Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | October 26, 2022 Risk reduction needs a hierarchical approach along with a holistic outlook, according to one safety expert. WorkSafeBC prevention officer Steven Mah explained highlights of the provincial regulator’s Construction High Risk Strategy (HRS) at the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance’s (BCCSA) Health and Safety conference held in…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC develops new self-evaluation tool for manufacturing sector
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 27, 2022 VANCOUVER – WorkSafeBC, British Columbia’s safety regulator, is introducing a new self-evaluation tool for employers in the province’s manufacturing sector to identify and address gaps in occupational health and safety programs. B.C.’s manufacturing industry has an injury rate 24 per cent higher than the provincial…
Read MoreConstruction Industry Rehabilitation Plan Survey – Still Open!
Construction workers account for a disproportionate number of overdose deaths. Through the pandemic, the opioid crisis has further worsened. The Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP) is a union and employer funded organization dedicated to providing treatment for substance use and related mental health issues. CIRP is in the process of assessing how to best meet…
Read MoreInsurance Essentials: Contractor insurance is vital during recessions
Journal of Commerce | Jon Hogg | October 12, 2022 Amidst the spectre of a looming recession, builders and contractors are understandably looking for ways to lower their operating costs. However, reducing your insurance coverage, particularly during a recession, is not wise. Regrettably, curtailing construction site theft is not a new dilemma. It’s estimated the cost…
Read MoreB.C. changes employment standards to address safety of young workers
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 13, 2022 VICTORIA – The Government of British Columbia is changing employment standards to better outline the types of work that are suitable for those aged 16 to 18. B.C. Ministry of Labour staff developed the rules by examining WorkSafeBC injury data and labour laws in other…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC fines firm for unsafe Richmond worksite
Workers were not protected from a risk of falling off a roof. Richmond News | Valerie Leung | Oct 17, 2022 A home service business has been fined for an unsafe Richmond worksite last month. Vancouver-based SOS Guttervac Home Services was fined $2,500 for the lack of fall protection for its workers as they were on…
Read MoreMCABC Christmas Cocktail Lounge – Nov 28th – Register Now!
BCCA announces new board chair
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 20, 2022 VICTORA — The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) has announced Anthony Minniti has been elected as board chair for the 2022-2023 term effective immediately. Minniti is based in Victoria and is CGI Constructor’s vice-president of operations for Canada and served on the board of directors…
Read More2022 Collective Perspective Survey
On behalf of the BC Chamber of Commerce: The 2022 Collective Perspective Survey was released yesterday with completion date/time Friday, October 21, 2022 at 5.00pm (PST). This annual survey captures insight from businesses of every size, and from every sector and region in the province — making it the largest economic snapshot of B.C.’s business environment. The survey results will…
Read MoreInspectional Focus- Prevention of Flyform Failures
WorkSafe prevention officers will be inspecting flyforms on construction sites throughout the Vancouver lower mainland and in Victoria, starting November 1. Why Flyforms? Between August 2020 and March 2021 there were five significant incidents where a flyform on a concrete high rise was being moved (i.e., cycled) and a structural component failed. These actions resulted…
Read MoreEmployment Standards Amendment for the Employment of Young People
The British Columbia Ministry of Labour has approved amendments to the Employment Standards Regulation identifying work that is considered too hazardous for children and young people to perform. The amendments have now been approved and come into force on January 1, 2023. The regulation completes the work started with the 2019 amendments to the Employment Standards…
Read MoreTechnical skills gap could have major impact in 2023, economist tells MCAC
Journal of Commerce | Don Wall | October 3, 2022 Analysts generally speak of Canada’s ICI construction workforce crunch in terms of raw recruiting numbers but the problem is compounded by a lack of technical trade skills, a BuildForce economist told a conference of mechanical contractors recently. With construction unemployment now sitting at two or three…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
September 26, 2022 Construction incident summaries are based on information obtained as soon as possible after the incidents: they are preliminary and subject to change. Details have been edited to protect workers’ privacy. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Penetrating wound Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of…
Read MoreBCCA’s federally funded apprenticeship drive officially begins
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | September 29, 2022 VICTORIA – British Columbia’s construction employers can now start to access $40,000 through the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) to offset the costs of onboarding and training first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal trades. The initial funding is part of a previously announced $21 million…
Read MoreHAVAN’s Bringing it Home Campaign
HAVAN’s “Bringing it Home” campaign is created to inform and engage municipal candidates across Metro Vancouver, and to advocate on behalf of our members. 2022 Municipal Elections With municipal elections being held across BC on October 15, 2022, there is no doubt that housing will be at the top of the list of issues that…
Read MoreHAVAN’s Career Expo
November 1, 2022 11:00 AM – November 5, 2022 7:00 PM (PDT) Source Real Time Leads. Profile Your Company as an Industry Leader. In response to the industry’s skilled labour shortage, under the support of CHBA BC and presenting sponsor FortisBC, HAVAN’s Women’s Council is launching the inaugural online Residential Construction Career Expo on November…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC imposes more than $719,000 fine for asbestos violations
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | September 20, 2022 KIMBERLEY, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has imposed a massive penalty on GFL Environmental for failure to provide workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) when conducting asbestos abatement work. The Kimberley, B.C. company is being fined $719,488.79, the maximum administrative penalty that can be imposed in 2022,…
Read MoreBuilding Builders mentorship program opens in B.C.
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | September 22, 2022 VICTORIA – The Building Builders mentorship program is officially open. The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) program is designed to connect unemployed and underemployed workers in British Columbia with experienced mentors across all disciplines of the provincial construction industry. “If you don’t have the right…
Read MoreBurnaby demo bylaw requires deposits, encourages diversion
Journal of Commerce | Grant Cameron | September 26, 2022 A new construction and demolition bylaw is coming into effect in Burnaby, B.C., this fall which is aimed at encouraging builders and developers to divert discarded materials from landfills to recycling facilities. Contractors who carry out demolitions will be required to pay a non-refundable application fee…
Read MoreFenBC becomes Canadian region of FGIA
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | September 8, 2022 VICTORIA — The Fenestration Association of British Columbia (FenBC) is a Canadian region of the Fenestration and Glazing Industry alliance (FGIA) as of Sept. 1. The boards of both organizations approved the creation of FGIA’s first Canadian region by integrating FenBC as the newly formed…
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