Active health screening

This message below was sent to all SFU supervisors from SFU's Human Resources department. For more information, the SFU COVID-19 Go Forward Plan outlines the measures we are undertaking to help keep our community safe as the global pandemic continues. This plan includes the best knowledge and resources available at the time of this writing, and we will continue to update as the experts learn more about this pandemic.

Following the new public health orders issued on Saturday, November 7th for the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions, employers are now required by law to conduct in-person daily health screening for all employees and contractors entering the workplace.

Supervisors are asked to accommodate remote work for any employee who is able to work remotely, as we did this spring. For employees required to work on-campus, supervisors are responsible for ensuring that they are actively screened before starting work, every day.

What is active health screening?

• Active health screening is asking employees and contractors a series questions about their health status and COVID-19. 
• Active Health screening can be completed through the BC government COVID-19 self-assessment tool https://bc.thrive.health/ or asking:
• • Are you experiencing any of the following new on set symptoms: fever, new or worsening cough, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat/painful swallowing, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting, fatigue, muscle aches, loss of appetite, chills, headache, loss of sense of smell?
  • Have you traveled outside of Canada, including the United States, within the last 14 days?
  • Have you been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis within the last 14 days?
  • Have you been told to self-isolate in accordance with Public Health Directives?

• Supervisors must confirm that employees have completed the self-assessment each day prior to beginning work on campus. This can be done in-person while maintaining two meters physical distancing or through a phone call or zoom meeting with the on-campus employee.  

Please Note: SFU is not required to keep a record of daily screenings, therefore, supervisors should not keep a list of employee responses or a log of who passed the screening.

If an employee answers “yes” to any question, including having just one symptom or refuses to answer, they have not passed the screening. If that is the case, please advise the employee to follow the BC government COVID-19 self-assessment tool recommendations. If in-person, they must return home and call 8-1-1 to help guide what to do. The province of BC has also set up a dedicated COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-COVID19 or text 604-630-0300. 

We thank you for doing your part to protect each other and ensure the health and wellbeing of students, faculty and staff.

For any questions, please reach out to your HR Business Partner or to Wellness & Recovery.

Please stay safe, healthy and well.

Kind regards,

Human Resources

Simon Fraser University