Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | March 12, 2025 VANCOUVER – WorkSafeBC says a worker killed at the massive Oakridge Park development site in Vancouver last year when a mould used for concrete fell 26 storeys should never have been able to stand where she was. A report released by the province’s worker safety…
Read More‘Several critical safety failures’ behind B.C. worker’s death, WorkSafeBC says
CCTV footage revealed ‘no effective controls in place’ and safety protocols not followed: report Ashley Joannou · The Canadian Press · Posted: Mar 12, 2025 WorkSafeBC says a worker killed in Vancouver last year when a mould used for concrete fell 26 storeys should never have been able to stand where she was. The report released by the province’s…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC’s nudge on crane rules just an ‘interim step’ for safety, union says
“Providing guidance in the meantime is sort of, let’s call it an interim step, to try to prevent similar incidents from happening again.” — Josh Towsley, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 Vancouver Sun | By Derrick Penner | February 27, 2025 WorkSafeBC has taken another small step to shore up the safety of tower…
Read MoreNew WorkSafeBC bulletin focuses on how to reduce the risk of crane rigging failures
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | February 26, 2025 VANCOUVER — It’s no secret crane rigging failures have caused and can cause serious injuries and fatalities on construction sites. B.C. has seen its share of crane incidents over the last couple of years, and as such WorkSafeBC has implemented a number of measures to…
Read MoreB.C. construction company fined after falling tree kills worker
CBC News | Feb 24, 2025 WorkSafeBC has fined a construction company after a workplace fatality. It happened on a forest service road in the Beaton area, east of Revelstoke in B.C.’s West Kootenay. Crescent Bay Construction was fined $8,995.26 on Jan. 23, notice of which was recently posted to WorkSafeBC’s website. However, the watchdog’s notice does not say when…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC opens 3rd investigation into accidents at Oakridge construction site
CBC News | Jason Proctor | February 18, 2025 Search warrant says prime contractor EllisDon wants willingness to co-operate ‘formally’ documented Search warrants obtained by CBC reveal the existence of a WorkSafeBC investigation into a third accident at the Oakridge construction site — as well as efforts by prime contractor EllisDon to counter allegations the massive project…
Read MorePreventing crane rigging failures
Crane rigging failures have caused serious injuries and fatalities on B.C. construction sites. Rigging that can lift thousands of kilograms may fail catastrophically. WorkSafeBC’s bulletin provides an overview of how rigging failures typically happen and how to reduce the risks. Visit WorkSafeBC’s tower cranes webpage for more information and resources.
WorkSafeBC updates penalty database, highlights lack of fall protection incidents
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | February 14, 2025 VICTORIA — WorkSafeBC’s penalty database was updated recently to include penalties from January and while there were various incidents and employers that faced fines, many were for a lack of fall protection. Falls from elevation result in some of the most serious work-related injuries, the…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC hits province with $783K penalty for music fest traffic safety violations
Liam Britten | CBC News | Posted: Feb 10, 2025 WorkSafeBC has issued a penalty of $783,068.26 to the provincial government for “high-risk” worker safety violations outside a popular electronic music festival in B.C.’s Interior. The penalty, imposed in late January, was for a July 29, 2024, incident involving the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) staff…
Read MoreAmendments to Part 5 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
WorkSafeBC New requirements now in effect As of February 3, 2025, amendments to Part 5 of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation, relating to emergency planning for hazardous substances, are in effect. These amendments broaden and enhance existing requirements to minimize risks to workers and other persons posed by emergencies involving hazardous substances. Below…
Read MoreRise Memorial Fundraising – Kelowna Crane Incident
On behalf of the Rise Memorial Foundation, we are sharing a major memorial project that is anticipated to start construction in March 2025 in Kelowna, BC. The project’s name is RISE Memorial and it is a proposed commemorative garden space indowntown Kelowna in remembrance of the five young men (Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook, Brad Zawislak, Eric…
Read MoreB.C.’s Baltej Dhillon among 3 new senators announced by Justin Trudeau
Vancouver Sun | Feb 07, 2025 | Canadian Press Dhillon has worked with B.C.’s anti-gang agency since 2019 and, in 1991, became the first RCMP officer to wear a turban. OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the appointment of three new independent senators to fill some of the Senate’s few remaining vacancies. The…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC | January 31, 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: Burns Core Activity: Plumbing, heating, vent, residential air conditioning, or central vacuum system installation or repair /…
Read MoreCCOHS unveils free mental health toolkit
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 30, 2025 HAMILTON, ONT. — The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released a free Workplace Mental Health Toolkit for Canadian organizations. “The online toolkit aims to empower business owners, managers and supervisors to build a workplace culture where employees feel safe, respected, and valued,” a…
Read MoreBCCWITT News and Events
On behalf of BC Construction Women in the Trades | January BCCWITT’s ConnectHER: Journey to Success for Women Apprentices in BC We have a new initiative to support women apprentices in BC, and we need your support! Our ConnectHER program provides fully funded training, mentorship and community to help women apprentices in BC complete their apprenticeship…
Read MoreCCA, MCAC ask for carveout from retaliatory tariffs
Journal of Commerce | Don Wall | January 29, 2025 Key construction stakeholders are urging the federal government to exclude construction-related products and materials from any retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. imports into Canada if the Donald Trump administration goes ahead with its threatened tariffs on Feb. 1. A coalition of four associations sent a letter…
Read MoreTwo companies fined after worker seriously injured at residential construction site
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 28, 2025 CALGARY, ALTA. — Two construction companies have been fined $168,000 each in relation to a serious workplace injury that occurred in 2023. Ihawk Construction Ltd., as an employer, pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker under…
Read MoreNew first aid regulations roll out across B.C.
WorkSafeBC The new first aid regulations have significantly changed the way many employers manage their first aid programs. Find out what actions three B.C. employers took to align with the changes that came into effect on November 1. Read More!
Burnaby foreman and his employer face criminal trial after 2012 workplace death
The charges are possible under the rarely used law passed in 2004 to establish criminal liability of corporations for workplace deaths and injuries. It’s called the Westray law Vancouver Sun | Jan 20, 2025 | By Susan Lazaruk More than 12 years after a pipe layer was crushed to death by a collapsing trench wall on…
Read MoreMinister of Labour Receives Mandate Letter
Our new Minister of Labour, the Honourable Jennifer Whiteside, received a Mandate Letter from the Premier. With respect to COCA’s focus, the Premier highlighted the following priorities: The full mandate letter can be found here.