On behalf of BCCSA ->
The construction industry faces constant deadlines. But one deadline — January 1, 2024 — may be the most important deadline for businesses who work with asbestos.
On that day, asbestos abatement contractors must be registered and licensed by WorkSafeBC, and workers must have completed mandatory certification to perform asbestos abatement work. If a company isn’t registered, it will be illegal for them to continue in business until they are. While it’s a worker’s responsibility to become certified, asbestos abatement contractors will be forbidden from employing uncertified workers, potentially bringing their business activities to a full stop.
To be certified, workers must choose one of two levels of asbestos work in which they’re involved. They then undergo a three-part training program that begins with online training, continues to an in-person practical skills assessment, and concludes with a final written certification exam.
The certification program takes about a day to complete. The BC Construction Safety Alliance offers a WorkSafeBC-approved certification program that still has the bandwidth to get your workers certified before the deadline arrives.
If you have workers who need to be certified, remind them today, or enroll them yourself. Your business — and their livelihoods — depend on it.