Dr. Bonnie Henry says focus shifting making sure overall compliance strong as economy recovery phase starts

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The province’s top doctor is expecting all businesses to follow compliance orders as B.C. reopens for phase two.

During the province’s COVID-19 update Tuesday, Dr. Bonnie Henry says she expects employees and customers to report anyone skirting new COVID-19 workplace guidelines.

“The accountability is on all of us to understand what safety things need to be in place relative to our specific situation,” she says.

Henry says that includes hair salons which were not regulated before the pandemic started.

There’s an order in place that requires businesses, all businesses, to post their plans publicly, and that’s where the accountability is.

Henry adds the collective goal is to educate rather than punish bad operators.

“Our first line of action is not to fine people or shut them down. It’s to ensure that they are taking the necessary actions that we need to keep people safe. Having said that, there are abilities for Environmental Health Officers to shut down a business if they feel that there are health hazards that put the public at risk.”

She says WorkSafeBC also has the power to issue penalties.

“There will be an inspection process based on priorities, as well. If the public has concerns, they can talk to their local public health EHO’s [environmental health officers] who can do inspections on a complaint basis,” she adds.