WorkSafeBC introduces staff-vaccination policy
Richmond, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has introduced a staff-vaccination policy intended to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of their staff, their clients, and the public.
Effective November 1, 2021, WorkSafeBC will require all employees who interact in person with employers, workers, members of the public, or other WorkSafeBC staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In implementing the policy, WorkSafeBC will consider its obligations to accommodate those staff who are unable to be vaccinated.
Evidence shows that vaccination is the best control measure available to prevent the spread of COVID-19. According to B.C.’s Ministry of Health, after factoring for age, unvaccinated people are approximately 26 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated.
Currently in B.C., employers are not required to ensure their workers are vaccinated. However, WorkSafeBC has been advising businesses and other employers that they may choose to implement their own staff-vaccination policies based on their own due diligence.
Consistent with this advice, WorkSafeBC made the decision around a mandatory vaccination requirement for all staff who interact in person with others, as well as any staff members entering a WorkSafeBC office.
The vaccination policy by WorkSafeBC is consistent with public health guidance.
As a leader in injury and disease prevention in B.C., WorkSafeBC is taking this step to ensure the health and safety of both its employees and those they interact with.
While vaccines have been identified as the primary measure to prevent illness and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19, WorkSafeBC continues to follow its communicable disease prevention plan, which includes mask-wearing, physical distancing, and handwashing in all its facilities.
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Additional Information:
Media Backgrounder: Communicable Disease Prevention
About WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC engages workers and employers to prevent injury, disease, and disability in B.C. When work-related injuries or diseases occur, WorkSafeBC provides compensation and support to people in their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work. We serve approximately 2.3 million workers and 255,000 employers across B.C.
For more information, contact:
Media Relations, WorkSafeBC
Email: media@worksafebc.com
Tel: 604.276.5157