Journal Of Commerce News Service |April 25, 2019 PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The British Columbia Builder’s Code, a province-wide training program and anti-harassment initiative aimed at improving workplace culture, has launched in Prince George, B.C. Northern Regional Construction Association CEO Scott Bone announced the program at a contractor breakfast held as part of Construction and…
Read MoreSafety Spotlight – On the road again, the role of flaggers
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | April 19, 2019 Being a highway flagger can be dangerous, but traffic control persons say they love it anyway. This Journal of Commerce column explores the services they provide and the challenges they face. There are approximately 5,000 to 6,000 traffic control persons (TCPs), or flaggers, in British…
Read MoreMedical tower named after generous construction company owner slated to open
Journal Of Commerce News Service | April 19, 2019 PENTICTON, B.C — A medical tower in B.C.’s South Okanagan region is set to open this month. The 84-bed David E. Kampe Tower at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH) boasts a new ambulatory care centre with outpatient services, including cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, respiratory, pre-surgical screening and maternal…
Read MoreKenney’s election win prompts reactions from B.C., Quebec, Ontario leaders
Scott Dippel · CBC News · Posted: Apr 17, 2019 2:21 PM MT Jason Kenney’s election win has politicians across Canada reacting. In his victory speech, Kenney appealed in French to Quebec to help Alberta get its oil to market, but Quebec Premier François Legault isn’t playing. Legault congratulated Kenney on Wednesday for his election win. But in the next breath, he told…
Read MoreImproved Protection for BC Workers? It Might be Up to the Greens
By Andrew MacLeod | April 17, 2019 | TheTyee.ca Legislation to change the labour code and the Employment Standards Act expected this month. The British Columbia government is within weeks of introducing legislation aimed at supporting and protecting workers, and organized labour is making sure Green Party MLAs understand what’s at stake. “This is very, very,…
Read MoreEliminating barriers for emergency dispatchers, nurses, care aides
BC Government News Release | Tuesday, April 16, 2019 1:15 PM Emergency dispatchers, nurses and publicly funded health-care assistants will have easier access to workers’ compensation for mental-health disorders that come from work-related trauma. Regulatory changes that take effect on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, make this possible. “These changes to the Mental Disorder Presumption Regulation…
Read MoreNew event! Building Smart with Insulating Walls and Roofs
BC Housing is offering a 3-hour webinar on May 16, 2019 entitled Building Smart with Insulating Walls and Roofs. The workshop addresses topical design and construction issues to provide participants with the answers they need to build to increasingly rigorous energy efficiency standards. Presenters will discuss methods for building higher R-value assemblies to provide participants…
Read MoreLawyer tasked with assessing WorkSafeBC changes
Journal Of Commerce News Service April 15, 2019 VANCOUVER – A Vancouver lawyer has been tasked by B.C. officials to assess how WorkSafeBC implemented worker safety recommendations following the two sawmill explosions at Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills. Lawyer Lisa Helps will give input on tweaks to the law to improve the safety of workers….
Read MoreChanging of the Guard: MCABC’s longtime EVP retires; new CEO is named
April 15, 2019For Immediate Release Burnaby, BC – After 29 years at the helm of MCABC, executive vice president Dana Taylor is retiring. As of June 30, 2019, Dana will be turning his attention to his many personal projects and interests. Dana was the longest serving EVP in MCABC’s history, as well as its affiliated entities. We…
Read MoreHAVAN’s 14th Annual Members Expo
HAVAN’s 14th Annual Members Expo, scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st is just weeks away. Presenting the latest in product and services of 85+ HAVAN supplier members, there is a wealth of residential construction knowledge to gain by attending this show. A great afternoon for learning, building connections, with complimentary food, prizes and socializing too, the Members…
Read MoreAnne Naser named new WorkSafeBC CEO
Journal Of Commerce News Service April 16, 2019 VANCOUVER — WorkSafeBC soon will have a new leader at the helm. This month the safety regulator’s board of directors announced that Anne Naser would take over as its president and CEO. “Anne Naser is a proven leader and innovator in occupational health and safety,” said Ralph McGinn,…
Read MoreUSW welcomes BC government review of WorkSafeBC actions in sawmill explosions
Wood Business – Industry News | April 11, 2019 | by United Steel Workers 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. The United Steelworkers (USW) is welcoming today’s announcement by the government of British…
Read MoreProvince to assess implementation of worker safety recommendations
April 10, 2019 | Ministry of Labour Information Bulletin VICTORIA – Vancouver lawyer Lisa Helps has been contracted by the Province to assess how WorkSafeBC implemented worker safety recommendations following the two sawmill explosions at Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills. Helps will also provide advice on potential legislative changes to improve safety for B.C….
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
April 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 Core Activity: Bridge, overpass, or viaduct construction or repair Location: Northern B.C. Date of Incident: 2019-Mar As a worker attempted to place a piece of dimensional lumber on a bridge deck under…
Read MoreBCCA gives snapshot of B.C. construction industry
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | April 10, 2019 VICTORIA, B.C.—To celebrate the launch of Construction Month, the BC Construction Association (BCCA) and its industry partners released fresh statistics and survey results to give a snapshot of construction in the province. “From our standpoint, when we reflect, we always get a bit enthused when we…
Read MoreAnne Naser named President and CEO of WorkSafeBC
Richmond, B.C. (April 8, 2019) — WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors announced today that Anne Naser has been named as the new President and CEO of WorkSafeBC. “Anne Naser is a proven leader and innovator in occupational health and safety,” said Ralph McGinn, Chair of WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors. “We are very pleased to have her leading…
Read MoreSurvey – Mental Health & Addiction in Construction Research
WorkSafeBC together with industry partners, the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan and the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA), are doing market research to better understand attitudes and opinions about mental health and addictions in the construction industry in BC. The information collected will help better understand what support is needed in workplace health and safety programs. …
Read MoreB.C.’s workers’ compensation system under review
Information Bulletin VictoriaWednesday April 3, 2019 3:30 pm To increase the confidence of workers and employers, the British Columbia government will undertake a formal review of its workers’ compensation system with the appointment of retired labour lawyer Janet Patterson. To shift the workers’ compensation system to become more worker centred, the review will assess: the…
Read MoreBC One Call urges workers to call before digging
Journal Of Commerce | News Service | April 2, 2019 VANCOUVER — BC One Call is urging homeowners and contractors to pick up the phone and give them a ring before digging during Dig Safe Month. BC One Call reminded residents that they can go online or call to determine if they might damage underground infrastructure…
Read MoreIndustry Voices Op-Ed: Licensing asbestos abatement contractors won’t solve anything
Journal of Commerce | Mike Sully and Graham Dick | April 1, 2019| 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. The BC Association of Restoration Contractors (BCARC) does not agree with the direction recommended…
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