Illness policy for members of the public

Policy revised 2023/06/14

This Policy applies to all members of the public participating in an in-person proceeding at the Labour Relations Board’s (the Board’s) premises or at an off-site location. An in-person proceeding includes a hearing, mediation, settlement conference, informal/alternate dispute resolution process, case management or any other meeting (in-person proceeding).

Policy objectives

This Policy forms part of the Board’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan. It is in the public interest that the Board ensures in-person proceedings are held in a way that protects visitors to the Board and Board staff. The Policy is subject to change in response to Public Health Orders, other applicable legislation or regulation, or the Board’s experience in administering it.

Where the Board requests, all persons authorized to attend an In-Person Proceeding shall confirm in writing by email to registrar@lrb.bc.ca, that they have read, understand, and will strictly comply with the requirements of this Policy.

Symptoms

In accordance with common symptoms associated with communicable disease, such as COVID-19, the symptoms (even if mild) that are covered by this Policy include:

• fever or chills
• cough
• loss of sense of smell or taste
• difficulty breathing
• sore throat
• loss of appetite
• runny nose
• sneezing
• extreme fatigue or tiredness
• headache
• body aches
• diarrhea
• nausea and vomiting

Prohibitions

No person may attend an in-person proceeding:

1. if they are fully vaccinated, for five days after they test positive for COVID-19, their symptoms have improved, and they no longer have a fever
2. if they are not fully vaccinated, for ten days after they test positive for COVID-19, their symptoms have improved, and they no longer have a fever
3. if they exhibit symptoms of a communicable disease starting the day prior to the proceeding
4. if they have been directed by Public Health or a health professional to self-isolate

On arrival at an in-person proceeding, every person must verbally affirm that they do not fall under any of the Prohibitions set out in this Policy.

Illness plan

Where the Board requests, the Party (i.e., the representative for the party to the proceeding or a single self-represented individual), must, by no later than the day before a scheduled in-person proceeding, or such other time frame as established by the Board representative:

1. submit an illness plan as required by this Policy and
2. confirm they have adequate supplies of PPE, such as including masks and gloves, as well as hand sanitizers and/or disinfecting wipes, in the event a participant in their caucus develops symptoms in the course of the in-person proceeding.

The illness plan must address how the Party will deal with the onset of symptoms for any individual member of their caucus, even if the symptoms are mild. At a minimum, the illness plan must include the following:

1. all members of the Party’s caucus have been provided with, have read, and understand the illness plan
2. the name of the Party representative, and an alternate, to whom the ill individual is to report in the event of the onset of symptoms
3. the ill individual must follow all directions given by the Party representative and/or a Board representative, which must include:
   1. an obligation to immediately wash and/or sanitize their hands, put on a mask, and put on gloves – all of which is to be supplied and provided by the Party for their caucus
   2. if attending at the Board’s premises, the individual will then go directly to a designated room away from other people or, if off-site, to an isolated location away from other people
   3. using a mask and keeping a minimum distance of two metres, the Party representative will obtain from the ill individual a list of all the areas, surfaces, and individuals (name and contact information) with whom they have come into contact at the Board or off-site premises that day
   4. the Party representative will provide that information immediately to the Board representative who will:
      1. put up signage/cordon off all the areas and surfaces identified
      2. contact the building cleaning services for disinfection
   5. the Party representative will assess the individual having regard to WorkSafe BC Guidelines and advise the Board representative of whether the person has been:
      1. transferred to hospital as a result of severe symptoms or
      2. advised to go home and call 811 or to get tested.
   6. the in-person proceeding will be immediately adjourned
   7. the Party will update the Board representative with respect to the status of the individual, including whether the individual tested positive or negative for COVID-19 or was not tested but was advised by a health care professional that they should maintain a period of self-isolation and for how long​