HOW TO DECLARE UNSAFE WORK DUE TO COVID - STEP BY STEP
This information was shared by teachers who have gone through the process, in case this is helpful to others. We thank them for sharing this here.
Some Background Facts:
This information was shared by teachers who have gone through the process, in case this is helpful to others. We thank them for sharing this here.
Some Background Facts:
Some Background Facts:
Public Health Canada and the Food Inspection agency are the only body in Canada that can declare what is hazardous. They have deemed SARS-CoV-2 a category 3 hazard.
canada.ca/.../biosafety.… Work Safe BC requires that when there is a hazard in a work place,
Public Health Canada and the Food Inspection agency are the only body in Canada that can declare what is hazardous. They have deemed SARS-CoV-2 a category 3 hazard.
canada.ca/.../biosafety.… Work Safe BC requires that when there is a hazard in a work place,
a worker must inform their employer and by law, an investigation must take place to see whether there is a hazard in the building. Here is WorkSafeBC’s step-by-step guidance for refusing unsafe work: worksafebc.com/.../right.../r…
“If you have reasonable cause to believe that performing a job or task puts you or someone else at risk, you MUST not perform the job or task. You must immediately notify your supervisor or employer,
who will then take the appropriate steps to determine if the work is unsafe and remedy the situation.” “If a worker refuses work because it's unsafe, workplace procedures will allow the issue to be properly understood and corrected...
As a worker, you have the right to refuse to perform a specific job or task you believe is unsafe without being disciplined by your employer. Your employer or supervisor may temporarily assign a new task to you, at no loss in pay.”
Positivity rates in the Lower Mainland:
Ro of Omicron is 18, same as measles:
Measles is classified as an airborne hazard.
List of studies that prove that COVID-19 is airborne:
https://twitter.com/greaterfoolvan/status/1478574766931931138?s=21&fbclid=IwAR0lhM8d3YL0Gg2M5td3AKzQ2KB7vlNuQo92ck_WsFDOCXMY11YC7Gqvz6A
Ro of Omicron is 18, same as measles:
https://twitter.com/dfisman/status/1478349513597333512?s=21&fbclid=IwAR1WUvo_ywFQaFWt5BMScyCqunImGh9C2D9M0zVb-qXXY6Blk66AKmBpkNs
Measles is classified as an airborne hazard.
List of studies that prove that COVID-19 is airborne:
https://twitter.com/jmcrookston/status/1284457663267581954?s=21&fbclid=IwAR0-5zeXQ8OH94w1Nzan2NM5X40640vLqddSvcOHzCFoLHnw3W9xUo9ujsQ
2. Steps to declare unsafe work
-Let your school union representative and local president know that you are going to declare unsafe work. Provide them with your reasons and suggest they write them down. Be calm and measured. Stick to the facts. Document your every conversation.
-Let your school union representative and local president know that you are going to declare unsafe work. Provide them with your reasons and suggest they write them down. Be calm and measured. Stick to the facts. Document your every conversation.
-Advise your administrator that you suspect that there is a hazard in the building and that you would like to declare unsafe work. You may want to say that you are happy to work virtually, but feel unsafe going in to the building due to there being a hazard.
-They will provide you with a form to fill out.
-On the WorkSafe form state:
- Health Canada has classified SARS CoV-2 as a category 3 hazard.
-On the WorkSafe form state:
- Health Canada has classified SARS CoV-2 as a category 3 hazard.
-Based on the number of staff and their family members that are absent in the building, you have reason to suspect that there is COVID present in the building.
-Also because, COVID is airborne, has an Ro of 18, testing positivity being so high in your community 35-50%, and that
-Also because, COVID is airborne, has an Ro of 18, testing positivity being so high in your community 35-50%, and that
the government has not provided Districts with a HEPA filters, proper ventilation, N95 masks, or CO2 monitors to protect you from an airborne virus—that you feel unsafe. If you don’t have a window in your classroom or office be sure to mention that as well.
-They may try to direct you to get back to work, but you can ask for evidence that they have conducted an investigation and point out that everyone in the building, staff and students, have not had a rapid test that day to prove they are negative.
-By law they must conduct an investigation to determine if there is COVID in the building. You will know if they’ve conducted an investigation because they will have to rapid test everyone in the building to show there is no COVID.
-You may want to call your district’s WorkSafe BC prevention officer as well and let them know that you have declared unsafe work. Ask them to call you back.
Again, document every conversation, and stick to the facts. Best of luck. Do everything you can to keep yourself and your students safe.
Link was removed, here's the archive: web.archive.org/web/2022010218…
This link didn't work above: canada.ca/en/public-heal…
This is from Manitoba, and should apply to all! 
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