Gowling WLG | August 31, 2021 | Link to Page As the COVID-19 situation progresses in Canada, many employers across the country are assessing whether and how to implement vaccination policies. Since the government of Canada’s August 13 announcement (detailed below), the trend to mandate COVID-19 vaccination in the workplace and beyond appears to be…
Read MoreTop 10 Considerations for Employers in Implementing a Vaccination Policy
Gowling WLG | August 31, 2021 | Link to Page As the COVID-19 situation progresses in Canada, many employers across the country are assessing whether and how to implement vaccination policies. Following are 10 key factors to consider in evaluating whether a vaccination policy can reasonably be implemented in your workplace: The duty to ensure…
Read MoreBREAKING: Criminal charges stayed against Kiewit, managers
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | August 31, 2021 Construction company Kiewit and several of its managers will no longer face criminal charges for the death of a worker who was crushed by a boulder at a B.C. work site. The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced today that a stay of proceedings has been entered…
Read MoreNew traffic control training provider approved in B.C.
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | September 1, 2021 WorkSafeBC (WSBC) recently approved Universal Health and Safety Inc. of Burnaby as the second provider of traffic control training and certification in the province. Until the end of June 2021, the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) had an almost 20-year run as the only traffic control…
Read MoreOHS Regulation amendments in effect September 1, 2021
From WorkSafeBC | September 1, 2021 Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation came into effect on September 1, 2021. WorkSafeBC has developed resources to help you and your stakeholders understand the amendments. Please feel free to share the following information with your networks. Overview of the amendments The amendments that came into…
Read MoreCOCA: Proof of vaccination mandate to shift B.C. culture
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | August 31, 2021 Starting Sept. 13, life for B.C. residents will change when proof of vaccination requirements mandated by health officials go into effect. While construction sites were not specifically mentioned by the provincial order, Council of Construction Associations president Dave Baspaly said the requirements represent a major shift….
Read MoreOne presumed dead after North Van site collapse
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | August 25, 2021 One person is presumed dead and another has been injured after a collapse at a construction site in North Vancouver. According to Sgt. Peter DeVries with North Vancouver RCMP, officers were called to the scene at 9:45 a.m., after reports of a collapse at a construction…
Read MoreConsultation on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation – First Aid and Tower Cranes
WorkSafe BC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing. All stakeholder feedback is carefully considered and analyzed, and provided to the Board of Directors of…
Read MoreBC Construction Health & Safety Conference
October 14, 2021 | Virtual Conference presented by BC Construction Safety Alliance Construction is an ever-changing industry a variety of challenges in the future. BCCSA has lined up some amazing speakers to present on several stimulating topics, including: Cyber security and the risks and the challenges it presents for organizations as we more to a…
Read MoreSkilled Trades Certification
On June 11, the Province announced the re-implementation of mandatory Skilled Trades Certification. While the impact of these initial 10 trades certifications are minimal for the horizontal construction sector, we understand that this first round will create the framework for future program expansion. It is important that the views and concerns of the Construction sector are…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
August 5, 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: Crush injuries Core Activity: General labour supply / Garbage, debris, industrial waste, or recyclable material removal Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C….
Read MoreConsultation on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting 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 review: Part 3, Minimum Levels of First Aid Parts 14 and…
Read MoreCrossing the Rubicon: Recent history of WorkSafeBC investigations
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | August 6, 2021 What caused a crane in downtown Kelowna to collapse and kill five people? That is the question facing WorkSafeBC investigators as they go over the evidence following the July tragedy. “Owners, prime contractors and employers are ultimately responsible for the safety of workers at their worksites,”…
Read MoreProposed policy amendments on determining workplace status
Determining workplace status Our Policy, Regulation and Research Division is releasing a discussion paper on determining workplace status with options and draft policy to stakeholders for comment. “Workplace status” refers to whether someone is an employer, worker, or independent operator. A person’s status defines the rights and responsibilities the person has under the Workers Compensation Act, including compulsory…
Read MoreVax for BC launches to get more people vaccinated, recognize pandemic heroes
Victoria | Provincial Government Press Release | July 27, 2021 Working with health authorities throughout British Columbia, the Province is making it easier than ever for people to get vaccinated with the launch of Vax for BC, the next step in the Province’s campaign to help as many eligible people as possible get vaccinated. “With…
Read MoreTower Crane Safety – Media Backgrounder
Tower cranes are essential pieces of equipment on many construction sites, but they have the potential to be hazardous. It is for this reason that WorkSafeBC’s 2021-2023 Crane and Mobile Equipment Initiative aims to identify and eliminate unsafe work practices and equipment hazards that have the potential to cause death, serious injury, or catastrophic events….
Read MoreB.C. announces new rules to protect young workers
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 22, 2021 VICTORIA – New rules are being implemented to protect young workers in B.C. The province announced it will be raising the general working age from 12 to 16 and defining the types of jobs appropriate for those under 16. Officials explained Employment Standards Act changes…
Read MoreBCCSA spearheads project to investigate substance use in construction
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | July 26, 2021 The board of directors of the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) recently approved a project to study the impact of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) on the organization’s members across the province. Executive director Mike McKenna says the BCCSA will provide funding and fiduciary oversight for…
Read MoreNew Practice Directive – Cannabis for Medical Purposes
WorkSafeBC has published a new practice directive on Cannabis for Medical Purposes. This practice directive was developed to provide guidance to WorkSafeBC officers on the principles to be considered when adjudicating a request for coverage of cannabis to address the effects of a compensable condition. The following key changes have been made since the prior…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC announces 2022 preliminary rates
WorkSafeBC announces that the preliminary average base premium rate for 2022 is proposed to be 1.55 percent of employers’ assessable payroll, which has been maintained at the same level since 2018. Learn more. For more information about the sessions, to find out how to reduce your rate, and for additional resources – click here.