As British Columbia prepares to enter Phase 2 of its economic restart plan, the Province welcomes the release of the initial set of WorkSafeBC guidelines that will help businesses and organizations develop their plans to reopen safely in the coming days and weeks.

“These guidelines are an important step in B.C.’s economic restart process, as they will support businesses and organizations developing their individual COVID-19 safety plans and measures to keep employees and customers safe,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. “All employers must work with their employees to develop their safety plan to protect everyone as they prepare to reopen.”

WorkSafeBC has released industry-specific guidelines and resources for the following sectors:

• restaurants, cafes and pubs;
• salons and personal services;
• museums, art galleries and libraries, real estate;
• education;
• health services;
• retail;
• in-person counselling;
• parks and outdoor spaces; and
• office space.

Businesses in all sectors are required to use these guidelines and resources to develop their COVID-19 safety plans and post those plans for employees and customers as they resume operations. Additionally, businesses in sectors under health orders limiting service (such as restaurants, pubs, salons and personal services) will not be able to open until those orders are lifted or modified.

“We all have a shared responsibility to build confidence amongst workers and customers, so everyone feels safe accessing businesses and services,” Bains said. “We know that businesses will open at their own pace, and I encourage them to proceed in a careful way ensuring safety measures are in place, effective and understood.”

Outreach with all sectors continues in order to support the production of sector standards, which will provide additional guidance for businesses and help the sharing of best practices.

WorkSafeBC indicated additional sector-specific guidelines will be available in the coming days for child care, health services, and recreation and sports.

Learn More:

Industry-specific guidance and resources are available online: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates/covid-19-returning-safe-operation

For non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel, transportation and essential service information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/Covid-19
Or call 1 888 COVID19 (1 888 268-4319) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Pacific time), seven days a week.

For a French translation: WorkSafeBC publie des directives propres à certains secteurs d’activité pour la prochaine phase du redémarrage (PDF)

For a Punjabi translation: ਮੁੜ-ਚਾਲੂ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਦੇ ਅਗਲੇ ਪੜਾਅ ਲਈ ਵਰਕਸੇਫ਼ ਬੀਸੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਉਦਯੋਗ-ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਦਿਸ਼ਾਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ ਜਾਰੀ (PDF)

For a Chinese translation: 卑詩工作安全局發布下一階段重啟計劃的特定行業指引 (PDF)

For a Farsi translation: WorkSafeBC درک رشتنم ددجم عورش ھمانرب یدعب زاف یارب ار فانصا یامنھار (PDF)

For a Korean translation: WorkSafeBC, 재시작의 다음 단계에 대한 산업별 지침 발표 (PDF)

For a Spanish translation: WorkSafeBC publica directrices específicas para diferentes sectores en la siguiente fase de reactivación (PDF)

For a Tagalog translation: Inilabas ng WorkSafeBC ang espesipiko-saindustriyang patnubay para sa susunod na yugto ng muling pagsisimula (PDF)