30+ Whistler workplaces cited for COVID-related violations in two days

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WHISTLER (NEWS 1130) – The post-Christmas surge in COVID-19 cases recorded at a popular ski resort north of Vancouver has led to WorkSafeBC stepping up enforcement in the area.

Nearly half of about 70 Whistler businesses inspected during a weekend blitz on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 were issued pandemic-related violation notices.

The head of prevention services, Al Johnson, says 32 places were issued non-compliance orders.

“We spent most of our time in retail operations in Whistler. We did inspect the ski hill, as well. And orders that were written, we follow up on and employers are willing to make those changes and those improvements and comply, so they’re certainly wanting to do the right thing,” Johnson said.

As of last week, 676 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Whistler since Jan. 1.

Johnson says this targeted blitz helps explain why so many new cases were recorded shortly after the holidays.

“And that was purposeful, just to make ourselves present and to find out what was going on. We did approximately 69 inspections and we found that there were 32 employers that needed to improve their program and correct some things that weren’t happening as well as they should be,” he said.

“In some cases, they weren’t sure of what they exactly needed to be doing, and so we reminded them of that. In other cases, things have fallen down a little bit and they needed to make those improvements, so we do have officers up there on a regular basis, but that was the outcome of that particular blitz,” Johnson added.

Johnson says inspections were also stepped up across the province in the days leading up to Super Bowl Sunday.

“We did about 130 inspections in those areas to remind employers again that if you encounter situations on Super Bowl — ie: greater crowd — your program has to reflect that. How are you going to maintain COVID safety if some other element changes in your workplace?”

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He tells NEWS 1130 about 100 extra inspections done Feb. 14 also identified approximately 32 violations.

“On Super Bowl Sunday itself and, really, for the same reason. Hopefully, to catch them doing it right, if you will. We wanted to make sure that their plans were properly executed and what they said they were going to do, as far as a COVID safety plan, they were actually practicing that on the shop floor.”

Vancouver Coastal Health has not said how many of the Whistler cases were from people who don’t live or work in the area.

Though a different region, Interior Health has shared similar statistics related to a community cluster at Big White mountain.

When asked about this during a briefing last week, Health Minister Adrian Dix suggested all 676 cases in Whistler are local.

“If, for example, you live in community X and you were to visit Whistler and you were to have COVID-19 transmitted to you while you were at Whistler and you returned home, and you tested positive in, say, Fraser Health, that would count as a Fraser Health case because it’s the place where you reside. So, in the case of Whistler, what we’re talking about in general, this is true.”

Updated case numbers from Whistler are expected later this week.

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