Construction work has been deemed an essential service during
the state of emergency declared in B.C. in light of COVID-19.
Construction work is considered part of those daily services
essential to preserving life, health, public safety and basic
social functioning. The term "construction work"
includes "construction firms, skilled trades and
professionals, construction and light industrial machinery and
equipment rental". The work must; however, be carried
out in accordance with the Public Health Officer's (the
"PHO") directions. Those directions are summarized
in our article, COVID-19: Health and
Safety Protocols for Construction Sites, and can be viewed here.
Organizations providing essential services operating during the
pandemic are exposed to liability should there be an outbreak or
spread of COVID-19 as a result of the organizations
operations. In response, the Minister of Public Safety and
Solicitor General for B.C. has taken an extraordinary measure
