Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 25, 2025 WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — WorkSafeBC recently issued a penalty of $467,496.80 to Axis Family Resources for a “high-risk violation” at a Williams Lake worksite pertaining to repeated asbestos violations. According to a release, the firm operates a residential social services facility. WorkSafeBC inspected the worksite…

Read More

You may have noticed a lack of COCA News recently – our Mailchimp account was overloaded and stopped sending our newsfeed posts. The issue has been fixed and you should receive regular updates going forward. I have included everything from July in today’s update – sorry for the volume. If you want to go back…

Read More

On behalf of the Ministry of Labour –> The Ministry of Labour (the Ministry) is seeking feedback from key stakeholders on a proposed 27-week unpaid job protected leave period that aligns with federal Employment Insurance sickness benefits, which were increased in 2022. As you may be aware, in Fall 2024, an election commitment was made to:…

Read More

Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 2, 2025 VICTORIA — The report and recommendations of the 2024 Labour Relations Code Review Panel are now posted publicly for review and feedback. The report has been posted on the govTogetherBC website where people can share their views on how B.C.’s labour relations laws should be updated, explains a release….

Read More

Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 4, 2025 VICTORIA — The Province of B.C. is providing support for two pain clinics in Burnaby and Langford that are meant to give more opioid-free pain management options for construction workers. “People in the construction industry need specialized supports with mental-health and substance-use challenges,” said Josie…

Read More

Journal of Commerce | Peter Caufield | July 4, 2025 Vancouver City Council recently approved initiatives it says will support development and help housing projects move forward. Council says financial measures it has proposed will ease cost pressures and improve cash flow. The measures include:  Josh White, Vancouver’s general manager of planning, urban design and sustainability,…

Read More

On behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure As you may know, the Infrastructure Projects Act (the Act) is a new law in British Columbia that helps speed up the delivery of major public infrastructure—like hospitals, schools, and long-term care homes—so communities can get the services they need, faster. The Act also supports faster delivery of provincially significant projects…

Read More

Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | July 14, 2025 BURNABY, B.C. — Officials from a B.C. construction union say it’s been four years since a crane collapse killed five people in Kelowna, and their families and the industry are still waiting for answers from WorkSafeBC about what happened, and from prosecutors about possible criminal…

Read More

On behalf of Road Safety at Work A thorough orientation that includes work zone safety is a powerful tool for companies employing people who work at or on the roadside. Safe work zones are a regulatory requirement in BC and play a critical role in preventing worker injuries caused by moving vehicles. They can also…

Read More

On behalf of WorkSafeBC –> Our Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to Part 12, Tools, Machinery and Equipment, sections 12.74 to 12.80.2 — Automotive Lifts and Other Vehicle Supports, of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed…

Read More

On Behalf of WorkSafeBC –> Our Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to multiple sections of Parts 4, 13, 14, 20, 28, and 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to periodic certification of equipment as safe for use. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share…

Read More

The preliminary average base premium rate for 2026 will remain at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll. Subject to final approval by WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors, this will be the ninth consecutive year that the average base rate has remained at this level.  WorkSafeBC is holding virtual rate information sessions this week during which their…

Read More

Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | July 15, 2025 RICHMOND, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has announced next year $570 million in surplus funding will be handed back to B.C. employers, as the preliminary average base premium rate for 2026 will remain at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll. Although subject to final approval from the…

Read More

Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | July 7, 2025 SASKATOON — Police say an Alberta man who was rushed to hospital Saturday after a crane collapse in Saskatoon has died. Officers had been dispatched to a construction site on Webster Street in the city’s northeast for an industrial accident. A crane collapsed at the…

Read More

Homebuilders will have 4 years, rather than 2, to pay development fee charges CBC | The Canadian Press | Posted: Jul 02, 2025 1:16 PM PDT The British Columbia government is loosening the rules for payment of development fees in a bid to jump-start home construction that has been hampered by upfront costs. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says among…

Read More

June 23, 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: Close call Core Activity: Industrial, commercial, institutional or highrise residential contracting or construction Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2025-Jun ID…

Read More

Richmond News | Valerie Leung | Jun 20, 2025 A roofing company working on a Richmond home is being fined once again by the provincial work safety watchdog. WorkSafeBC gave Hardworking Roofing Service Ltd. a $6,086.26 fine on May 1 after several workers were found on a sloped roof with no proper fall protection. The firm…

Read More

As temperatures rise, take action to protect your workers from heat stress. Find resources, including our heat stress screening tool, to help manage the risk at your workplace. Learn more »

At its April 2025 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors (BOD) approved the adoption of the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 new and revised American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values (ACGIH TLVs) for the following selected chemical substances: In addition, Epichlorohydrin’s revised ACGIH TLV is already the same as the existing B.C. exposure limit. Effective…

Read More

VANCOUVER, BC (May 29, 2025) – Light House, an organization focused on advancing circular practices in the built environment, is now accepting applications for the 2025/2026 Circular Construction Accelerator (CCA). This complimentary, impact-driven program supports B.C.-based businesses in adopting circular economy practices to reduce waste, create new value streams, and contribute to a more resilient built environment. Through the…

Read More