COCA received the following note on May 12, 2020: I am reaching out to share some very sad news – for our organization, for our province, and for many people, personally. Ralph McGinn, WorkSafeBC’s Board Chair, passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon. This is shocking and saddening for all of us who knew him. He was…
Read MoreReturning to operations in B.C. in a healthy and safe manner
With the announcement last week of the gradual, phased reopening of B.C. businesses, WorkSafeBC would like to provide an overview of their role in the provincial government’s Restart Plan. The attached letter from WorkSafeBC’s President and CEO, Anne Naser outlines their approach. WorkSafeBC is committed to providing all of our stakeholders with guidance and support on…
Read MoreConstruction site fever monitoring needs comprehensive program: Stakeholders
Journal of Commerce | Jean Sorensen | May 11, 2020 Forehead thermometers are popping up everywhere from the retail sector to airports as a preventative assault against spreading COVID-19 and the construction industry in Western Canada has been a fast adapter. But these devices come with caveats, industry advisers say. Melanie Gorman Ng, a research scientist…
Read MoreBC Hydro conducting fever checks on employees at Site C
Journal of Commerce | Jean Sorensen | May 11, 2020 BC Hydro has implemented COVID-19 health screening measures at its Site C construction site, said a spokesperson for the utility company in a statement. “This includes conducting temperature scans on every worker at the gate before they enter the site. This is done through the…
Read MoreAlberta greenlights roadwork to help struggling economy
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | May 11, 2020 EDMONTON — The Province of Alberta is putting more than 775 people to work through both direct and indirect jobs in the Fort McMurray and north central region by investing in maintenance to highways, bridges, pothole repairs and other safety measures. Funding for the projects…
Read MoreSaskatchewan unveils $7.5-billion infrastructure plan to boost economy
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | May 11, 2020 REGINA — Saskatchewan has announced a $7.5-billion, two-year capital plan to put people back to work and jump-start the province’s economy with infrastructure projects in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding represents a $2-billion increase over the government’s existing capital plan and the…
Read MoreB.C. starts lifting COVID 19 restrictions, gradually reopens the economy
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | May 7, 2020 VICTORIA — British Columbia has reached the point in the COVID-19 pandemic where it will start a gradual reopening of the economy while also allowing social interactions between families, friends and communities to increase. The plan to restart the province begins with certain health services,…
Read MoreCCA presses federal government on assistance, recovery stimulus
Journal of Commerce | Angela Gismondi | May 7, 2020 The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) recently made recommendations to the federal government for a COVID-19 recovery plan, but before that plan can be put into action it’s important for the Trudeau Liberals to help the industry by ensuring it’s well-positioned to do its part, said association…
Read MoreHorgan says details of plan to reopen B.C. during pandemic coming next week
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | April 30, 2020 VICTORIA — Premier John Horgan says he will outline details next week about reopening British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic as workers at two additional poultry processing plants were reported to have tested positive for the virus. Horgan said the reopening guidelines will be different…
Read MoreReopening Ontario after COVID-19
Learn how we’re planning to reopen businesses, services and public spaces. https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario-after-covid-19
Premier extends state of emergency but says details on reopening B.C. will be unveiled next week
Karin Larsen | CBC News | Posted: Apr 29, 2020 B.C.’s state of emergency introduced last month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended until May 12. “It’s going to take resolute action from all of us to make progress and not give up progress,” said Premier John Horgan in announcing the extension. The provincial state…
Read MoreConsultation on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
Consultation on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation Our 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. The proposed regulatory amendment packages under…
Read MoreApproved amendments to Part 20 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
Board of Directors approves amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation At its March 25, 2020 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to section 20.47 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The amendments will become effective on July 14, 2020 with the exception of the requirements in section 20.47(4), which will take effect on…
Read MoreCalifornia’s reopening will come in 4 phases: What you need to know
KCRA | April 28, 2020 California Gov. Gavin Newsom laid out a four-stage plan to reopen businesses, schools and entertainment events on Tuesday. The governor said California is currently in phase one. As the state sees hospitalization rates for the coronavirus stabilize, officials plan to move into phase two in the next few weeks, allowing…
Read MoreWhere we stand in Canada: Reopenings by province and territory from coronavirus lockdown
National Post | Bianca Bharti | April 29, 2020 Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan have the most detailed reopening plans, while Alberta and B.C. have yet to put an economic relaunch plan forward As Canada tries to contain the novel coronavirus, some provinces are preparing plans to reopen their economies. COVID-19 has gripped the country, forcing…
Read MoreInformation for COR certified employers
Published on: March 30, 2020 by WorkSafeBC: WorkSafeBC’s Certificate of Recognition (COR) team is working with the certifying partners (CPs) to support employers with 2020 COR audit requirements during the COVID-19 outbreak. Audits not yet started for employers with COR certifications that expire by August 31, 2020 If you are an employer with an Occupational…
Read MoreDay of Mourning – April 28th at 10:30 am
Join WorkSafeBC in a moment of silence online on April 28 at 10:30 a.m. to remember the 140 B.C. workers who died last year from a workplace injury or disease. Visit dayofmourning.bc.ca on the day to watch a commemorative video recognizing those we’ve lost.
B.C. Day of Mourning to honour fallen workers digitally
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | April 27, 2020 This year’s Day of Mourning, which remembers those killed by workplace injuries or disease, will look drastically different than the annual community gatherings to lay flowers and wreaths in B.C. Since 1997, the BC Federation of Labour, the Business Council of British Columbia and WorkSafeBC have…
Read MoreIndustry leaders discuss effective crisis communication
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | April 27, 2020 The key to successful crisis communication is getting timely, clear and accurate information out to employees, customers, suppliers and regulators, and doing it all while remaining cool, calm and collected. This was the view of several construction industry leaders when asked by the Journal of Commerce…
Read MoreSponsored Content: CSA Group Infection Control Courses
Journal of Commerce | CSA Group | April 24, 2020 Virtual infection control training is now available on the CSA Store. The course, delivered in two parts, consists of two 4-hour Fundamentals of Infection Control sessions and two 4-hour Effective Implementation and Practical Applications sessions. The training is instructor-led by five industry experts from across healthcare facility management and academia….
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