As of January 1, 2023, licensed contractors are required to publish their company name and Technical Safety BC (TSBC) licence number when advertising regulated services to the public. Adding your TSBC licence number to your ads will help home and business owners easily determine who is qualified to conduct work safely. https://bit.ly/TSBCAdGuidelines
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BC Building Trades challenge BCCSA’s report on substance use
Journal of Commerce | Evan Saunders | March 16, 2023 The executive director of British Columbia’s Building Trades (BCBT) has expressed worry that a new report on substance use in the construction industry could decrease supports for workers. “The construction industry should not use this study to divert treatment and harm reduction resources from the sector,”…
Read MoreAsbestos certification and licensing update
Scope of requirements and levels of worker certification WorkSafeBC would like you to be aware of recently posted information and resources to help you prepare for the new asbestos certification and licensing requirements that will need to be followed on the effective date for the changes (to be determined). Who is required to have a…
Read MoreYoung Richmond worker’s fatal accident caused by unsafe worksite: WorkSafeBC
Richmond News | March 10, 2023 A recent WorkSafeBC report revealed a young Richmond worker’s fatal work injury was caused by the lack of a designated walkway and an unsafe worksite. The Richmond News previously reported in May 2021 that a woman had succumbed to her injuries after an industrial accident in North Hamilton. According to WorkSafeBC’s investigation…
Read MoreResearch casts doubt on toxic drug crisis in construction: BCCSA
Journal of Commerce | Evan Saunders | March 10, 2023 According to a recent study, the British Columbia Construction Safety Association (BCCSA) claims the toxic drug crisis in the construction industry is not as bad as previously thought. “The initial findings of the Construction Safety and Substance Use: Blueprint for Action study cast doubt on the apparent crisis that…
Read MoreIndustry Perspectives Op-Ed: Complying with new anti-collision regulations for B.C. tower cranes
Journal of Commerce | Mark Klassen | March 8, 2023 This month WorkSafeBC will implement new regulations for tower cranes in B.C. that will require the use of anti-collision/zoning systems. While news of this decision is welcomed by many in the industry, the timeline for bringing the equipment into compliance remains a top concern. Part one of this…
Read MoreIndustry Perspectives Op-Ed: Is the industry ready for new anti-collision regulations for B.C. tower cranes?
Journal of Commerce | Mark Klassen | March 1, 2023 This month WorkSafeBC will implement new regulations for tower cranes in B.C. that will require the use of anti-collision/zoning systems. While news of this decision is welcomed by many in the industry, the timeline for bringing the equipment into compliance remains a top concern. Part one of…
Read MoreSilica control tool strengthened for roadbuilding users
Journal of Commerce | Jean Sorensen | February 24, 2023 Strides have been made over the past several years to strengthen the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) silica control tool for the roadbuilding sector with more industry data contributed. Dawson Construction, part of the Kamloops’ Dawson Group, has been supplying data to the tool after the company…
Read MoreBCIT aims to bring youth into construction with new ACE microcredential program
Journal of Commerce | Evan Saunders | February 24, 2023 With retirement set to be the biggest cause of labour loss in the coming years, it is more important than ever to ensure young people know about opportunities in the construction industry. And the British Columbia Institute of Technology is looking to give students that exposure with its new…
Read More‘We’re trying to get out there and save a life’: Tailgate Toolkit at BUILDEX
Journal of Commerce | Evan Saunders | February 22, 2023 It’s a demanding industry but help is out there. Greg Hemminger and Rory Kulmala with the Tailgate Toolkit sat down with a small group at BUILDEX Vancouver to discuss their ongoing efforts to address substance use in the construction industry. “We have a big social problem, but…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC Update on Certification of Recognition (COR) Program
WorkSafeBC would like to provide an update on proposed improvements to the Certification of Recognition (COR) program, which includes the gradual implementation of a new single, scalable occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) audit standard. After considering feedback from stakeholders and reviewing current priorities for our organization, WorkSafeBC has decided to put their implementation plans…
Read MoreAlberta invests $150,000 in workplace safety training for students
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | February 13, 2023 EDMONTON — The Government of Alberta is investing 150,000 in student workplace safety. The province is partnering with SafeGen and other organizations to provide free safety training to students as they explore possible career paths, states a news release. “This is a key part of…
Read MoreEat & Greet Langley
The BC Constructions Safety Alliance (BCCSA) would like to invite you and your employees to join them for our Eat & Greet Event on Wednesday March 1, 2023 at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre Langley, for an evening of food, drink, and the opportunity to meet and interact with the BCCSA’s executive team, board of…
Read MorePlease help us Address BC’s Labour Market Gap!
On behalf of BC Chamber of Commerce: We all know that British Columbia’s workforce challenges are top of mind for most employers and a roadblock to growth, investment and success. We need solutions … urgently! With that in mind, I’m excited to report that on February 6, the BC Chamber of Commerce launched a new two-phase…
Read MoreRoad trip: EllisDon executive tour fosters new safety initiatives
Journal of Commerce | Dan O’Reilly | January 27, 2023 not-quite-finished series of country-wide tours by senior EllisDon executives has been the catalyst for the creation of a number of new and enhanced safety programs and initiatives. Included in that list is the development of labour foreperson training at its work locations as well as the…
Read MoreUntrained disassembly and poor communication linked to fatal B.C. ammonia release
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | January 26, 2023 VANCOUVER – The independent body that oversees the safety of technical systems and equipment in British Columbia has found a deadly ammonia leak near Kamloops last May was a tragedy that took years to unfold. A report from Technical Safety BC says the release of…
Read MoreICBA survey: 80 per cent of employers cannot find enough workers
Journal of Commerce | Evan Saunders | January 25, 2023 The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association’s (ICBA) annual Wage and Benefits Survey is hitting home the message that B.C. employers are finding it increasingly difficult to fill the growing labour void. According to the survey, 80 per cent of employers said they cannot find enough workers and nearly…
Read MoreBell Let’s Talk Day: Creating positive change on jobsites
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 25, 2023 TORONTO — The Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative was launched in September 2010 and every year has focused on four pillars: fighting the stigma, improving access to care, supporting world class research and leading by example in workplace mental health. These pillars, in one…
Read MoreRoof collapse injury can’t stop Cole Bernier from inspiring others
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | January 24, 2023 In September 2015, on what had been an otherwise ordinary workday, a roof collapsed on Cole Bernier, a 23-year-old carpenter’s apprentice in Kelowna, B.C. In a split second, Bernier’s life changed forever. The young man sustained significant injuries, including broken vertebrae, a punctured lung and…
Read MoreConstruction leaders anticipate labour shortages, higher wages in 2023: ICBA
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 18, 2023 SURREY, B.C. — Construction companies are anticipating labour shortages, historic wage increases and red tape frustration in 2023, according to a recent survey from the British Columbia Independent Contractors and Businesses Association. “The shortage of people is intensifying as Canada continues to go over a demographic…
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