Occupational Health & Safety

1. Immunization Self-Reporting

Residents are required to self-report their immunizations status to the Provincial Workplace Health Contact Centre (WHCC) prior to their training. Self-reporting must be done during a specific timeframe. For more information please see ‘Immunizations – Self Reporting’ below.

Immunizations - Self Reporting

Residents are required to self-report their immunizations status to the Provincial Workplace Health Contact Centre (WHCC) prior to their training. Please do not self report prior to the date specified, as your employment record will not have been created yet and you will be asked to self report later.

Within your first 90 days (3 months) residents may self report their immunization history to the WHCC starting June 7, 2023 via one of the three methods below:

If you have any questions in regards to immunizations, please contact the Workplace Health Call Centre directly. You MUST be physically located in British Columbia (BC) to call the WHCC. The phone number is toll free and usable in BC only 1-866-922-9464. Please have all previous immunization records ready before talking to the Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) at the WHCC.

Residents must self-report their vaccination status at QR code or Link below
• For a step-by-step guide, please go to whcallcentre.ca Enter “Self-Reporting” in the search bar on the main page. Click on “Self-reporting Tool Guide for New Employees”, and it will provide you with detailed instructions.

WHCC Self-Reporting Tool

Note: when reporting through the WHCC Self-Reporting Tool, all residents should select Vancouver Coastal Health as their Health Authority employer, regardless of training location.

Vaccine Documentation Required for WHCC

Hepatitis B

A series of 3 vaccines and documentation of antibody level >10 IU/L. Residents working in Northern BC, Vancouver Island Health Authority, or Interior Health who are unsure of their Hepatitis B antibody level-should get serology testing done before starting. Residents working in any of the Vancouver area hospitals can come to a drop-in vaccination clinic at the hospitals to get vaccines or a lab REQ for serology testing.

Measles/Mumps/Rubella

2 documented doses measles/mumps vaccine required for all Residents born after 1956. History of disease no longer considered reliable. Reactive serology from measles is accepted but not for mumps.

Chicken Pox/Varicella

History of chicken pox, reactive serology, or documentation of two vaccines accepted.

Polio

Adult dose of polio vaccine recommended for Health Care Workers.

Tetanus/Diphtheria

Booster needed every 10 years. One adult dose of Pertussis recommended also (Tdap).

COVID Vaccines

A minimum of Two documented doses are required.

2. Employee Immunization Clinics

Once you have an employee ID and have self reported your immunizations to the Provincial Workplace Health Contact Centre, you may attend one of the Immunization clinics for UBC residents. Please book your appointment on the WaitWhile App (see ‘Employee Immunization Clinics – Appointment registration’ below).

Employee Immunization Clinics - Appointment registration

Please book your appointment on the WaitWhile App at the link below:

WaitWhile App

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Residents can book appointments via WaitWhile App starting on July 4, 2023VGH - Doctors ResidenceRoom 18

Residents within the lower mainland may book their appointment on the WaitWhile app to attend the clinics listed above starting July 4, 2023. If you are unable to do so, you may view our VCH – Drop in – Immunization Clinic schedule with your employee ID and a work email.

Please follow this link or use the QR code below to view the VCH Immunization Clinic Schedule.

If you are offsite sign into VCH using your userID\email and password i.e Domain\Username (ex. VCH\JSmith)

**PLEASE NOTE – you will require an employee ID prior to visiting VCH Immunization Clinics**

Residents (outside the lower mainland) who are not able to attend any clinics listed above may be eligible for reimbursement.

3. Other Occupational Health & Safety information

For all other OH&S information please refer to the headings below.

N95 Mask Fit Testing

Please ensure you are fit tested for a make and model that is located at the site you will be working. All major facilities provide mask fit testing; please inquire when you arrive.

Blood and Body Fluid Exposures

If you have an exposure to blood or a body fluid (BBFE) please notify the manager/supervisor of the unit where you are working so that the correct process can be implemented at that site-including being seen in the closest Emergency Department (ED) within two hours of the BBFE. You will need to contact the WHCC after being seen in ED to report the BBFE incident and to talk to the WHCC OHNs so that follow up serology can be provided and so that you will not be billed for the ED visit.

Exposure to a Communicable Disease or Incident

You will need to contact the WHCC (1-866-922-9464) if you have been exposed to any communicable disease or have had an incident at work.

WorkSafe BC Regulations

All employees are responsible for ensuring that they have an orientation to Safety and Prevention protocols at their work site including: fire, first aid, violence prevention, infection control, and respect in the workplace.

Occupational Health & Safety Orientation

The Occupational Health & Safety orientation, provided by the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) will take place on Friday June 16 & Friday June 30, 2023. All residents should attend one 4 hour virtual session.

A memo will be circulated to all new incoming residents, with further details on how to register for this session.