Prevention Services data for COVID-19
The following statistics provide a snapshot of our efforts to help workers and employers effectively manage the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace. COVID-19 is a new risk that needs to be managed alongside the many other risks present in B.C.’s workplaces. Our prevention staff continue to educate, consult, and enforce all areas of health and safety, but have focused their efforts where needed to help keep workers safe as the government’s provincial Restart Plan unfolds.
To assist in our education and consultation efforts, we’ve created industry-specific resources and guidance to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. These resources are an important tool in educating employers on their responsibilities for health and safety in the workplace.
WorkSafeBC officers will focus on verifying that employers have a COVID-19 Safety Plan that assesses the risk of exposure at their worksite and implements measures to keep their workers safe.
What’s new: Inspections and consultations
WorkSafeBC increasing inspections: We're urging employers to stay vigilant and update COVID-19 safety plans as conditions change.
Inspections and consultations page: Learn what to expect when WorkSafeBC conducts an inspection or consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prevention Information Line enquiries
Our Prevention Information Line is often our first point of contact for workers and employers enquiring about health and safety in the workplace. Prevention Information Line staff will either resolve the enquiry directly or triage to prevention officers for response as needed.
Year-to-date COVID-related enquiries as of January 8, 2021
Questions | 21,319 |
Reports of potential violations | 5,499 |
Reports of workplace incidents* | 3 |
Total | 26,821 |
* The number of reports of workplace incidents has been restated from previous updates due to a change in coding. “Reports of workplace incidents” now only includes serious workplace injuries, fatalities, or issues such as equipment failure with the potential to cause injury or death.
Consultations
Consultations, either virtual or in person, are a key method for helping employers create safe and healthy workplaces. They provide an opportunity for a WorkSafeBC representative to share information and guidance specific to the needs of the employer.
Year-to-date COVID-related consultations as of January 8, 2021
Construction (e.g. commercial and residential construction, roofing, and mechanical installation) | 461 |
Manufacturing (e.g. meat processing, breweries, sawmills, and pharmaceuticals) | 235 |
Primary Resources (e.g. forestry, oil and gas, fishing, and agriculture) | 192 |
Public Sector (e.g. government and law enforcement) | 92 |
Service Sector (e.g. hotels, restaurants, gyms, hospitals, schools, real estate, hair salons, performing arts, and motion picture) | 2,316 |
Trade (e.g. retail and wholesale operations, supermarkets, and service stations) | 524 |
Transportation and Warehousing (e.g. taxis and ride hailing, movers, transit, ferries, recycling depots, warehouses) | 196 |
Total | 4,016 |
Workers or employers who would like to request a consultation can call WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Information Line, toll-free, at 1.888.621.7233.
Worksite inspections
Worksite inspections are an important component in verifying that employers have safety plans in place and are meeting their obligations to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission in their workplaces. Prevention officers may call or visit unannounced.
Year-to-date COVID-related inspections as of January 8, 2021
Construction (e.g. commercial and residential construction, roofing, and mechanical installation) | 4,478 |
Manufacturing (e.g. meat processing, breweries, sawmills, and pharmaceuticals) | 2,116 |
Primary Resources (e.g. forestry, oil and gas, fishing, and agriculture) | 1,540 |
Public Sector (e.g. government and law enforcement) | 254 |
Service Sector (e.g. hotels, restaurants, gyms, hospitals, schools, real estate, hair salons, performing arts, and motion picture) | 7,940 |
Trade (e.g. retail and wholesale operations, supermarkets, and service stations) | 4,488 |
Transportation and Warehousing (e.g. taxis and ride hailing, movers, transit, ferries, recycling depots, warehouses) | 486 |
Total | 21,302 |
See inspections and consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic to learn more about what you can expect from a WorkSafeBC inspection.
Orders issued
Where a prevention officer observes a health and safety violation, the officer will ordinarily issue an order to the responsible workplace party. Orders are issued as a result of an inspection or can be part of follow-up activity.
Year-to-date COVID-related orders as of January 8, 2021
Construction (e.g. commercial and residential construction, roofing, and mechanical installation) | 325 |
Manufacturing (e.g. meat processing, breweries, sawmills, and pharmaceuticals) | 251 |
Primary Resources (e.g. forestry, oil and gas, fishing, and agriculture) | 64 |
Public Sector (e.g. government and law enforcement) | 6 |
Service Sector (e.g. hotels, restaurants, gyms, hospitals, schools, real estate, hair salons, performing arts, and motion picture) | 434 |
Trade (e.g. retail and wholesale operations, supermarkets, and service stations) | 300 |
Transportation and Warehousing (e.g. taxis and ride hailing, movers, transit, ferries, recycling depots, warehouses) | 42 |
Total | 1,422 |
Social media enquiries
To help workers and employers understand their rights and responsibilities regarding COVID-19 and the workplace, we use our social media channels to actively promote information and resources. The questions we receive are triaged in a similar way as our Prevention Information Line.
Year-to-date COVID-related social media enquiries as of January 8, 2021
Social media platform | COVID-related enquiries |
---|---|
336 | |
306 | |
70 | |
Total | 712 |
Website activity
To support workers and employers in developing their COVID-19 safety plans, WorkSafeBC’s website includes general health and safety information on COVID-19, industry-specific protocols aligned with each phase of BC’s Restart Plan, and resources to provide guidance to employers and workers.
Year-to-date COVID-related website activity as of January 8, 2021
Web content | Page views |
---|---|
COVID-19 health and safety web pages | 2,843,597 |
COVID-19 resources | 1,198,224 |
Total | 4,041,821 |
For more information about industry classifications, visit the insurance section of our site.