are required to monitor and review communicable disease-related information issued by their regional medical health officer or the provincial health officer related to their industry, region, or workplace.

What do I do if there is a situation of elevated COVID-19 risk in my workplace or community?

During a period of elevated risk, the medical health officer or provincial health officer will provide information and guidance about the risk and how employers can reduce it. The measures that employers will need to implement will depend on the type of disease and the methods of transmission.
We understand that this week will be challenging. Our team is available to answer any questions and help deliver important information as soon as it comes available. Please reach out to questions@bcha.com.

Finally, WorkSafeBC and go2HR will also be partnering on a webinar to address best practices surrounding Step 3 of BC's Restart which we will share further details on over the next week.

Please continue to follow our social media platforms, linked below, for real time updates and information.

Stay safe during this heatwave,

Ingrid Jarrett
President & CEO
British Columbia Hotel Association