August 5, 2016 WorkSafeBCs governing body, the Board of Directors, approved public hearings on proposed regulatory changes, including proposed changes regarding joint health and safety committees. One of the proposed new sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relates to the annual evaluation of joint committees. In preparation for the anticipated regulatory change, WorkSafeBC…
Read MoreCourt ruling on worker designation spurs national changes
Journal of Commerce by PETER CAULFIELD Aug 2, 2016 Employer-employee differences of opinion are a frequent occurrence. A recent trial in Alberta shows how some disagreements can turn nasty — and costly — when they concern the meaning of a work designation. In November 2015, the Provincial Court of Alberta in Edmonton heard a suit brought…
Read MorePublic hearings on proposed regulatory changes including proposed changes regarding joint health and safety committees
July 28, 2016 The Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC approved public hearings to be held in September and October 2016. These hearings are with regard to the following proposed changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR), including proposed changes regarding joint occupational health and safety committees (joint committees): New sections on joint committees…
Read MoreNew videos: Sun Safety at Work
Outdoor workers are up to 3.5 times more likely than indoor workers to develop skin cancer and are at a higher risk of experincing heat stress. And of the 1.5 million outdoor workers in Canada, about 900,000 are outside at least six hours a day, often when UV radiation is strongest. Two new videos —…
Read More2016 New or Revised ACGIH Threshold Limit Values and B.C. OELs
July 15, 2016 The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) provides that Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) for hazardous chemical substances are generally determined with reference to the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Each year, the ACGIH publishes a list of substances for which they have set new…
Read MoreJune 2016 Recent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Serious injuries Core Activity: Steep slope roofing Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2016-Jun ID Number: 2016171900032 A worker transitioned from a rooftop to an extension ladder. While the worker was on the top portion of the extension ladder, the ladder began to retract and the worker fell about 25 feet to…
Read MoreAlberta needs better system to ensure workplace safety orders followed: auditor
Journal of Commerce OH&S | by The Canadian Press | Jul 5, 2016 EDMONTON – Alberta’s auditor general says the provincial government is still not doing enough to enforce compliance with workplace safety orders. Merwan Saher says six years after an audit found problems with occupational health and safety orders, the government can’t show…
Read MoreIndustry Voices: COCA applauds WorkSafeBC asbestos enforcement initiative
Journal of Commerce OH&S | by DAVE BASPALY | Jul 11, 2016 WorkSafeBC recently announced a 2016 Asbestos Enforcement Initiative. Prevention officers will be conducting a province-wide program of worksite inspections until Dec. 31, 2016 to ensure homeowners, contractors and consultants are properly informed and equipped to safely remove asbestos containing materials and are complying with the Occupational…
Read MoreDo you always need to investigate a musculoskeletal injury?
Yes! Heres what you need to know Section 173 of the Workers Compensation Act states that an employer must immediately undertake an investigation into the cause of any incident that meets the following criteria: It resulted in an injury to a worker and required medical treatment It involved a minor worker injury that didnt require…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC 2016 Asbestos Enforcement Initiative
Notice of asbestos inspections and featured resources Asbestos exposure remains the number one killer of workers in B.C. Hundreds of houses are demolished and renovated every month in our province, and as many homes built up until 1990 used products containing asbestos, this poses a potential threat of exposing workers to harmful asbestos fibres. WorkSafeBC…
Read MoreBC Building Trades reports: Asbestos resolution from City of Vancouver
City of Vancouver joins call for mandatory certification and licensing of asbestos contractors Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 The BC Building Trades Council and the BC Federation of Labour congratulate Vancouver City Council for passing a critical resolution calling on the province to implement mandatory certification and licensing of asbestos and hazardous material removal contractors. “Many…
Read MoreSupreme Court finds in favour of B.C. medical workers claiming workplace cancer
The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of three British Columbia medical workers who argued they developed breast cancer as a result of their jobs. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS / Published on: June 24, 2016 OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of three British Columbia medical workers…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC’s Current Financial State
Over the past few months some of our members have approached us asking whether or not some reduction in rates, or rebate from the current ‘surplus’, would be forthcoming given the favourable performance of WorkSafeBC’s investment portfolio. In response, we are pleased to offer our analysis of WorkSafeBC’s current financial state and our subsequent opinion.
Check out WorkSafeBC’s new Website!
Check out the new worksafebc.com! The new worksafebc.com is now live! Once you’ve had a chance to check out the new look online, you’ll notice their revamped website offers user-tested features and streamlined access to key resources all designed to serve you better. Update your bookmarks Because they have rebuilt the site from the ground up, keep…
Read MoreProposed Changes to Policy on Clothing Allowances
At their meeting on May 18, 2016, WorkSafeBCs governing body, the Board of Directors, approved the release of a discussion paper on clothing allowances, with options and a draft policy for stakeholder review and comment. Workers may sustain damage to clothing as a result of wearing a prosthetic or brace, or using a wheelchair. Current…
Read MoreProposed Changes to Assessable Payroll Policies in the Assessment Manual
At their meeting on May 18, 2016, WorkSafeBCs governing body, the Board of Directors, approved the release of a discussion paper on Assessable Payroll with options and draft policies for stakeholder review and comment. Generally, an employers Assessable Payroll is the remuneration paid to all workers for work done. Premiums are calculated by multiplying an…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC ~ May 2016
Injury Type: Fractured vertebra Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-May ID Number: 2016178740004 A worker replacing a fascia board on a house fell from an extension ladder, landing on the ground about 22 feet below. Injury Type: Lacerations Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation…
Read MoreBC Safety Authority Campaign
In June, BC Safety Authority (BCSA) will be launching an advertising campaign to bring increased awareness to our compliance and enforcement activities. The campaign aims to inform those who own or perform work on regulated equipment of their responsibilities and the consequences of not meeting their safety and compliance obligations. Through this awareness effort, BCSA…
Read MoreLaura Jones: WorkSafeBC rebate for business owners is overdue
Vancouver Sun | Laura Jones Op Ed | Published May 30, 2016 It’s time for WorkSafeBC to give employers some of their own money back. WorksafeBC provides a no-fault workers’ compensation insurance program that is fully paid for by employers. The premiums are used to pay workers who experience workplace injuries and help them…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC ~ April & May 2016
Injury Type: Upper body injury, laceration Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-May ID Number: 2016117080007 A worker fell from a work platform and was injured. The work platform on which the worker was standing was not secured against separation from the supporting end-frame scaffold to which it was attached….
Read More