Journal of Commerce OH&S   | by DAVE BASPALY     | Jul 11, 2016 WorkSafeBC recently announced a 2016 Asbestos Enforcement Initiative. Prevention officers will be conducting a province-wide program of worksite inspections until Dec. 31, 2016 to ensure homeowners, contractors and consultants are properly informed and equipped to safely remove asbestos containing materials and are complying with the Occupational…

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Yes! Here’s what you need to know Section 173 of the Workers Compensation Act states that an employer must immediately undertake an investigation into the cause of any incident that meets the following criteria: It resulted in an injury to a worker and required medical treatment It involved a minor worker injury that didn’t require…

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Notice of asbestos inspections and featured resources Asbestos exposure remains the number one killer of workers in B.C. Hundreds of houses are demolished and renovated every month in our province, and as many homes built up until 1990 used products containing asbestos, this poses a potential threat of exposing workers to harmful asbestos fibres. WorkSafeBC…

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City of Vancouver joins call for mandatory certification and licensing of asbestos contractors Date:  Wednesday, June 29, 2016 The BC Building Trades Council and the BC Federation of Labour congratulate Vancouver City Council for passing a critical resolution calling on the province to implement mandatory certification and licensing of asbestos and hazardous material removal contractors. “Many…

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The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of three British Columbia medical workers who argued they developed breast cancer as a result of their jobs.   ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS  /  Published on: June 24, 2016 OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of three British Columbia medical workers…

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Over the past few months some of our members have approached us asking whether or not some reduction in rates, or rebate from the current ‘surplus’, would be forthcoming given the favourable performance of WorkSafeBC’s investment portfolio. In response, we are pleased to offer our analysis of WorkSafeBC’s current financial state and our subsequent opinion.

Check out the new worksafebc.com! The new worksafebc.com is now live! Once you’ve had a chance to check out the new look online, you’ll notice their revamped website offers user-tested features and streamlined access to key resources — all designed to serve you better. Update your bookmarks Because they have rebuilt the site from the ground up, keep…

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At their meeting on May 18, 2016, WorkSafeBC’s governing body, the Board of Directors, approved the release of a discussion paper on clothing allowances, with options and a draft policy for stakeholder review and comment. Workers may sustain damage to clothing as a result of wearing a prosthetic or brace, or using a wheelchair. Current…

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At their meeting on May 18, 2016, WorkSafeBC’s governing body, the Board of Directors, approved the release of a discussion paper on Assessable Payroll with options and draft policies for stakeholder review and comment. Generally, an employer’s Assessable Payroll is the remuneration paid to all workers for work done. Premiums are calculated by multiplying an…

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Injury Type: Fractured vertebra Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-May ID Number: 2016178740004 A worker replacing a fascia board on a house fell from an extension ladder, landing on the ground about 22 feet below. Injury Type: Lacerations Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation…

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In June, BC Safety Authority (BCSA) will be launching an advertising campaign to bring increased awareness to our compliance and enforcement activities. The campaign aims to inform those who own or perform work on regulated equipment of their responsibilities and the consequences of not meeting their safety and compliance obligations. Through this awareness effort, BCSA…

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Vancouver Sun |  Laura Jones Op Ed | Published May 30, 2016   It’s time for WorkSafeBC to give employers some of their own money back. WorksafeBC provides a no-fault workers’ compensation insurance program that is fully paid for by employers. The premiums are used to pay workers who experience workplace injuries and help them…

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Injury Type: Upper body injury, laceration Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-May ID Number: 2016117080007 A worker fell from a work platform and was injured. The work platform on which the worker was standing was not secured against separation from the supporting end-frame scaffold to which it was attached….

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Trench work is a common activity in construction, but if trench stability is compromised, it can have deadly consequences. Installing adequate shoring is essential to preventing trench collapse and saving lives. See the WorkSafeBC blog – Prevent the collapse of trenches and save lives

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…

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WorkSafeBC is encouraging you to use their online portal (Employer Incident Investigation Report Submissions) for your incident investigation submissions – its quick, easy and secure.  There is also a new publication – Reference Guide for Employer Incident Investigations – designed to help you effectively prepare to investigate an incident at your workplace. Further, their preference is to have employers use their EIIR template,…

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Injury Type: Crush injury to foot Core Activity: Welding services or ornamental metal installation Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-Apr ID Number: 2016163270011 A rough-terrain lift truck was moving a load of steel when it ran over the foot of a worker who was guiding it. Injury Type: Fractures to arms Core Activity: Steep…

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At their meeting on March 31, 2016, WorkSafeBC’s governing body, the Board of Directors, approved the release of this discussion paper on the Permanent Disability Evaluation Schedule (PDES) with options and draft policies to stakeholders for comment. The PDES is a guide set out in policy to assist in the calculation of permanent disability awards…

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Journal of Commerce    |    by DAVE BASPALY     |    Apr 27, 2016 A number of changes have been made by WorkSafeBC to its policies with respect to OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) penalties. These policies have a potential financial impact on all employers and this column is focused on an overview of the…

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Tuesday, May 10, 2016  |  8 AM – 5 PM Anvil Centre – Ballroom  |  777 Columbia Street, New Westminster *Earn 7.5 HPO CPD Points in One Day!* The Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA), in partnership with presenting sponsor FortisBC, patron sponsor the Homeowner Protection Office, Branch of BC Housing, and Education Supporters BC…

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