This year has been challenging to say the least and you’ve likely had to pivot and adapt for your clients and your continued survival in business and in life.
As we move into the final stretch of the summer, we’d like to remind all members the risks of COVID-19 and the strict health and safety protocols regarding work are still with us and will likely be with us for some time.
In fact, the BC government just extended the Provincial State of Emergency again on August 4 to 18. The state of emergency allows the government to continue to use extraordinary powers under the Emergency Program Act to support the province’s COVID-19 pandemic response and aid the province’s efforts to lobby the federal government to keep the Canada-US border closed to non-essential travel.
On July 10, the COVID-19 Related Measures Act came into force, enabling the COVID-19 pandemic provisions created for citizens and businesses to continue as needed even if the provincial state of emergency ends.
So, until we hear otherwise, we all need to continue with physical distancing between ourselves and others, use technology in place of riskier face-to-face interactions whenever possible, and use masks and/or gloves when you have no choice but to touch surfaces that aren’t your own. And, just as importantly, we need to wash our hands regularly (20 seconds at the minimum) and use hand sanitizers when we cannot.
As our CEO Baldev mentioned in his June 23 eMemo, there is no expiry date for COVID-19 public safety protocols and Realtor or brokerage non-compliance could violate BC’s Public Health Act and potentially The REALTOR® Code and Standards of Business Practice.
Here are some additional tips and reminders that may be helpful.
Fake mask and face covering exemption cards:
In the past few weeks, fake mask exemption cards have popped up on social media from anti-mask groups and there have been anti-mask protests in downtown Vancouver. The cards being circulated by the groups typically say the person who carries one has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask or face covering. The Canadian Red Cross says the cards also contain a version of their organization’s logo, but the groups don’t have their permission to use it. The cards also often have a medical care seal and a phone number for the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
The Canadian Red Cross said they are not aware of any official mask exemption cards being produced within Canada that would give a card holder this type of exemption. The Canadian Human Rights Commission also says they would not produce posters or cards with this type of information.
New TransLink and BC Transit mask requirement and exemption cards coming:
Today (August 6), TransLink and BC Transit (which serves the Abbotsford and Mission areas) announced that transit users will be required to wear face coverings or non-medical masks starting on August 24. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the transit authorities’ decision to make masks mandatory will help to make the use of transit safer for passengers.
Transit users who cannot wear a mask due to an underlying medical condition or disability will be exempt from the new policy and won’t be required to wear a mask. Those who meet these criteria will be able to request a TransLink/BC Transit-branded exemption card, which notes they are exempt from wearing a face mask.
The following individuals may be exempted from the mandatory mask policy:
- Anyone with an underlying medical condition or disability which inhibits the ability to wear a mask or face covering;
- People unable to place or remove a mask or face covering without assistance;
- Children under five years of age;
- Employees (including bus operators) working behind a physical barrier or within areas designated for staff and not for public access; and
- Police, employees or first responders in an emergency.
BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said many times that the use of non-surgical masks or face coverings are not 100 per cent guaranteed to protect you or others from COVID-19, however she supports the use of them in situations when maintaining physical distancing is not possible (e. g. on transit or when you could find yourself in close proximity with others). Dr. Henry does not feel the sole use of masks without additional health and safety measures would be effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
WorkSafeBC appears to agree with Dr. Henry. They consider the use of masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be less effective than other health and safety protocols.
WorkSafeBC’s advice on selecting health and safety protocols:
WorkSafeBC says different health and safety protocols offer different levels of protection. They recommend that you use the protocols that offer the highest level of protection and add more protocols as required.
First level of protection: Elimination of Risk
Limit the number of people around you and others as much of possible by:
- working from home
- creating physical distance between people (at least 2 metres or 6 feet)
- establishing occupancy limits (e. g. at showings, open houses, at the office)
- adjusting work tasks as needed to avoid being in close contact with others
- rearranging workspaces if you can and if you are sharing an office with others
Second level of protection: Engineering Controls
If you can’t maintain physical distancing, create physical barriers to separate people.
Although it may not be practical for you to install plexiglass to maintain physical distancing in a non-office setting, you can restrict access to small spaces that do not allow physical distancing, for example at an in-person viewing or Open House.
Third level of protection: Administrative Controls
Establish rules and guidelines.These are things like establishing clear cleaning protocols, restricting the sharing of tools such as pens or tablets or cleaning them after each use, putting temporary stickers on the floor to control traffic flow through an Open House to maintain physical distancing and leaving doors open to minimize people having to touch surfaces.
Fourth level of protection: Personal Protective Equipment
If you feel the first three levels of protection aren’t enough to control health and safety risks, consider using PPE such as masks or gloves and ensure they are properly worn, handled and disposed of.
If someone arrives at an Open House or an in-person showing without a mask, you can either provide one to them or deny entry if your well-communicated policy is that every visitor must wear a mask or face covering. That includes Realtors or members of the public who may turn up with a mask exemption card.
If you have questions about work-related health and safety issues, contact WorkSafeBC at 1-888-621-7233 (Monday to Friday 8:05 am to 4:30 pm).
For additional information from WorkSafeBC, go to:
Real estate: Protocols for returning to operation
For additional information on COVID-19, check out the following resources:
- FVREB’s past articles
- BC Centre for Disease Control
- HealthLink BC – COVID-19 Resources
- BCREA’s COVID-19 hub
- CREA’s COVID-19 hub
- TransLink’s mandatory mask policy
Source: FVREB Communications