A communicable disease is an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxic product that can be transmitted in a workplace from one person to another. Examples of communicable disease that may circulate are COVID-19, norovirus, and seasonal influenza (WorkSafe BC, Communicable Disease Prevention: a guide for employers, 2021). Fort Nelson First Nation (“FNFN”) is committed to preventing the spread of communicable diseases, and as such, in addition to our Communicable Disease Prevention Plan we have also implemented a Communicable Disease and Illness Control Policy for our employees and any other persons working for us. We commit that we will monitor announcements from the Provincial Health Officer, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), WorkSafe BC, and Provincial and Federal Governments, and we will also consider information made available by the World Health Organization (WHO). FNFN is committed to keeping workers and clients safe by preventing the exposure and spread of communicable diseases.

In the event of a pandemic FNFN will implement its emergency office closure (lockdown) and safe operations plans.

This Plan has been developed in consideration of advice outlined by WorkSafe BC, the British Columbia Public Health Act, and in collaboration with our employees and the Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee, supervisors, and management, and may be updated from time to time as necessary. The purpose of the Plan is to speak to the measures necessary to manage the workplace, workforce, and workforce planning, in preventing the exposure and spread of communicable diseases.