Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | October 28, 2021 Friends and family of those killed during a crane collapse at a Kelowna construction site this summer are urging the project team to pause work with new cranes. The group has started an online petition, which as of Oct. 27 had more than 600 signatories, who…
Read MoreCOVID-19: The good, the bad and the surprising
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | October 29, 2021 COVID-19 has made our lives miserable for more than a year and a half. The Journal of Commerce recently asked four western Canada experts on, respectively, medical geography, epidemiology, economics and mental health, what has struck them as noteworthy about COVID-19, including how it compares to…
Read MoreThe B.C. Human Rights Commissioner Weighs in on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
roper greyall | Article by: Sarah Blanco Christopher Munroe | August 2021 As vaccination rates increase, and the province continues to progress through each phase of its reopening plan, one of the biggest questions facing employers is whether to implement a mandatory vaccination policy for employees and, in some cases, customers. This is a complex and…
Read MoreRennie predicts major economic boom for Metro Vancouver
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 25, 2021 VANCOUVER — Metro Vancouver is poised for a new phase of growth, experts at development and real estate firm Rennie say. The company’s research shows low unemployment and high job creation could transition the region from a protracted period of recovery into a new phase…
Read MoreICBA sees mental health support demands spike
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | October 25, 2021 The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) in B.C. is seeing a surge of uptake on its employee assistance program. The group says the increase highlights the pressure the pandemic has put on businesses and their employees as well as the need to further reduce the…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC overhaul could have huge employer cost implications
Business in Vancouver | By Jock Finlayson, Ken Peacock | October 21, 2021, 7:00am WorkSafeBC is a complex organization that plays an important role in today’s economy. According to its website, WorksafeBC is: … a provincial agency dedicated to promoting safe and healthy workplaces across B.C. [that] partner[s] with workers and employers to save lives and prevent work-related…
Read MoreNew E-Limit search tool provides quick and easy access to information about B.C. exposure limits
WorkSafeBC | October 20, 2021 WorkSafeBC’s new exposure limit tool, E-Limit, provides information about B.C. exposure limits in a searchable and easy-to-read format on your mobile device or computer. Instead of searching multiple sources for key information related to exposure limits, you can use this tool to view all of the following: Chemical name and…
Read MoreCracks in the Foundation: Mental Health, Substance Use and Construction – Part Two recap
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 20, 2021 he numbers are startling. As Part One of the DCN-JOC Special Series Cracks in the Foundation: Mental Health, Substance Use and Construction highlighted, substance use continues to plague the construction industry across the country. But it’s the stories behind the numbers that truly hit home, illustrating how…
Read MoreCanadian workers ‘unequally protected’ against asbestos exposure
Journal of Commerce | Grant Cameron | October 20, 2021 Although there is a relatively robust regulatory framework around asbestos in Canada, the country still has a long ways to go, according to a study completed for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The research showed despite a federal asbestos ban being implemented in 2018, there is…
Read MoreVIDEO Interview Part 3: ‘Asking for help just opens a door for a new way of life’
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 18, 2021 Ironworker Rob Trymbulak is a recovering addict who recalls exactly what it meant when he hit rock bottom. All important facets of his life were on the line. His wife, his home and job. He was told he had to get help and thanks to…
Read MoreIsland carpenter’s life ‘unrecognizable’ after choosing to address addiction
Journal fo Commerce | Russell Hixson | October 18, 2021 Misfit. Ugly duckling. Awkward. That’s how Trevor Botkin, a trained carpenter and executive director of construction charity HeroWork Victoria, felt right from the start. He just couldn’t seem to fit in. “There were periods of my life where I was really treated poorly and bullied and…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC issues top climbing crane safety bulletin
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | October 15, 2021 British Columbia’s safety authority is pushing forward to ensure construction’s highest jobs stay safe. WorkSafeBC has released a bulletin in collaboration with BC Crane Safety on the hazards and challenges of top climbing a power crane. Five people were killed in July when a tower crane…
Read MoreSheet metal vice-president urges mental health ‘check-ins’
Journal of Commerce | Don Wall | October 14, 2021 Part two of Cracks in the Foundation: Mental Health, Substance Use and Construction, highlights the impacts of living with mental health and substance use issues firsthand through initiatives and personal, gripping stories from frontline workers. They venture to the site, often carrying a heavy burden and…
Read MoreDoctors alarmed by loophole allowing sale of used asbestos products
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | October 14, 2021 OTTAWA—Public health advocates and environmental groups say the federal government needs to close a loophole allowing the sale of second-hand products containing asbestos. Canada banned the cancer-causing mineral and products that contain it in December 2018, more than 30 years after the World Health Organization…
Read MoreB.C. invests in substance-use treatment system
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 14, 2021 VANCOUVER—The Province of British Columbia is investing $132 million over the next three years for treatment and recovery services. The funding will increase services across all regions of the province to strengthen the full continuum of substance-use treatment and recovery services, including withdrawal management, transition…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
October 12, 2021 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: Injuries to upper body Core Activity: Low slope roofing Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2021-Sep A worker was descending from…
Read MoreVIDEO PART ONE: ‘Addiction in general is very efficient at disguising itself’
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | October 13, 2021 In a candid interview with Daily Commercial News staff writer Angela Gismondi, Rob Trymbulak, an ironworker and a supervisor on the Gordie Howe Bridge project in Windsor, Ont., shares his journey from addiction to recovery. Trymbulak was an addict for 25 years and graduated from…
Read MoreIndustry Special: Planning work around high-voltage equipment? “Plan for 10.”
Journal of Commerce | WorkSafeBC | October 4, 2021 Keep at least 10 feet (3 metres) away from high-voltage powerlines and conductors. If you work around high voltage equipment you need to be aware of the safe distance (limits of approach) to stay away from it. This safe distance applies to workers, machines, tools, and equipment. …
Read MorePST Refund Extension Saves Businesses More Money
VICTORIA – A StrongerBC program that refunds businesses the PST paid on select machinery and equipment will be extended for an additional six months. This extension will give businesses another chance to reduce costs and make new investments to adapt to the changes the pandemic has required, and to set them up to take advantage…
Read MoreLast Chance! Comment on proposed changes to First Aid Regulations
Feedback deadline 4:30 pm on Friday, October 8, 2021. WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Division is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing. There are two proposed regulatory amendment packages under…
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