The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA) supports a recent announcement by the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC) regarding the transition to CSA or ANSI-certified Type II helmets effective July 1, 2026. The CCSC is a national collaboration of leading construction organizations, and this requirement applies across CCSC member sites, including workers, trade partners,…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC marks Day of Mourning with sobering 2025 toll: 138 worker deaths
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | April 28, 2026 RICHMOND, B.C. — Today (April 28) workers, employers, families and communities across the country are observing the National Day of Mourning, which is a time to remember those who have been killed, injured or suffered illness due to work-related incidents. WorkSafeBC is reporting its latest…
Read MoreDay of Mourning commemorates fallen workers
Last year in B.C., 138 workers lost their lives due to workplace injury and illness. Richmond, B.C. (April 27, 2026) — On April 28, WorkSafeBC joins workers, employers and communities across British Columbia to observe the National Day of Mourning, a time to remember those who have been killed, injured or suffered illness due to work-related…
Read MoreKnowing the Ropes: Building a safer future
Why Canada’s construction crane industry needs rigging harmonization now. Crane & Hoist Canada | March 12, 2026 | By Justin Brown Canada’s construction crane industry is operating in a regulatory environment that no longer reflects the complexity, pace, or scale of modern lifting. Our cranes have evolved. Our wire ropes and synthetic materials have advanced….
Read MoreMCAC survey reveals non-harmonized safety certifications increasing costs, delaying projects
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | April 20, 2026 OTTAWA – New survey findings released by the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) reveal contractors operating across provincial boundaries are facing significant costs due to non-harmonized safety certifications, training and verification requirements, not to mention unnecessary administration duties. The national survey, conducted in February,…
Read MoreLangley construction company fined $575,000 for wall collapse that killed pipelayer
Vancouver Sun | By Susan Lazaruk | April 16, 2026 An excavating company in charge of a Burnaby work site where a pipelayer was killed when a retaining wall collapsed was ordered to pay a total of $575,000 in fines and victim surcharges after being found guilty of criminal negligence. J. Cote and Son Excavating of…
Read MoreApril 2026 public hearing on proposed regulatory amendments
April 2026 public hearing on proposed regulatory amendments WorkSafeBC is holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The virtual public hearing will be streamed live on Microsoft Teams on April 21, 2026, in two sessions. The first will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 3 to 5 p.m. Participating in the public…
Read MoreICBA ADVOCACY UPDATE
April 15, 2026 | ICBA Key Points: B.C. ALREADY IN RECESSION? A new Business in Vancouver op-ed from ICBA Chief Economist Jock Finlayson and consulting economist Ken Peacock makes a case for what our members are already feeling: B.C. is now likely in a recession. B.C. shed a staggering 20,000 jobs in both February and March –…
Read MoreBCCA survey urges more government action as costs, payment delays persist
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | April 14, 2026 VICTORIA — The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) is sharing the perspectives of 858 employers and tradespeople across all of the province’s development regions in its latest industry survey and 2026 Spring Stat Pack, with the results painting a picture of resilience with a call for more…
Read MoreIndustry Special: The switch to Type II helmets to protect construction workers is gaining momentum
Journal of Commerce | BCCSA | April 14, 2026 Regulations often develop slowly, while employers can act quickly to promote worker safety. One private sector initiative that’s gaining momentum is the use of Type II helmets — not through regulation, but through corporate mandates by large construction employers. Last year, the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC),…
Read MoreWe need your help!
The COCA website and newsfeed are dated (did you notice?) and require updating from both design and technology perspectives. Before we move forward, we want to hear from you. Please take 5 minutes to tell us what you would like to see on our website! https://survey.zohopublic.ca/zs/7HBwZM Thank you for your time!
WorkSafeBC Board Member Representative Search
The Province is seeking applicants for a Public Interest representative on WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors. More information can be found here: https://www.bcpublicsectorboardapplications.gov.bc.ca/s/noticeofpositionDetail?nop=J-0505
April 2026 public hearing on proposed regulatory amendments
WorkSafeBC | April 1, 2026 WorkSafeBC is holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The virtual public hearing will be streamed live on April 21, 2026, in two sessions. The first will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 3 to 5 p.m. Further information on how to view…
Read MoreBritish Columbia’s Construction Industry Celebrates 9th Annual Construction and Skilled Trades Month
BCCA | April 1, 2026 VICTORIA, BC (April 1, 2026) – April is the ninth annual Construction and Skilled Trades Month in British Columbia, officially proclaimed by the provincial government. This month, and every month, the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) celebrates the many accomplishments and contributions of the construction industry in building a stronger,…
Read MoreBC Building Trades launch campaign to defend Community Benefit Agreements
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | March 23, 2026 NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — The BC Building Trades is launching a campaign “to protect Community Benefit and Project Labour Agreements to ensure major public projects are built by local, skilled workers from British Columbia.” The organization also says these agreements expand apprenticeships, training and provide…
Read MoreCanada’s construction focus on British Columbia
Journal of Commerce | Devin Bell | March 26, 2026 British Columbia is emerging as a key hub for construction investment in Canada. ConstructConnect forecasts the province to achieve its highest-ever nonresidential construction spending in 2026. Supporting this outlook is the Mark Carney government’s focus on capital projects, particularly in British Columbia’s resource-rich regions. With targeted…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC warns employers of elevated avalanche danger in B.C.
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | March 26, 2026 RICHMOND, B.C. – WorkSafeBC is asking workers and employers to take heed of recent warnings from Avalanche Canada about elevated avalanche danger in parts of the province as they can be hazardous to workers. When workers are required to enter or work near avalanche terrain, whether for…
Read MoreRecession Warning, WorkSafe Meltdown, Your Property Rights: ICBA Stands With You
ICBA | March 26, 2026 KEY POINTS NOT A DIP. A CRISIS. When the Vancouver Sun asked another construction association leader about the state of the sector last week, he said he wasn’t “too concerned” – because the industry goes through “dips” from time to time. That’s not what our Chief Economist Jock Finlayson actually sees in the…
Read MoreB.C. introduces a mandatory crane licensing and permitting program through WorkSafeBC
March 17, 2026 | By Crane & Hoist Canada Staff Seven fatalities involving cranes in the past five years prompted action to improve standards and accountability The province of British Columbia is taking action to strengthen protections for workers and enhance crane safety by enacting legislation that enables a new WorkSafeBC crane licensing and permitting…
Read MoreKnowing the Ropes: Building a safer future
Crane & Hoist Canada | March 12, 2026 | By Justin Brown Why Canada’s construction crane industry needs rigging harmonization now. Canada’s construction crane industry is operating in a regulatory environment that no longer reflects the complexity, pace, or scale of modern lifting. Our cranes have evolved. Our wire ropes and synthetic materials have advanced….
Read More