Consultation on the 2015 — 2017 Compensation, Occupational Disease and Assessment Policy Priorities Workplan

The Policy, Regulation and Research Division has prepared a draft 2015 – 2017 Compensation, Occupational Disease and Assessment Policy Priorities Workplan for stakeholder review and comment. Stakeholders are invited to review the discussion paper and proposed workplan, and to provide feedback by November 14, 2014. COCA will be drafting a response for circulation and submission…

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Issuing Orders to Workers: The Decision Process

WorkSafeBC has issued a bulletin outlining the decision process for orders to workers.  It can be found online HERE and printed HERE. Prevention policy provides that all parties with duties under the Workers Compensation Act (the Act) may be able to affect the health and safety of persons at or near a workplace. While the employer has the…

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Burns Lake Wood Pellet Mill Explosion

One man suffered third degree burns and two other employees were injured in an explosion at a wood pellet plant in Burns Lake on Thursday October 9th, 2014.  Leroy Reitsma, president of Pinnacle Renewable Energy plant said a “fire-related incident” happened at the Burns Lake mill, located on Highway 16 east of Burns Lake, at…

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WorkSafeBC Tools for Employers

Visit the Industry Safety Information Centre, where you can create charts to see your injury prevention activities, accepted injury/illness claims, and changes to your industry size. The Employer Safety Planning Tool Kit is a suite of interactive tools that enables Employers to learn about the injuries and claims that impact their safety performance. It allows…

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WorkSafe Bulletin – European Fire Ants

European fire ants were first seen in British Columbia in 2010. Since then, they have been found in the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, and southern Vancouver Island. Their nests are found in moist, shaded places such as lawns and grassy areas, under decaying logs, and in yard waste and potted plants. Because these ants…

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New OHS Guideline G16.17 ~ Alternate means of escape

A new OHS Guideline has been posted on the WorkSafeBC regarding the purpose-built window-breaking devices for mobile equipment egress.    This guideline describes when a purpose-built window breaking device may meet the requirements of section 16.17 of the Regulation.   Find the Guideline here –> G16.17 Alternate means of escape – Purpose-built window breaking device The Guideline…

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New hard hat standard up for discussion

Journal of Commerce, IAN HARVEY Aug 14, 2014 The ubiquitous hard hat, a mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) will see some incremental design changes, said Dave Shanahan Project Manager at the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). “The next edition of the standard will be published early in 2015 as CSA Z94.1-15,” he said. It will replace  the 2005…

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2014 Construction Safety Conference – Bridging the Gap

The 9th annual Bridging the Gap conference is a two-day conference on safety in the construction industry.  The all plenary sessions will include on site safety responsibilities and supervision, occupational disease prevention (asbestos and silica), alternatives to ladders, MSI prevention and return to work, traffic control and mobile equipment, and more. Where?  Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel,…

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2015 Preliminary Rates

The preliminary assessment rates for 2015 have been announced by WorkSafeBC. (The rates are described as preliminary as have not yet been approved by the WorkSafeBC Board of Directors.  Approval is expected by October 2014.) The preliminary rates normally become the actual rates. The Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Classification Unit (CU) has decreased by 4.7%…

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Construction work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC – June/July 2014

CONSTRUCTION Injury Type: Puncture wounds to leg Core Activity: Framing or residential forming Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2014-Jul ID Number: 2014110750110 While using a nail gun, a worker discharged two nails into his leg.   Injury Type: Head laceration Core Activity: House framing Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2014-Jul ID Number:…

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Professional Development Opportunity – A Day with Sidney Dekker

What:  Safety:  A bureaucratic responsibility up, or an ethical responsibility down? When:  Friday, September 19, 2014 ~ 8 am to 4 pm Where:  Vancouver Convention Centre West Hosted by  The Canadian Society of Safety Engineering Lower Mainland Chapter… Register Online here. TOPICS COVERED  A case example to think about safety, justice, trust and culture What…

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Changes to OHS Regulation – June 24, 2014

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 and new ones added….

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New WorkSafeBC Investigation Reports – Construction

WorkSafeBC has posted reports that are intended to help employers and workers understand the causes and underlying factors that contribute to workplace accidents.  This information may help you prevent similar accidents in your workplace. Worker struck as utility pole is lifted onto truck – December 2012 Two workers suffered serious electrical burns in contact with high-voltage conductor –…

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WorkSafeBC Review and Action Plan Report Released

On April 14, 2014, the Minister of Labour, the Honourable Shirley Bond, announced that the chair and board of WorkSafeBC agreed to appoint Gordon Macatee as Administrator of WorkSafeBC in order to drive an agenda of change. The focus of the Report is on Occupational Health & Safety inspections and investigations. The Macatee Report is…

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Vancouver Sun on WorkSafeBC and Preparing Cases for Court

WorkSafeBC has little recent experience preparing cases for court  Agency has been under criticism for bungled sawmill explosion investigations By Gord Hoekstra ~ July 3, 2014 WorkSafeBC has successfully laid regulatory charges in court in only three workplace safety cases since 1999, The Vancouver Sun has learned. It is a marked departure from a five-year period in…

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