WorkSafeBC OHSR Part 6 Substance Specific Requirements – Combustible Dusts; Public Consultation

On behalf of WorkSafeBC –> This is a friendly reminder that the proposed amendments to Part 6 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to combustible dusts are now in the public consultation stage and are available on the WorkSafeBC website for your review and feedback. This consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback…

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GET ON THE ROAD TO RED SEAL

The Construction Foundation of BC (CFBC) is helping current and future skilled trades apprentices to navigate barriers and successfully achieve their Red Seal Endorsement.  Using a suite of tools and one on one supports, apprentices are able to continue to progress in their apprenticeship and ultimately, complete their training and achieve their Red Seal Endorsement….

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Revised regulations require work zone risk assessment

Working at the side of a road for any reason and for any amount of time means they’re considered roadside workers. And that means their employers have specific responsibilities for their safety. This includes meeting revised traffic control regulations that require a work zone risk assessment. The new ConeZoneBC.com provides practical guides and checklists you can use to meet…

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Unlicensed trade workers, climate change top safety risks in 2023: TSBC

Journal of Commerce | Evan Saunders | June 5, 2023 The ongoing climate crisis has increasingly become a source of technical danger for British Columbians, joining careless gas line digging and unlicensed trade workers as the preeminent safety threats this year. These three issues were highlighted by Technical Safety British Columbia (TSBC) in its Annual State of…

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B.C. to become first province to require asbestos abatement licensing

Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services  | June 12, 2023 VICTORIA – Starting Jan. 1, 2024, British Columbia will become the first province in Canada to require asbestos abatement contractors be licensed. Changes to the Workers Compensation Act gave WorkSafeBC the authority to administer a certification program around asbestos abatement work with the training scheduled…

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Concrete Pump Certification – End of Transition Period

In just over six months — January 1, 2024 — the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requiring operators of concrete pumps to be certified will come into enforcement.  Since WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved the changes in December 2021, employers and workers have had the opportunity to obtain the required training and experience before going through the…

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Board of Directors approves amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

From Lori Guiton – Director, Policy, Regulation and Research Department At its April 2023 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. These amendments will come into effect on November 1, 2024. Strikethrough versions of the amendments with explanatory notes can be accessed below. Deletions in the regulatory amendments are identified…

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BCCWITT May News and Events!

On behalf of BC Centre for Women in the Trades — BCCWITT is celebrating some exciting things coming up in the next few weeks, so we want to keep you in the loop! Did you know that BCCWITT is turning 5 years old next month!? To celebrate, we have a few upcoming contests and surprises. We…

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Industry Special: If you cut ceramic tiles, the BCCSA is looking for help in new lead-detection research

Journal of Commerce | ConstructConnect™ Media | May 25, 2023 This summer, the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) is launching a research program designed to reliably measure lead exposure resulting from the dust generated by cutting through ceramic tile glazes. Lead is no longer permitted in new paint and plumbing products, however, lead continues to be…

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Province of B.C. looks for building code input

Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | May 25, 2023 VICTORIA – The Government of British Columbia has launched a survey to take the pulse of the public regarding changes to the BC Building Code. Proposed changes to the code are based on the 2020 National Model Codes with some B.C.-specific variations to address geography,…

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Consultation on proposed amendments to Part 5 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

WorkSafeBC’s Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to Part 5, Chemical Agents and Biological Agents, sections 5.97 to 5.105, of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing. View the proposed regulatory amendments and information…

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STC Trades Designation Process Now Open

On behalf of SkilledTradesBC: SkilledTradesBC has a new mandate to ensure British Columbia has the skilled workforce to meet the demand for 85,000 more tradespeople over the next ten years. Part of this mandate includes implementing Skilled Trades Certification which will continue to build a diversified and sustainable skilled labour force through certification.     On behalf…

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Recent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC

May 3, 2023 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: Structural concrete forming / Industrial, commercial, institutional or highrise residential contracting or construction Location: Lower Mainland…

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May 9th, 2023 virtual public hearing on proposed regulatory amendments

WorkSafeBC will be holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The virtual public hearing will be streamed live on May 9, 2023, in two sessions. The first will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 3 to 5 p.m. View the public hearing live from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. View the public hearing live from…

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Fair Practices Commissioner Appointed

WorkSafeBC The WorkSafeBC Board of Directors has appointed Allan Seckel as WorkSafeBC’s first fair practices commissioner.   The commissioner role was introduced as part of Bill 41, which received Royal Assent in November 2022. His function will be to investigate complaints by employers, workers, and dependants of workers regarding alleged unfairness in their dealings with WorkSafeBC. The commissioner…

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