Journal of Commerce | An Industry Special | February 4, 2026 The BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) has long counted on its Prime Contractors Technical Advisory Committee (PCTAC) and Fire and Flood Restoration Program Technical Advisory Committee (FFRP TAC) to help identify and address health and safety challenges and priorities at the provincial level. Launched in…

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January 27, 2026 Construction incident summaries are based on information obtained as soon as possible after the incidents: they are preliminary and subject to change. Details have been edited to protect workers’ privacy. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Burns (1 worker); Smoke inhalation (1 worker) Core Activity: Plumbing, heating, vent, residential air conditioning, or central vacuum system…

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Journal of Commerce | Lindsey Cole | January 28, 2026 This July it will be five years since five young men lost their lives in a tower crane collapse at a development under construction in Kelowna, B.C. While many years have passed, there’s still no word on if and when any criminal charges will be laid…

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The PMI Canadian West Coast Chapter, Programs Team is hosting an upcoming in-person professional development event explicitly tailored for construction professionals, and would be delighted to extend this opportunity to COCA members. Event DetailsTitle: Redefining Construction Success: Applying PMI-CP Principles to Real Projects in 2026 Date & Time: February 4, 5:00–9:00 PMLocation: Uber Lounge at Steamworks Brew Pub,…

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ICBA | January 21, 2026 SURREY – British Columbia is staring down another difficult year, with ICBA forecasting real GDP will expand by a meagre 1.1% in 2026 – a level that signals an anemic economy and more financial and business pressure on contractors looking for work. The warning comes in the newly released B.C. Construction Monitor, an…

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Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | January 26, 2026 QUESNEL, B.C. — Osisko Development Corp. says in a statement a contractor working on the surface at the Cariboo Gold project “suffered a fatal injury following an isolated incident” on Thursday.  The company says authorities were notified and an investigation is underway into what is…

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Journal of Commerce| DCN-JOC News Services | January 27, 2026 NANAIMO, B.C. – Three companies are facing fines after a young worker was killed when a double-door frame fell on them during their first day on the job. According to a WorkSafeBC report, on Sept. 25, 2024, the worker was alone installing heating, ventilation and air…

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WorkSafeBC | January 20, 2026 Last year, we shared that WorkSafeBC  improved our online injury reporting form  to make it easier for workers to report injuries online — anytime, anywhere. This is part of our commitment to offer faster, more responsive, and convenient service.   The improved online injury reporting form is for workers with a physical injury…

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On behalf of BCCWITT | January 2026 Our BCCWITT team is excited to announce the kickoff of WITT Wednesdays – a new initiative designed to help connect and build up our community by offering both a range of learning and training options, and a (soon-to-come) return to virtual meetups. Plus, you can expect to see…

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Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 21, 2026 TORONTO – Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day, Canada’s national day for conversations about mental health awareness. This year’s theme is taking a moment for mental health. Whether it’s moment for yourself, a moment for a friend or a moment for a co-worker, it all matters. While it’s no secret the construction industry hasn’t always been focused on…

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Journal of Commerce | Don Procter | January 15, 2026 Harmonizing safety training certifications in construction across Canada is not just about keeping projects rolling on time and on budget, but also to ensure workers “are trained to the highest standards and best practices available.” So says Sean Strickland, executive director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions…

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Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 15, 2026 WINNIPEG — The Workers Compensation Act (the Act) Legislative Review Committee 2025-2026 (LRC) has opened the public consultation period for its review process. The LRC, appointed by the provincial government, is tasked with reviewing the act to make sure it continues to meet the needs…

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Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 7, 2026 RICHMOND, B.C. — B.C. employers will see no change to the average base premium rate from WorkSafeBC this year. According to a release, this is the ninth consecutive year the organization has set the average base rate at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll. Annual…

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Journal of Commerce | Jean Sorensen | December 24, 2025 A BC Supreme Court (BCSC) ruling has found J. Cote & Son Excavating Ltd. guilty of two counts of criminal negligence in a 13-year-old workplace incident that resulted in the trench death of pipelayer Jeffrey Caron, 28, and severe injury to fellow employee Thomas Richer when…

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WorkSafeBC | December 29, 2025 Construction incident summaries are based on information obtained as soon as possible after the incidents: they are preliminary and subject to change. Details have been edited to protect workers’ privacy. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Fracture Core Activity: Drywalling or acoustic board installation / Industrial, commercial, institutional or highrise residential contracting or…

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Richmond News | Valerie Leung | Dec 30, 2025 9:50 AM RFR said WorkSafeBC is investigating the incident after one person was taken to the hospital in serious condition. A construction worker was sent to hospital after falling more than eight metres at a Steveston building on Monday morning. Richmond Fire-Rescue and BC Emergency Health Services were…

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The Policy, Regulation and Research Department (PRRD) would like to thank you all for your submissions on the mental disorders policy review. Please click here for the submissions received by the PRRD. The consultation feedback informed changes to the policy revisions, which were presented to the Board of Directors for decision. Please click here for a summary of key…

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WorkSafeBC | Published on: December 12, 2025 $627,000 in penalties are related to the 2024 death of Yuridia Flores WorkSafeBC has updated its penalties database to include three administrative penalties totalling $1.3 million for health and safety violations in a series of crane-related incidents in 2024 and 2025. The penalties include: WorkSafeBC uses a multi-faceted…

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Vancouver Sun |  Susan Lazaruk | Published Dec 12, 2025 Pipelayer Jeff Caron was killed when he was pinned by collapsed retaining wall An excavating company in charge of a Burnaby work site where a pipelayer was killed when a retaining wall collapsed has been found guilty of criminal negligence. Three seniors officers of J….

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ICBA Press Release | December 11, 2025 SURREY – B.C.’s construction market has turned a dangerous corner, with contractors now more worried about finding work than finding workers, according to the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association’s (ICBA) 2026 Construction Survey of its members. Expectations for 2026 have softened markedly: while 40% of contractors expect more work, one in five…

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