Standard Safety Policies and Precautions

Until further notice, every employee of Squamish and Whistler Personnel Solutions (SPS)  is required to religiously follow the standard safety precautions that have been put in place by Work Safe BC and our province to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 including:

Health Self-Assessments:   BC COVID 19

Do I need to take a health self-assessment before every shift?

YES – Please take this self-assessment prior to requesting a shift and again 24 hours prior to starting your shift.  There is an quick and easy APP available here:  https://covid19.thrive.health/

IMPORTANT:  Should I cancel my shift if I am feeling sick?

YES – If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, please contact our temp hotline 604-905-4194 ext 1 with as much advance notice as possible to cancel your shift.  Then call 811 to determine if you should be tested for COVID-19 or self-quarantined.

SPS will have an ‘on-call shift’ posted for every work assignment so that we can have someone ready to jump in in the event that another worker is sick. And we have waived all penalties relating to shift cancellations relating to illness for workers who give us advance notice.

Arrive Prepared

What items should I bring with me to my shifts to stay safe?

In most cases, you will want to bring a few basic protection items (PPE) with you when you work a shift for SPS including:

• • A personal-sized bottle of hand sanitizer
  • A personal water bottle (shared kitchens, cups or dishes will not be provided)
  • A supply of snacks and/or lunch items to get you through the whole shift as leaving the property/work site for breaks is not encouraged.
  • A personal non-medical mask is a recommended and  acceptable measure of control and protection.  This will be important to have available in case it is not possible to physically distance yourself from others.

SPS is offering each employee a PPE allowance of $20 to cover the cost of purchasing hand sanitizer and a non-medical mask.  They are available at several locations in Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish including:  REXALL, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and Frontier Pharmacy.  Please submit your receipts for these items with your initial timesheet and we will reimburse up to $20.

Frequent Hand Washing

What are the expectations for frequent hand washing for workers?

Frequent hand washing is highly encouraged during the workday with either warm water and soap where available or hand sanitizer.  Hand washing should occur at the following times:

• • Arriving at work
  • Before and after going on a break
  • Periodically throughout the day, especially if interfacing with customers or coworkers
  • After handling delivery documents, packages, boxes, bags, tools or equipment
  • As you leave work

You may see new signage in your workplace about hand washing expectations  Please follow these directives religiously.

Practicing Physical Distancing While at a Workplace

Do I have to maintain 2 metres of distance from my co-workers all the time?

Yes, as much as possible.   Your workplace and the activities you regularly undertake should have been rearranged as much as possible to maintain physical distancing of 2 metres.  You should also avoid carpooling or sharing of vehicles whenever possible.  However, even with all the workplace rearrangements there may still be a few tasks where you may need to be in close proximity to another worker. If these infrequent tasks are short they represent a low risk of potential transmission.

What if I have to work within 2 metres of a co-worker or customer for longer periods?

If you have to be in close proximity with other workers or customers for long periods of time, then you should look further at whether the task can be redesigned or work stations moved apart.  If this is not possible, consider the use of a non-medical mask.

What if I am required to share tools or equipment with my coworkers?

Whenever possible, avoid sharing tools or equipment with coworkers.  If you have to share equipment, take a moment  to clean and disinfect points of contact on the equipment before and after you use it.   Be sure to ask a supervisor on site if disinfectant has not been provided for this purpose.

Identifying Areas of Concern

What if I feel unsafe at a job site and do not feel appropriate measures are being taken?

It is important that you politely and calmly ask questions and communicate any concerns that you have regarding safe working practices at a job site.  Each of the businesses that you are working for through SPS will have their own Work Safe Plan that may be different from other job sites that you’ve experienced.  

If you do not feel comfortable discussing your concerns with your immediate supervisor on a job site, please contact our SPS Temp Hotline at 604-905-4194 ext 1 and we will assist you in getting your concerns addressed.   

You have the right to refuse to do work that you believe presents an undue hazard.   However, we ask that before refusing to do any work for this reason that you take a moment to respectfully discuss your concerns and consider alternate solutions that would allow you to proceed safely.

RESOURCES:
Worksafebc.com – COVID-19 Safe Operation –  Phase2