COVID 19 – Monitoring and Compliance

It is the research faculty/PI’s/education leader’s responsibility to monitor compliance with this COVID-19 safety plan, in accordance with University and Health Authority directives.

If anyone has concerns regarding compliance, they should contact the Administrative Director.

Non-compliance with this safety plan may result in suspension of access privileges to the building and research facilities.

The resumption of research and educational activity  will be managed in phases, which have been developed and articulated in close collaboration with faculty members, Deans, the UBC Executive, Health Authority staff, and others.  To resume research activity successfully will require a commitment from each member of the research community to the principles and plans that the University and Health Authority have established:

    • The health and well-being of faculty, trainees, and staff are paramount.
    • The orders, notices and guidance of the Provincial Health Officer will be followed.
    • Permission to conduct on-site research and scholarship  will be limited to those who require on-site resources and cannot complete the work remotely.
    • Phased resumption of activity may need to be reversed and stricter curtailment conditions imposed in response to public health guidance or changes to the situation.
    • If an employee has a concern about returning to work, they will have an opportunity to discuss that with their supervisor, Human Resources, and their employee group as appropriate.
    • Equity will be considered in evaluating how to plan and conduct research resumption.

Faculty- and PI-level plans for resuming research activity will reflect these principles, and will account for relevant safety protocols.   There will be common protocols around handwashing and physical distancing, building-specific protocols for cleaning, and unique protocols for individual research teams and their research spaces.   It is of paramount importance that all ObGyn department members involved in on-site research activities  comply with these safety protocols at all times.  Failure to comply with these protocols may result in access permissions being withdrawn, lead to disciplinary actions being undertaken, and/or more importantly may present a risk to the health and well-being of research personnel and the community.

Individual PIs are responsible for the health and safety of personnel working in their research spaces.  Academic Heads of Unit are responsible for the health and safety of everyone who reports to them, and also responsible for ensuring that everyone in the Unit is adequately trained and supervised.  The supervisor – the PI or the Administrative Head of Unit – is responsible for investigating any complaints of non-compliance with a specific safety protocol, non-compliance with the guiding principles above or non-compliance with guidance from the Provincial Health Officer.  For support in investigating incidents of non-compliance or similar concerns, Administrative Heads of Unit or the Principal Investigator can contact their Human Resources Advisor, the Faculty Relations Senior Manager, or a Health Authority designate.

Circumstances may occur where there is a perception of non-compliance, when in fact that is not the case.  An example would be two work colleagues who live in the same home who are seen to be working less than 2 metres apart from one another.  In most cases, a quick discussion with the individuals involved may help to resolve any concern.

Where non-compliance with safety protocols is clearly occurring, however, it is important to understand the expected reporting procedure.

      1. Non-compliance with a safety protocol within a research space is first reported to the supervisor/PI. Non-compliance on the part of a PI is first reported to the Administrative Head of Unit or Administrative Director.
      2. The supervisor (PI or Head of Unit) must investigate the situation without delay by contacting the appropriate people in the team or research space. They may also seek advice from UBC Safety & Risk Services.
      3. As part of the investigation, it may be advisable, though not always feasible, to do visual inspection of the research space in question.
      4. If a claim about non-compliance is substantiated, the supervisor (PI or Head of Unit) will consult with Human Resources, Faculty Relations, Safety & Risk Services, to determine an appropriate response. The response could include:
        • Suspension of access to on-site facilities;
        • Curtailment of the type or location of activity that can be undertaken;
        • Depending on the nature and severity of the non-compliance, suspension or other employment-related discipline.
      5. Resumption of activity can only occur with the agreement of the supervisor who investigated the complaint, and only when they are satisfied that the conditions leading to the non-compliance have been resolved.