Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC Board of Directors Approves Plantar Fasciitis Policy
On October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the addition of policy item #27.36, Plantar Fasciitis, and an amendment to policy item #27.30, ASTDs Recognized by Regulation, of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II. The new policy and the policy amendment come into effect on December 1, 2015, and apply to all decisions made…
Read MoreUpdate on Bill 35, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2015
On Tuesday November 3, 2015, Bill 35 passed second reading in the Legislature. Committee debate commenced on Wednesday November 4, 2015 and was completed November 5th, 2015. Bill 35 also passed third reading November 5th, 2015, with an amendment to the Bill that was introduced by the Opposition Critic during committee debate and approved by…
Read MoreLMAPR and OHS Citations policy
On October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors (BOD) approved the Lower Maximum Administrative Penalties Regulation (LMAPR) and Item D12-196.1-1, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Citations, of the Prevention Manual. The LMAPR and OHS Citations policy set out that WorkSafeBC may impose an OHS Citation on an employer for failure to comply with an order,…
Read MoreChanges regarding Employer Incident Investigations
At its meeting on October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the following as a result of changes to the Workers Compensation Act regarding employers reports of accidents or incident investigations: The deletion of section 3.4 from the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation, B.C. Reg. 296/97 The consequential amendment to section 24.34 of…
Read MoreAugust & September 2015 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Fractured leg Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Sep ID Number: 2015156680091 A carpenter was stripping a concrete wall gang form at a residential highrise building. As he disassembled the attached work platform, he fell off the form, landing on the concrete floor about 2 metres below. Injury…
Read MoreSeptember 22 Guideline Updates
Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…
Read MoreGovernment takes further action on workplace safety
Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act were introduced in the House on October 8th. With the introduction of Bill 35, government has taken decisive action to address the Lakeland and Babine coroner’s inquest recommendations that were directed to the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour. According to the government’s…
Read MoreKen Farey Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
On September 30th, 2015, Grant McMillan, former President, thanked Ken Farey on behalf of COCA for his many years of contributions as the Chair of COCA over 17 years. Then, with incoming Chair Wayne Fettback, Ken was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The COCA Board also made Ken an Honorary Board Member.
Consultation on proposed changes to OHS Penalty Policies
October 2, 2015 Dear Stakeholder: WorkSafeBCs Board of Directors has approved the release for consultation of a discussion paper regarding proposed changes to the following policies regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Penalties: Criteria for Imposing OHS Penalties (D12-196-1) Transfer of OHS History (D12-196-3) OHS Penalty Amounts (D12-196-6) Claims Cost Levies (D24-73-1) First Aid Equipment…
Read More2015 Bridging the Gap Conference
November 13 and 14, 2015 ~ Richmond, BC Whether you work in construction or promote health and safety in the industry, join us for a jam-packed two-day conference to network with others and increase your knowledge about a wide range of health and safety issues in construction. For more information and to register, visit the…
Read MoreSeptember 2015 Guideline Updates
Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…
Read MoreSeptember 2015 Policy Updates
The Prevention Manual contains policies of WorkSafeBC with respect to prevention matters under the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Consequential policy amendments have been made to the Prevention Manual in response to changes to provisions in the Occupational Heath and Safety Regulation. The Prevention Manual (1 mb) is provided here…
Read MoreSeptember 2015 Regulatory Amendments
Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act were made in September 2015 . The online Regulation and excerpts and summaries of the Act are updated once the amendments come into effect. Part 1 Division 6 – Workers’ Compensation Board Section 81 Board of directors [Amended] Part 3 Division 12 – Enforcement Section 186.1 Compliance agreements [Enacted]
Policy consultation on the Partners in Injury and Disability Prevention Program (Partners Program)
At their meeting on September 8, 2015, WorkSafeBCs governing body, the Board of Directors, approved the release of a discussion paper with options and draft policies to stakeholders for comment. The Partners Program is a voluntary incentive program intended to motivate B.C. employers to take a proactive role in occupational health and safety. Employers registered…
Read MoreNotice of 2015 Public Hearings
September 21, 2015 Dear Stakeholder: Notice of 2015 Public Hearings The Board of Directors approved public hearings to be held in October 2015 regarding the proposed new Lower Maximum Administrative Penalty Regulation (OHS Citations) and changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to Employer Incident Investigations. OHS Citations: Proposed New Lower Maximum Administrative…
Read MoreInterim OHS Compliance Agreements Policy and Housekeeping Change to Policy D12-196-7
September 15, 2015 Dear Stakeholder: OHS Compliance Agreements Policy (D12-186.1-1) At its June 2015 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved a new policy on OHS Compliance Agreements (D12-186.1-1). This policy came into effect on September 15, 2015 and will apply on an interim basis until it is replaced by a final policy on January 1,…
Read MoreAmendments to the Prevention Manual
September 1, 2015 Dear Stakeholder: At its July 2015 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved the deletion of three policies from the Prevention Manual. Policy R8.10-1, regarding personal clothing and accessories, is guidance material that is not appropriate as policy and is fully addressed in a guideline. Policy R8.22-1, regarding footwear, unnecessarily duplicates information in…
Read MoreBill 9: Final Legislation Enacted
On August 4, 2015, several provisions of Bill 9, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2015, were brought into force by Order-in-Council. What’s changing? The following changes were brought into force through the August 4, 2015 Order-in-Council: Employer citations (in force now, to be implemented in early 2016) Request for reviews: new timeline (effective Sept. 15,…
Read MoreJuly 2015 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Bruised upper and lower body Core Activity: Paving services or asphalt manufacture Location: Interior B.C. Date of Incident: 2015-Jul ID Number: 2015129162270 A worker picked up a can of aerosol paint and the can exploded in his hands. The top blew off and the can acted like a projectile, hitting the worker in…
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