Communicable Disease Prevention

Managing communicable disease at your workplace is part of an effective Occupational Health and Safety Program.

Employers are required to monitor for communicable disease-related information from their regional public health officials and the provincial health officer related to their area and industry, and be prepared to follow and 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 or region, should those be necessary.

Employers do not have to write or post plans for communicable disease prevention or have them approved by WorkSafeBC. Some employers may benefit from documenting their plan to assist in planning and communicating their communicable disease prevention measures, practices, and policies. Use the Communicable Disease Prevention Employers Guide as a template.

Communicable disease prevention involves understanding the level of risk in your workplace and implementing appropriate measures to reduce the spread and risk of communicable diseases.

Workers have the right to refuse work if they believe it presents an undue hazard. An undue hazard is an “unwarranted, inappropriate, excessive, or disproportionate” hazard. For communicable diseases, an “undue hazard” would be one where a worker’s job role places them at increased risk of exposure and adequate controls are not in place to protect them from that exposure.

Ongoing risk reduction measures include:

• Have policies to support staff who have symptoms of a communicable disease (for example, fever and/or chills, recent onset of coughing, diarrhea), so they can avoid being at the workplace when sick.
• Promoting hand hygiene at work with appropriate supplies and reminding employees through policies and signage to wash their hands regularly and to use appropriate hygiene practices.
• Maintaining a clean work environment through routine cleaning processes
• Ensure building ventilation is properly maintained and functioning as designed
• Support employees in receiving vaccinations for vaccine-preventable conditions to the extent that you are able.

Read more about communicable disease prevention on the WorkSafeBC website.

• Communicable Disease Prevention
• Communicable Diseases - Management of Change
• Maintaining COVID-19 Best Practices
• Cleaning and Disinfecting
• Workstation Hygiene Best Practices
• Vaccine Guidance Policy

WorkSafeBC provides Communicable Disease health and safety resources to help keep workplaces safe. 

• Guidance to Employers on Communicable Disease Prevention
• Communicable Disease Prevention - A Guide for Employers
• OHS Guideline G-P2-21 Communicable Disease Prevention
• Guidance on Mask Use in Non-healthcare Settings
• Prevent the Spread of Communicable Disease: Ventilation and Air Circulation

• BC Centre for Disease Control
• Public Health Agency of Canada