British Columbia has mandated COVID-19 Safety Plans for businesses and employers in the province as part of its COVID-19 Restart Plan. Although Safety Plans do not need to be submitted to WorkSafeBC as a condition of operating, a WorkSafeBC officer or health officer may request a copy to ensure businesses are taking adequate steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Consistent with this power, on May 21, 2020, the BC Minister of Labour, the Honourable Harry Bains, announced that WorkSafeBC will conduct random inspections of BC businesses to ensure that employers are complying with the obligation to create and implement a COVID-19 Safety Plan. According to reports, Minister Bains has characterized the measure as part of the government’s plan to increase consumer trust in BC businesses.
Information regarding WorkSafeBC Safety Plans may be found here and here. Other considerations for businesses and employers as economies reopen may be found here.
More COVID-19 Resources
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving with new measures being adopted or modified at both the federal and provincial level. For further information, please consult our Coronavirus Resource Centre or contact any member of our DLA Piper Canadian Employment and Labour Law Service Group, who will ensure that you are acting upon the most up-to-date information.
This article provides only general information about legal issues and developments, and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Please see our disclaimer for more details.