Occupational & Preventive Health

• Workplace risk assessments with consideration of personal health histories of employees
• Supportive consultation with the Occupational Health Nurse, including a focus on prevention of injury/exposure
• Immunization review with an Occupational Health Nurse
• Vaccinations, tests, and screenings based on workplace exposure risks
• Medical clearance for respirator fit testing
• Pregnancy planning and workplace risk assessments (i.e. chemical exposure risk)
• Occupational allergy prevention, diagnosis, and follow-up care
• Workplace risk assessments for exposure to infectious agents (i.e. Hepatitis B Virus)
• Consultations with the OPH Physician
• Specialist referrals for occupational related health concerns
• Referral to the Centre for Workplace Accessibility or the Stay at Work/Return to Work Team

As a manager or supervisor, you are responsible for the health and safety of your employees at work. For some employees, enrolment in the OPH program is required by the provincial and/or federal regulations described below.

• WorkSafeBC Regulation 6.39 states that an employer must offer vaccination to all workers who are at risk of occupational exposure to biological agents for which there is a vaccine that prevents against infection.
• The Canadian Biosafety Standards & Guidelines state that a medical surveillance program must be in place to help prevent and detect illnesses related to the exposure of personnel to infectious material or toxins.

Employees are encouraged to enrol in OPH as a part of their UBC onboarding process, or at any point during their employment at UBC if they meet one or more of the following criteria.

1. If your employees’ work at UBC involves one or more of the following exposure risks, ask them to enrol in OPH by booking a First Assessment appointment with the OPH Nurse. Alternatively, you can contact us directly and we will facilitate the enrolment of your employee or team in the OPH program.

• Entry into a hospital, clinical or dental facility
• Potential exposure to human blood, body fluid, tissue or cell lines
• Work with animal species
• Potential exposure to human feces and/or urine
• Potential exposure to infectious biological agents
• Work in a childcare facility
• Potential exposure to dirt/soil or rusty metal
• Entry into a Containment Level III facility

2. If one of your employees has had a workplace exposure incident (i.e. to human blood, body fluid, or tissue), instruct them to contact OPH after they have received appropriate first aid and/or medical follow-up.

To book an appointment, please email the OPH team at oph.info@ubc.ca. 

Every situation is unique and OPH will work with you and/or your employees to determine the next steps to help support physical and mental health in the workplace. We take into account potential workplace risks within the context of personal health needs in order to recommend and provide follow-up services like vaccinations, tests, health screenings and referrals to specialists.

Care & support

Our medical team provides evidence-based services, resources and advice to promote a healthy UBC community, in support of UBC’s Strategic Plan.

Accessibility

OPH is committed to providing accessible services. OPH offers appointments over the phone and in-person at our accessible on-campus clinic. Employees are expected to engage in all OPH activities during work hours. If there’s anything we can do to make an appointment more accessible (i.e. sign language interpretation, captioning, accessible parking, etc.), please contact oph.info@ubc.ca.

Confidentiality

OPH operates under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and does not disclose personal or medical information to anyone without their written consent.