Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | May 28, 2018 In 2017, the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC). The agreement enabled construction companies with COR (certificate of recognition) to comply with the forestry sector’s similar but different safety requirements. Not long after the…
Read MoreRoad Safety at Work Complimentary Workshops – June
Road Safety At Work is holding four complimentary half day road safety workshops in June. Content and exercises are of interest to company owners, managers, supervisors, health and safety practitioners, Joint Occupational Health and Safety committee members and others who have responsibility for making decisions and developing programs to keep employees safe on BC roads. Sessions…
Read More2018 Summer Safety Blitz
STEPHANIE IP | The Vancouver Sun | Published on: May 14, 2018 | Last Updated: May 14, 2018 7:42 AM PDT Police and Worksafe BC have launched their 2018 safe driving campaign. Last year, charges were laid after a white SUV struck two flaggers in Burnaby, seriously injuring one. This is a screengrab from a…
Read MoreRoadside worker zone safe-driving blitz rolls out
Journal Of Commerce | News Service | May 14, 2018 RICHMOND, B.C. — On May 14, Vancouver Police (VPD) planned to step up enforcement in a busy traffic route where roadside workers run the risk of injury. This is part of the 2018 launch of the B.C. Cone Zone Campaign. The VPD partnered with the Work Zone…
Read MoreJOC re VRCA Conference on Cannabis and Construction: It’s Going to be Complicated
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | May 9, 2018 A group of industry experts looked at the ways in which cannabis will affect the industry from a medical, legal and labour standpoint during a panel discussion at the Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s annual Construction Leadership Forum conference in Whistler, B.C. WorkSafeBC director of prevention practices and…
Read MoreFatigue Risk Management Symposium – June 7th
More and more businesses are operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This has a significant impact on workers and their health and safety in the workplace. On behalf of WorkSafeBC, you are invited to attend the Fatigue Risk Management Symposium on June 7 to learn how to mitigate and manage fatigue-related risk…
Read MoreAmerican Occupational Health and Safety Week Launches
Journal of Commerce | May 7, 2018 Photo courtesy of CCSE- A Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue boat and helicopter held a demonstration in the harbour by the British Columbia legislature in Victoria for North American Occupational Safety and Health Week, which launched on May 7. VICTORIA – Safety took centre stage in British Columbia’s…
Read MoreConstruction industry marks the Day of Mourning
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | May 1, 2018 Workers and employers gathered together on April 28 to remember fallen comrades and strive to prevent further tragedies. The Day of Mourning, an observation for those who have lost their lives in the workplace, is held across the country. Representatives from British Columbia’s government, business and…
Read MoreBulletin: Residential Wood Frame Spring Inspections
Industry and Labour Services would like to inform you of WorkSafeBC Prevention Field Services’ (PFS) spring inspection plan. With the change in weather and increasing longer days, residential construction activity is increasing. Unfortunately with the increase in activity, the risk of falls from heights increases as well. The Bulletin describes the PFS inspection plan of…
Read MoreReview of WorkSafeBC Rehabilitation and Claims Policies
Mr. Petrie’s report, “Restoring the Balance: A Worker-Centred Approach to Workers’ Compensation Policy”, has been submitted to WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors. For your information, as a public document the report is available – click the link above.
What is the best way to represent the interests of B.C. flaggers?
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | April 16, 2018 Who carries the flag for the best interests of traffic control persons (TCP) in British Columbia? In November 2017, Curtis Williams, general manager and director of corporate health and safety at the Ansan Group of Companies, stepped down as executive director of the BC Flagging Association (BCFA)….
Read MoreB.C. gas line hits on the rise, contractors reminded to work safe
Journal of Commerce | News Service | April 25, 2018 SURREY, B.C. — British Columbia energy distributor FortisBC has reported a rise in natural gas line hits from excavation in the province. In 2017, there were more than 1,200 incidents of natural gas line damages from excavation, a recent media statement announcing Dig Safe Month in the…
Read MoreWorkplace substance use policies would help Canadians and employers: report
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | April 26, 2018 VANCOUVER – Not enough companies have comprehensive substance-use policies and those that provide them offer inadequate measures to help struggling employees, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction says in a report aimed at bringing awareness to workplace practices before marijuana is legalized this summer. Loss…
Read MoreCeremonies held across B.C. to mourn workers killed on the job
NICK EAGLAND | Vancouver Sun | April 28, 2018 Families and coworkers of loved ones lost to work-related injuries and illnesses wept openly beneath the rain Saturday at Day of Mourning ceremonies. Vancouver’s Olympic cauldron, lit to honour the dead, warmed the backs of hundreds who came to mourn, many in hard hats, steel-toed boots and…
Read MoreApril 28th Day of Mourning
April 28 has been designated the national Day of Mourning, a time when we all come together to remember those who have lost their lives due to work-related incidents or occupational diseases. Last year 158 workers died as a result of their work. Sadly, in a recent three-week period alone, 11 more workers in British…
Read MoreConsultation on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
The 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 prior to the proposed amendments being taken to public hearing in 2018. The proposed regulatory amendment packages under review are: Part 21, Blasting Operations, multiple sections…
Read MoreMarch Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
These summaries of selected Construction work-related incidents recently reported to WorkSafeBC may help you to prevent similar incidents. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Close call Core Activity: Excavation operation Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2018-Mar ID Number: 2018178050004 While workers were back-filling soil material in an excavation adjacent to an underground high-voltage utility…
Read MoreOccupational Disease Symposium – April 19th
Join WorkSafeBC and the BC Construction Safety Alliance on Thursday, April 19, for an Occupational Disease Symposium. You’ll have a full day of learning from industry professionals about a variety of topics, including: Asbestos exposure Silica Sun exposure Hearing loss prevention Diesel exhaust Lead Sensitizers A full buffet breakfast and lunch will be provided, and…
Read MoreAre you Risk Intelligent?
Today’s Lythism –> How can we possibly seek to understand ‘safety’ at work if we don’t know anything about the psychology of risk or how people’s minds work? Please share this opportunity with your colleagues, members and anyone else you think might be interested or could benefit from this session. Understanding the way people make judgments…
Read MoreLabour code review reveals differing opinions
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | March 28, 2018 Industry stakeholders are answering the call of the code. British Columbia’s Labour Relations Code is under review by a panel of three people who will provide recommendations by August 2018 on potential amendments to the code. The stated intent of the review is to ensure the code…
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