For information only and not an endorsement – this article is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. Journal of Commerce News Service  | January 3, 2019 VICTORIA — The Government of British Columbia has released a report with a wide range of recommendations on…

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BC Housing is offering a 3-hour seminar and webinar on January 30, 2019 entitled Building Smart by Mitigating Thermal Bridging that provides an overview of thermal bridging outlining useful guides and tools to help with the assessment of thermal bridging in new energy codes and standards. Find out more and register here.

December 20, 2018 These summaries of selected work-related incidents recently reported to WorkSafeBC may help you to prevent similar incidents. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Fatal Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2018-Dec A worker fell 10 feet through an unguarded stair opening to a concrete…

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Just a quick note to thank all of our Board Member and Association Partners for all of their efforts in 2018.  We hope that you have an enjoyable holiday season and come back refreshed in the New Year!

Please note that a new information sheet as been posted: Asbestos-containing pipes in municipal underground works projects. The network of asbestos-containing pipes in B.C. is aging or failing. As a result, it is being replaced over time. Municipalities, contractors working on municipal projects, and other employers have responsibilities for the safe handling and disposal of…

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The Policy, Regulation and Research Division (“PRRD”) would like to thank you all for your submissions on the Certificate of Recognition Program. The stakeholder feedback received by the Board of Directors informed its decision-making on the policy changes.  Stakeholder comments are available to view from clicking on the links to the 2017 consultation and the…

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Journal Of Commerce  | News Service | December 3, 2018 VANCOUVER  – The BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) has released a new animated video to give a visual representation of tools and services that it offers the construction industry. The video explains the alliance offers resources, training, consultation and research to approximately 40,000 companies that employ roughly…

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WorkSafeBC calculates assessments based on payroll. Employers with an annual assessment of $1,500 or more are generally required to report payroll and remit assessment premiums on a quarterly basis. At issue are changes to policy to reduce reporting requirements for these employers. These changes are intended to simplify reporting and payment requirements for employers and…

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By Al Johnson   A survey conducted earlier this year by a Canadian bank found that nearly 40 per cent of B.C. homeowners were planning on renovating their homes. And while that’s great news for the construction industry, it’s important to be aware of the health dangers that asbestos-containing building materials in older homes pose…

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For information only and not an endorsement – this article is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. Journal of Commerce  | Warren Frey  |  November 21, 2018 Men working in construction are still at the most risk of dying from an opioid overdose, but a…

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On behalf of Jeff Lyth at QSP Leadership – some upcoming ‘new view of safety’ events that they are either hosting or participating in. As always please ‘like’ and ‘share’ news of these events on social media, and please forward this to anyone you feel would be interested. Todd Conklin Vancouver November 7 Safety Differently…

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Journal of Commerce  |  Warren Frey  |  November 14, 2018 The B.C. government has received 29 recommendations from an independent panel appointed to review the province’s Labour Relations Code, garnering a variety of reactions from industry stakeholders. “There’s good news and bad news. The good news is that by a two-to-one majority the review panel recommended…

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Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | November 2, 2018 Cannabis is legal in Canada, but it’s a complicated issue with continued implications for both industry and society, according to one expert. BC Trucking Association president Dave Earle spoke to the Bridging the Gap Safety Conference held recently in Vancouver and said while some circumstances have changed…

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November 1, 2018 These summaries of selected work-related Construction incidents recently reported to WorkSafeBC may help you to prevent similar incidents. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Burns Core Activity: Window or glass installation, replacement, or repair Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2018-Oct ID Number: 2018157450046 While cutting laminate glass, a worker was exposed…

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In the last 15 years, WorkSafeBC has made tremendous strides toward our vision of a province free from workplace injury, disease and death.  The provincial injury rate is at an all-time low, return-to-work outcomes have improved, and the worker’s compensation system is financially sound.  WorkSafeBC is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in worker’s…

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WorkSafeBC announces that the average base rate for 2019 is maintained at the same level as 2018, at 1.55% of employers’ assessable payroll. Lower claims costs and strong investment returns have enabled WorkSafeBC to keep the average rate flat for 2019. Together with worker and employer stakeholders, WorkSafe BC is working to reduce serious injuries…

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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 April 2018 and contains a number of recommendations. Recommendation #41 is for WorkSafeBC to consider implementing a policy for the appropriate use of video surveillance. The…

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Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | October 31, 2018 The construction industry is starting to look at a hidden problem with deadly consequences. Donna Grant, a marketing manager at Scott Construction, addressed the issue of suicide for attendees of the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance’s (BCCSA) Bridging the Gap safety conference on Oct. 26 in Vancouver….

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Journal of Commerce | Dave Baspaly | October 25, 2018   *** Video Link Fixed *** The Internet has many graphic examples of what happens when a construction tool or other object is dropped from a height onto a watermelon. Several videos illustrate this all too well. Here is an example from YouTube on the fate of two…

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Journal of Commerce |  News Service | October 19, 2018 VICTORIA — With recreational cannabis use legal as of Oct. 17, WorkSafeBC is launching an awareness campaign about workplace impairment for both employers and employees. WorkSafeBC has created a guide for managing workplace impairment and developing policy around the issue. A toolbox meeting guide is also available…

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