WorkSafeBC is currently conducting public consultations on proposed amendments related to psychological health and safety, workplace harassment and violence, and personal protective equipment (PPE) standard of fit requirements. To support participation in the psychological health and safety and harassment and violence consultations, WorkSafeBC invites you to attend the following webinars. These sessions will provide an…
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Consultation on Policy Workplans
WorkSafeBC | August 19, 2026 WorkSafeBC invites you to share your ideas for policy projects for our Policy, Regulation and Research Department to consider when developing proposals for the 2027–2029 Policy Workplans. These workplans set out policy priorities with respect to compensation for injuries, death, and occupational disease; employer assessment; and occupational health and safety….
Read MoreThe Trade War Lands on Your Jobsite (ICBA Advocacy Update)
ICBA | August 25, 2026 KEY POINTS THE TRADE WAR IS HERE Late August 21, the Canada-U.S. trade talks collapsed. On Saturday, 50 per cent American tariffs hit $27.6 billion of Canadian exports – a list that includes cement, wood products, and furniture. The earlier U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, lumber and autos stayed too….
Read MoreWorkSafeBC: Before you ask a bot, ask your boss
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | August 26, 2026 Where do British Columbia’s 28,000 young construction workers go for workplace safety advice? According to research by WorkSafeBC (WSBC), many of them go to their cellphones and ask AI tools and chatbots for suggestions. Instead, says WSBC, they should be consulting the people they work with….
Read MoreWorkSafeBC’s New Tower Crane Safety Webpage
Did you know that there is a new tower crane safety strategy webpage on worksafebc.com. The page provides information about WorkSafeBC’s tower crane strategy that modernizes regulations, expands inspections, strengthens training and certification, and supports continued industry partnerships. On this page you will find information about how the strategy works, progress updates, resources, and answers to common questions. As the strategy evolves, so will this web page with new…
Read MoreConsultation on Psychological Health and Safety in the proposed new Part 4.1 of the OHS Regulation
WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on sections 4.107–4.109, Psychological Health and Safety, of the proposed new Part 4.1, Psychological Health and Safety, Harassment and Violence, of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing….
Read MoreConsultation on Harassment and Violence in the proposed new Part 4.1 of the OHS Regulation
WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on sections 4.107 and 4.110–4.118, Harassment and Violence, of the proposed new Part 4.1, Psychological Health and Safety, Harassment and Violence, of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public…
Read MoreAvoid unnecessary travel near wildfires, drivers urged
Road Safety at Work | August 10, 2026 If you have to go, have a safety plan, says Road Safety at Work Wildfires and the smoke they create can add to the dangers of driving, cautions Road Safety at Work. “Intense heat, smoke, and debris on the road can affect driving conditions,” says Trace Acres,…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC: Employers urged to review wildfire evacuation plans
Journal of Commerce| DCN-JOC News Services | August 12, 2026 RICHMOND, B.C. — As wildfires continue to rip through parts of B.C., causing massive damages, WorkSafeBC is reminding employers to review their emergency evacuation plans and prepare for situations where workers may need to evacuate a workplace quickly. “Employers should understand the risks that may impact…
Read MoreBoard of Directors approves amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
WorkSafeBC | July 31, 2026 At its July 2026 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The amendments relate to Face Seal, Automotive Lifts, and Periodic Certification. Strikethrough versions of the amendments with explanatory notes can be accessed below. Deletions in the regulatory amendments are identified with a strikethrough and additions are in bold…
Read MoreAre your employees prepared for a driving emergency?
Road Safety at Work | July 23, 2026 If a work-related motor vehicle incident happens, the first few minutes afterwards are critical. Employers need to train employees on their policy and procedures for driving-related emergencies on the job. Driving can be the riskiest thing employees do at work, even if they only do it occasionally….
Read MoreHotel operator fined more than $620,000 for asbestos infractions
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 23, 2026 WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. – Hotel operator Northland Properties Corporation was fined $624,051.48 by WorkSafeBC in May in relation to several asbestos and lead violations. According to a penalty notice, the firm was renovating one its locations in Williams Lake, B.C. When WorkSafeBC inspected the site…
Read MoreBuildStrong by CIRP Appoints Brooks Patterson as CEO
BuildStrong by CIRP has announced the appointment of Brooks Patterson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Brooks has an extensive background in the construction industry, health and wellness for over 30 years. He’s also served as a Trustee of BuildStrong by CIRP (formerly the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan) for over 24 years, and has held…
Read MoreICBA NEWS RELEASE: B.C.’s Economy Has Gone From Leader to Laggard
ICBA | July 21, 2026 SURREY – British Columbia’s economy has been disproportionately kept afloat by hefty government spending while its private sector stalls, its export base shrinks, and its once-enviable public finances deteriorate faster than any province in half a century, according to a major new economic report released today by the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association…
Read MoreNew Mental Health Workplace Materials for Trades and Industry
On behalf of the Ministry of Health | July 16, 2026 People working in trades and other industries across British Columbia can face unique challenges when it comes to mental health and substance use, including barriers to seeking support. Our communities continue to face a toxic and unpredictable drug supply, and workers in trades and…
Read MoreCCSC mandates Type 2 hard hats on member construction sites nationwide
By CaDCR Staff Writer | July 7, 2026 The Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC) has introduced a new minimum standard for head protection, requiring Type 2 hard hats with integrated chin straps on all member construction sites across Canada. The requirement took effect July 1 and applies to all workers, subcontractors and visitors on projects operated…
Read MoreKelowna crane collapse victims, families have been failed by the system: IUOE Local 115
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 15, 2026 KELOWNA, B.C. — The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115 is demanding justice now after five years has passed since the Kelowna crane collapse tragedy and there’s still no movement on the case. On July 12, 2021, Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook, Eric Stemmer,…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC rates to stay flat in 2027
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 16, 2026 RICHMOND, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has announced the preliminary average base rate for 2027 will remain at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll. While it is still subject to final approval from the board of directors this fall, this will be the 10th consecutive year the…
Read MoreStoring Up Trouble: Financial Trends at WorkSafeBC
ICBA | Jock Finlayson | Updated on July 7, 2026 WorkSafeBC is the province’s occupational health and safety regulator as well as the main provider of compensation and other benefits to workers injured on the job. It is one of the most important government entities in the province. WorkSafe’s premiums and its decisions on workplace health and…
Read MoreAdding Trades Training Certification for BC Crane Operators
Government of BC News Release | Victoria | July 6, 2026 Summary __________ The Province is expanding skilled trades certification to tower and mobile crane operators to ensure consistent training and certification standards, improve crane safety and strengthen B.C.’s skilled trades workforce. “Today we’re delivering on our commitment to crane operators and worker safety in…
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