Time for ICBA change right: Hochstein

Journal of Commerce | ASSOCIATIONS | by SHANNON MONEO | Apr 24, 2017 After 30 years with B.C.’s Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), Phil Hochstein decided to step down as president after seeing several of his peers were doing the same. B.C. construction association contemporaries such as Jack Davidson, Greg Baynton and Manley McLachlan made 2016 their exit year, heralding…

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VRCA Leadership Forum to tackle fatigue, marijuana

Journal of Commerce | ASSOCIATIONS | by JOC NEWS SERVICE | Apr 24, 2017 WHISTLER, B.C. The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) is hosting its annual Construction Leadership Forum at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler on May 5 and 6, with this year’s theme looking towards Building Tomorrow’s Leaders. The event will kick off with a keynote presentation from John Furlong,…

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BCFED calls for criminal charges after worker death

Journal of Commerce | LABOUR | by RUSSELL HIXSON | Apr 12, 2017 The BC Federation of Labour (BCFED) is demanding answers about the fine assessed against a Vancouver property development firm whose violations of health and safety rules were cited as factors in the death of a Kamloops construction worker in 2015. BCFED called the fine “paltry” and criticized officials…

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Joint Health and Safety Committee Changes – April 3, 2017

Changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to joint health and safety committees took effect April 3, 2017. These changes include: Amendments to the mandatory minimum training requirements for health and safety committee members and worker health and safety representatives Mandatory annual evaluation of joint committee effectiveness Clarification of what participation by employer…

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Government to direct the creation of a policy for return of WorkSafeBC funds

On March 29, 2017, the provincial government announced proposed amendments to the Workers Compensation Act.  This amendment will establish a new policy requiring WorkSafeBC to return funds to employers when they have a surplus of contributions from employers in the Accident Fund. As the enclosed news release outlines, the amendment will not affect the benefits…

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BCCSA’s silica mitigation app nears finish line

Journal of Commerce | ASSOCIATIONS  |  by WARREN FREY |  Mar 22, 2017 A new silica mitigation app is almost ready for prime time. Members of the Canadian Construction Association’s (CCA) Civil Infrastructure Council (CIC) were given a demonstration of the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance’s (BCCSA) mobile silica exposure mitigation application on March 18. The application will…

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Young construction workers less likely to protect hearing

Journal of Commerce  | OH&S  | by THE CANADIAN PRESS   | Mar 28, 2017 RICHMOND, B.C. – The organization that regulates health and safety in British Columbia workplaces reports almost one in four young construction workers are not doing enough to protect against hearing loss. New data from WorkSafeBC shows 24 per cent of construction workers aged 21 or…

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B.C. construction oversight organizations dealing with increased volume of work

Journal of Commerce | ASSOCIATIONS | by PETER CAULFIELD | Mar 16, 2017 There is a multitude of diverse organizations in British Columbia that are responsible for one aspect or another of construction oversight. What they all have in common is that the province’s busy construction industry has added to their volume of inspection work. But they differ in the ways…

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New Construction Resources

It’s Personal: A Video Discussion Guide on Bullying and Harassment in Construction –> This is a discussion guide for a series of 10 short videos that focus on various aspects of bullying and harassment in the construction industry. New data shows young construction workers less likely to wear hearing protection –> New 2016 data from WorkSafeBC…

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McLachlan’s advice on success: Be reasonable, relevant and a resource

Journal of Commerce  |  ASSOCIATIONS  |  by RUSSELL HIXSON   |  Mar 7, 2017 last update:Mar 9, 2017  Though Manley McLachlan is leaving the BC Construction Association (BCCA), he says he believes he’s leaving the organization in better shape than he found it back in 2004. “The way I have described it, with no disrespect, the organization had…

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Surrey firefighter’s suicide ruled work-related, benefits awarded to family

Vancouver Sun  |  KENT SPENCER  |  Published on: March 5, 2017 Encouraging news has come to the family of the late Ernie Dombrowski, a Surrey firefighter who took his own life two years ago after suffering workplace trauma. WorkSafe B.C., a provincial agency that pays compensation for employment-related injuries, has determined his death was due…

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B.C. pushes for continuous safety improvement

Journal of  Commerce  |  OH&S |  by PETER CAULFIELD  |  Mar 6, 2017 Thirty-six years ago, on Jan. 7 1981, four workers died during the construction of the Bentall Centre in downtown Vancouver when a fly-form used for pouring concrete broke away from the top of Tower Four. Speaking on this year’s anniversary of the accident, the president…

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B.C. budget slashes taxes, builds infrastructure

Journal of Commerce | GOVERNMENT | by RUSSELL HIXSON  | Feb 27, 2017 The construction industry is applauding B.C.’s 2017 budget, stating it reaps the benefits of fiscal responsibility. And it isn’t just because of money to be spent on infrastructure. New tax measures are also earning praise from industry leaders. The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) of British Columbia…

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Asbestos removers’ ‘nonsense’ lawsuit against WorkSafe B.C. tossed out

Gordon Hoekstra | Vancouver Sun |  Published on: March 1, 2017 A B.C. Supreme Court judge has thrown out a lawsuit by an asbestos removal company against WorkSafe B.C., labelling the suit “arrant nonsense.” It’s the fourth such lawsuit against WorkSafe B.C. launched by Mike Singh, who operates Seattle Environmental Consulting Ltd., and his son Shawn…

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