Journal of Commerce | John Clinkard | December 22, 2020 It would be difficult to imagine a series of horrific events that could match the negative impacts that COVID-19 has had on global economic activity during the year just ending. That said, from our perspective, the announcement of the delivery of several very effective COVID-19 vaccines,…
Read MoreCOVID-19 outbreak declared at Teck Mining project sites
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | December 18, 2020 ELKFORD, B.C. — The COVID-19 virus has spread to Teck mining operations near Elkford, B.C. Interior Health announced that the outbreak has 27 confirmed cases across three sites operated by Teck Mining impacting B.C. and out-of-province residents. Here are the sites. Fording River Operations: eight…
Read MoreTrans Mountain shuts down pipeline expansion project until Jan. 4 to address worker safety
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | December 17, 2020 BURNABY, B.C. – Trans Mountain says it is shutting down construction on its pipeline expansion project until early January for safety reasons. Officials from the company and the Canada Energy Regulator said Wednesday that a contractor was seriously injured a day earlier at the site…
Read MoreBC Construction Association developing guidelines for construction management
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | December 18, 2020 The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) is in the process of developing a set of guidelines for the construction management (CM) method of project delivery. BCCA president Chris Atchison and VP of industry standard practices Warren Perks say the guidelines will outline the best ways to…
Read MoreProvince expands COVID-19 enforcement measures
Office of the Premier | December 16, 2020 The Province is expanding provincial COVID-19 ticket enforcement and workplace safety measures to keep British Columbians safe, as well as mitigate the effects on health-care systems, communities and the economy in the ongoing government response to COVID-19. “While I’m pleased to report that vaccinations in B.C. have…
Read MoreHappy Holidays from COCA!
We extend a special greeting to express our sincere appreciation for your confidence over the past year and your collective commitment to safety. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for COCA and the construction sector as a whole. The global pandemic that is affecting our communities and work sites is perhaps the greatest challenge of…
Read MoreLatest COVID-19 updates
The provincial health officer (PHO) has issued a province-wide order that affects all employers, and includes additional requirements for specific industries and sectors. WorkSafeBC has updated the information and resources as of December 14 to reflect the latest updates to the order. Masks are required in many indoor public setting and all retail stores: Details of mask requirements and new…
Read MoreBCCA announces Builders Code Champions
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | December 16, 2020 VICTORIA — The British Columbia Construction Association’s (BCCA) Builders Code program has unveiled its Builders Code Champion Award winners. The awards go to program participants who demonstrate leadership in creating an inclusive, positive work culture in the B.C. construction industry. The Builders Code, which was…
Read MoreContractor seriously injured at Trans Mountain site in B.C., construction stopped
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | December 16, 2020 BURNABY, B.C. – The Canada Energy Regulator says a contractor was seriously injured Tuesday (Dec. 15) at a Trans Mountain construction site in British Columbia. Chief executive officer Gitane De Silva says in a statement Wednesday that her thoughts are with the person who was…
Read MoreCan B.C. employers force employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
CTV News | Shannon Paterson | December 2, 2020 VANCOUVER — With many British Columbians still working remotely, employers are likely counting on the COVID-19 vaccine to get people safely back to the office. “I expect that is top-of-mind based on the conversations I’ve had with many employers to date,” said employment lawyer Amy Frankel,…
Read MoreBuilders Code 2020 Award Winners
Victoria, B.C. (December 14, 2020) – The Builders Code is honouring six employers with Builders Code Champion Awards for leading the way in advancing the culture of BC’s industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sector. Their efforts have contributed to an increase in the participation of women in BC’s construction trades from 4.6 to 6 per cent…
Read MorePolicy, Regulation and Research Division Announcement
The Policy, Regulation and Research Division of WorkSafeBC (PRRD) would like to advise you of policy changes reflecting legislative amendments to the Workers Compensation Act (Act) coming into effect on January 1, 2021. On August 14, 2020, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2020(Bill 23) came into effect. Under Bill 23, 34 legislative amendments were made to the Act. Two of these legislative amendments concern permanent partial disability…
Read MoreBC Housing Building Smart Sessions in January
Improved Earthquake Performance and Resilience for New Buildings – Tuesday January 12th, 9 to noon BC Housing is offering a 3-hour webinar on January 12, 2021 from 9 am – 12 noon PDT entitled Building Smart: Improved Earthquake Performance and Resilience for New Buildings. This webinar addresses regulatory measures and processes for improving seismic resilience that…
Read MoreResearch reveals how airflow inside a car may affect COVID-19 transmission risk
Science Daily | December 5, 2020 A new study uses computer simulations to track airflows inside a car’s passenger cabin, providing potential strategies — some of them counterintuitive — for reducing the risk of transmitting airborne diseases. Read on.
Buildings Week: Alberta industry stakeholders share firsthand experiences with COVID-19 during webinar
Journal of Commerce | Don Procter | December 7, 2020 When BURNCO Rock Products saw its first worker test positive for COVID-19 in Calgary, Alta., the company immediately removed the employee from the site. Tracing was initiated, eight co-workers were isolated and three work areas were shut for sanitation. The company was quick to act and…
Read MoreBuildings Week: COVID-19 drives concrete response and pandemic preparedness
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | December 7, 2020 Alberta and Ontario’s concrete industries worked through different conditions at the outset of COVID-19 but have both adopted practices for both present and future pandemics. Concrete Alberta executive director Dan Hanson and Concrete Ontario president Bart Kanters took part in the COVID-19: How is the concrete…
Read MoreLincor heals workers with Industrial Athlete program
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | December 7, 2020 When Jon Walker was in a car accident that sent him to a physiotherapist for back and neck treatment he got an idea. Walker is the president of commercial and industrial painting company Lincor in B.C. He would often see workers getting the same injuries from…
Read MoreIndustry Special: Ensuring construction workers stay safe as COVID-19 cases rise
Journal of Commerce | Jaret Swanson | November 30, 2020 While so many people have been working from home, workers in the construction industry have been on site at jobs since the pandemic started. From the beginning, B.C.’s Public Health Officer (PHO) declared construction an essential service, along with health care facilities, grocery stores, manufacturing operations,…
Read MoreCall to Action re Hard Hats!
WorkSafeBC has rescheduled the public hearing on proposed amendments to Parts 6, 8, 16, 18, and 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation to December 10, 2020. In light of the ongoing and rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and in an effort to maximize physical distancing, the public hearing will be held virtually. Please share with your…
Read More$136 million in funding available for COVID-19 resiliency projects
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | December 3, 2020 VICTORIA — Local governments, Indigenous communities and non-profits can now apply to the Province of B.C. for nearly $136 million in infrastructure grants to help develop resilience in response to COVID-19. The province has partnered with Ottawa to use the new COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream…
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