Injury Type: Suspected head injury Core Activity: Industrial, commercial, institutional, or highrise residential contracting or construction Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2016-Dec ID Number: 2016171900088 A worker slipped on a frost-covered formwork deck of a building under construction and sustained a suspected head injury. The worker regained consciousness when the first aid attendant…
Read MoreSafe and Happy Holidays!
On behalf of COCA, we would like to wish you safe and happy holidays and all the best for 2017! We look forward to seeing everyone in the New Year….
Changes to the assessable payroll policies in the Assessment Manual
On December 14, 2016, the Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC approved changes to the assessable payroll policies in the Assessment Manual. The changes clarify and consolidate the assessable payroll policies. They also allow the Assessment Department to assess just the payments for work done to certain kinds of firms, which benefits some employers. The Board…
Read MoreIndustry Voices: COCA supports recent Kinder Morgan, Enbridge pipeline approvals
Journal of Commerce | by DAVE BASPALY | Dec 12, 2016 COCA supports the decision of the Government of Canada to approve the two pipeline projects of Kinder Morgan and Enbridge, Inc. The approval from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau follows a three-year study by the National Energy Board (NEB) that completed a detailed, scientific,…
Read MoreStakeholders weigh in on random drug and alcohol testing
OH&S | by JEAN SORENSEN | Dec 7, 2016 Larry Staples, P.Eng., and advisor to the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA) said the outcome of the Suncor Energy Inc. and Unifor Local 707A case will affect his members, which include larger contractors on energy projects as well as labour within the province. “We work closely…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC launches awareness campaign on dangers of asbestos
OH&S | by JOC NEWS SERVICE | Dec 7, 2016 RICHMOND, B.C. – WorkSafeBC has launched an awareness campaign targeted to home property owners who are considering or undertaking renovations or demolitions regarding the dangers of asbestos in homes built before 1990. The campaign runs until early 2017 across a broad spectrum of media including radio,…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC reminds workers to stay safe in cold snap
OH&S | by JOC NEWS SERVICE | Dec 9, 2016 VANCOUVER – With a cold snap covering the Lower Mainland, WorkSafeBC is reminding workers to keep safety in mind while working in cold and often hazardous conditions. “In extreme temperatures, frostbite can occur in a matter of minutes without the proper clothing and equipment. Construction…
Read MoreOccupational First Aid Program Changes – Your Attention is Required
WorkSafeBC is making revisions to the Occupational First Aid program, effective July 1, 2017. First Aid training will now be done every 2 years instead of 3 – resulting in increased costs to employers. It appears employers were not contacted for feedback. WorkSafeBC OFA Program Revisions – October 2016 Agency Communication Please make WorkSafeBC…
Read MoreChris Atchison Named BC Construction Association President
VICTORIA, BC December 6, 2016 – The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) announced today that Chris Atchison has been named incoming President, replacing retiring incumbent Manley McLachlan. The handover will begin on January 3, with McLachlan staying on in an advisory capacity until March 31, 2017. Working from the BCCA headquarters in Victoria, Chris will…
Read MoreIndustry awaiting Alberta appeal court decision on Suncor drug testing
Journal of Commerce | by JEAN SORENSEN | Dec 5, 2016 A highly-contested Alberta Court of Appeal decision on random drug and alcohol testing between Suncor Energy Inc. and Unifor Local 707A could come down as early as December. Edmonton labour lawyer Hugh McPhail QC with McLennan Ross, who served as legal counsel for the five industry…
Read MoreUpdates to OHS Guidelines – November 2, 2016
Guidelines — Occupational Health and Safety Regulation Part 4 General Conditions G4.13(1) Emergency preparedness and response – Risk assessment This guideline has been revised to provide additional guidance around work with hazardous stored energy, and evacuating persons who require physical assistance. Part 5 Chemical Agents and Biological Agents G5.27(2) Electrical Safety Act repealed This guideline…
Read MoreWHMIS 2015: New toolbox meeting guides
These 10 meeting guides cover the main elements of the updated system, including overviews of the following topics: WHMIS 2015 and key changes from WHMIS 1988 New classification system Physical hazard classes Health hazard classes Hazard categories Pictograms How pictograms compare to WHMIS 1988 hazard symbols Supplier label Workplace label Safety data sheets
Asbestos: Danger hiding in plain sight
WorkSafeBC is reaching out to homeowners, who are demolishing or renovating their pre-1990s homes, about the importance of keeping workers safe from asbestos exposure. The fact is, more than 3,000 different building materials manufactured before 1990 can contain asbestos; because it’s found in so many common building products, it can be a danger hiding in…
Read MoreNovember 2016 Work-Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Close call Core Activity: Excavation operation Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2016-Nov ID Number: 2016165560015 The bucket of an excavator ruptured a buried 2-inch natural gas supply line. A construction site and local residences were evacuated. First responders secured the area while utility workers repaired the damaged line. No injuries were…
Read MoreHow BCIT Computing Students Can Help on your Computing Project
Webinar on BCIT Computing Student Projects – How to Get Students Working for You? Thursday, November 24, 2016 – 11:00 – 11:45 am PST Think you might have a good IT or software development project for BCIT Computing students and want to learn more about what’s involved? Join BCIT for this webinar which will…
Read MoreCOCA Supports WorkSafeBC Initiative Against Deadly Asbestos
COCA strongly supports WorkSafeBC’s new Hiding in Plain Sight campaign, which focuses on asbestos and the home owner. This is an excellent initiative that targets homeowners — and contractors they may hire — who are demolishing or renovating homes built be fore 1990. COCA urges both home owners and their contractors to be aware of…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC launches a Homeowner Asbestos Awareness Campaign
Asbestos can be found in more than 3,000 building materials manufactured before 1990. Because it’s found in so many common building products, it can be a danger hiding in plain sight in many homes. And when it’s disturbed, anyone working on the project could be at risk. Homeowners who are planning to reno or demo…
Read MoreOnline feedback forms from stakeholders (including Joint Committees)
November 7, 2016 Dear stakeholders: We have been notified of a temporary problem in WorkSafeBCs online submission system for proposed policy or regulation changes between September 7 and October 7, 2016. If you submitted feedback through the online submission system during the above period, please email ohsregfeedback@worksafebc.com as soon as possible to confirm that your…
Read MoreOctober 2016 Recent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Undetermined injuries Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work Location: Interior B.C. Date of Incident: 2016-Oct ID Number: 2016173540005 A worker trying to transfer from a scaffold system to the roof of a building fell about 15 feet to a concrete surface. Injury Type: Back strain (1 worker)…
Read MoreLast Chance! 11th Annual Bridging the Gap Conference & Trade Show – October 27th & 28th
The 11th Annual Bridging the Gap Conference & Trade Show targeted at Construction Safety will be held on October 27th and 28th at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Register Now!