Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | July 25, 2019 Dozens of employer associations in B.C., including many in the construction industry, have signed a submission outlining concerns over a review of the province’s Workers’ Compensation system which they feel has been rushed and vaguely defined. “A system like Workers’ Compensation is integral to every business…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC enforces $8,000 fine after Saanich worker fatality
JOC News Service | July 23, 2019 VANCOUVER – WorkSafeBC has penalized the Saanich, B.C. location of Cedar Grove Framing Corp. with a $7,944.63 fine for the fatal fall of a worker on Jan 10, 2017 from a framing project for a multi-unit residential building. Carpenter Roland Huetzelmann (age 51) was installing a plywood subfloor on…
Read MoreProposed evidence and decision-making policy amendments
In January 2018, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors commissioned an external compensation policy review. The resulting report, entitled Restoring the Balance: A Worker-Centred Approach to Workers’ Compensation Policy, was published in April 2018 and contains a number of recommendations. Recommendation #32 is for WorkSafeBC to consider incorporating the principles regarding standard of proof and medical evidence from recent…
Read MoreINDUSTRY VOICES OP-ED: Great progress for B.C. workers’ rights and protections
Journal of Commerce | Harry Bains | July 19, 2019 This is an exciting time for British Columbians. Every day, our government focuses on improving the lives of the people of our province – your well-being, prosperity, rights and the services you rely on. My priorities as Minister of Labour continue to be supporting worker health…
Read MoreSAFETY SPOTLIGHT: A closer look at how Canadian safety associations get the word out
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | July 19, 2019 To encourage B.C. workers to stay safe and sound, WorkSafeBC has about 400 health and safety videos available to view and download on worksafebc.com and about 600 videos on its YouTube channel. In addition to its home province, WorkSafeBC shares the videos with other Canadian safety-related organizations,…
Read MoreSICA launches construction awards for B.C. interior
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | July 17, 2019 KELOWNA, B.C. – The Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) will host its first annual Industry Awards of Excellence this year.Awards for the industry were previously held by the Business Examiner magazine, but as part of the association celebrating its 50th year, it will be taking ownership…
Read MoreSPOTLIGHT: WorkSafeBC delivers audio-visual safety experience
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | July 16, 2019 One sunny summer morning a young man looking for work drives up to a suburban construction site and lucks out. He’s immediately hired as a “back-hoe guy.” But maybe he’s not so lucky, because this is no ordinary job site. A fellow worker is cutting plywood…
Read MoreJune Recent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
July 10, 2019 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: Fatal (1 worker); suspected exposure to a hazardous substance (1 worker) Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2019-Jun Two workers were…
Read MorePolicy, Regulation and Research Division Announcement – Instalment Model
WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Division (“PRRD”) would like to thank you all for submissions on the Instalment Model for Quarterly Reporting. The stakeholder feedback received by the Board of Directors informed its decision-making on the policy changes. Please click here for a summary of stakeholder comments. On May 29, 2019, the Board of Directors approved policy…
Read MorePolicy, Regulation and Research Division Announcement – Merits and Justice in Decision Making
WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Division would like to thank you all for submissions on proposed policy changes regarding merits and justice in decision-making. The stakeholder feedback received by the Board of Directors informed its decision-making on the policy changes. Please click here for a summary of stakeholder comments. On May 29, 2019, the Board of Directors approved…
Read MoreIndustry Special: The Builders Code sets a new standard for construction worksite culture
Journal of Commerce | BCCA Employee Benefit Trust | June 25, 2019 There’s a new voluntary code in town and its designed to make the BC construction industry more competitive. Launched March 8, 2019 — International Women’s Day — The Builders Code sets a standard code of conduct for construction sites in BC. It doesn’t tell…
Read MoreIndustry Special: The National Construction Safety Officer designation provides national recognition for safety specialists
Journal of Commerce | BCCSA | June 25, 2019 A little more than two years after it was established, the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO™) program continues to benefit construction companies as the first nationally-recognized construction safety designation created by and for the construction industry. Devised under the umbrella of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety…
Read MoreNot in My Backyard
Brooks Patterson I offer the following personal story as a wake up call as to the state of the fentanyl crisis in our communities. Last night while just beginning our Father’s Day BBQ in our newly renovated backyard around six pm, a young man essentially overdosed in the back public walkway just behind our house off 216th in…
Read MoreConsultation on Proposed Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) based on the New or Revised 2016, 2017, and 2018 ACGIH TLVs for Selected Chemical Substances
Each year, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes a list of substances for which they have set new or revised Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). A TLV is an airborne concentration of a chemical substance where nearly all workers are believed to experience no adverse health effects over a working lifetime. TLVs may…
Read MoreVoices Op-Ed: CLAC responds to Sigurdson’s worker’s rights op-ed
For information only and not an endorsement – this information is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. Journal of Commerce | Ryan Bruce | June 20, 2019 To the Editor: In his June 4 op-ed, Tom Sigurdson takes issue with the successful amendments to the…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
June 17, 2019 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: Soft tissue injury Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2019-Jun A young worker was sacking a concrete wall from the fly section of a ladder. The ladder…
Read MoreLifted steel tariffs welcomed by industry stakeholders
Daily Commercial News | Grant Cameron | June 17, 2019 An agreement between Canada and the U.S. to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum is receiving universal approval from construction employers from coast to coast as well as steel manufacturers and steel workers. Canadian Construction Association (CCA) president Mary Van Buren says employers are elated with…
Read MoreLNG Canada and JGC Fluor launch unique program to double percentage of women working in the skilled trades on the LNG Canada Project
LNG Canada | NEWS | Jun 17, 2019 VANCOUVER, B.C.– LNG Canada and its prime contractor, JGC Fluor BC LNG JV (JGC Fluor), today announced the launch of YOUR PLACE, a province-wide workforce development program aimed at attracting, recruiting, training, supporting and employing women to work in the construction trades on the LNG Canada Project. The…
Read More2018 Annual Report and 2019–2021 Service Plan
WorkSafeBC’s 2018 Annual Report and 2019-2021 Service Plan includes performance results and financial highlights for the year.
Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit program
UBC assessed the effect of COR certification on firm-level injury rates in BC by comparing certified firms to similar, but non-certified, firms from 2002 to 2016. An earlier version of this work provided to WorkSafeBC in 2015 found that COR certification was associated with lower injury rates. This update and extension adds several years of…
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