March 23: FRAM with Erik Hollnagel (2 days) Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/functional-resonance-analysis-method-fram-workshop-with-erik-hollnagel-tickets-82279266501 Background: http://functionalresonance.com/onewebmedia/Manual%20ds%201.docx.pdf March 25: Learning from Accidents: The Costa Concordia Case with Nippin Anand (1 day) Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/learning-from-accidents-the-costa-concordia-case-with-dr-nippin-anand-tickets-82295553215 Background: https://novellus.solutions/learning-from-accidents/ March 26: RAG with Erik Hollnagel (2 days) Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/resilience-assessment-grid-rag-workshop-with-erik-hollnagel-tickets-82296034655 Background: https://erikhollnagel.com/onewebmedia/RAG%20Outline%20V2.pdf May 19: HOP Hub Vancouver with Todd Conklin and Friends (3 days) Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/hop-hub-vancouver-tickets-92968785139 Background: https://www.hophub.org/ April 6: The 3rd Annual…
Read MoreB.C. Supreme Court dismisses anti-CBA coalition challenge
DCN-JOC News Services | February 3, 2020 VANCOUVER – The B.C. Supreme Court will not hear a challenge to the provincial government’s community benefit agreements (CBA) framework initiated by a coalition opposed to the policy. A coalition made up of the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA), the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA), the Independent Contractors and…
Read MoreB.C. Supreme Court hears CBA legal challenge
VRCA | Date Posted : Feb 3, 2020 VANCOUVER – The Supreme Court of British Columbia began hearing arguments Feb. 3 from a coalition of the province’s largest construction associations and progressive unions that contend the NDP government’s labour framework for building public infrastructure projects violates the rights of 85 per cent of B.C.’s construction…
Read MoreConsequential amendments to the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II
The Workers Compensation Act (Act) has been revised as part of a standard statute revision process under the Statute Revision Act. The editorial changes to language, and renumbering of sections, parts, and divisions of the Act, come into effect on April 6, 2020. At issue are the consequential revisions required for the policies in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual,…
Read MoreB.C. pump operator certification looks for global reach
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | January 29, 2020 A B.C. safety association is working to keep concrete pump operators safe at a global level. British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) program manager Ammar Kavazovic and Great Northern Management Consultants president Charles Kelly presented “How Will the BC Operator Certification Program Affect You?” at the…
Read MoreMental health: The new frontier of workplace safety
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | January 31, 2020 Earlier this month (January), the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) held a well-attended two-day workshop called Mental Health First Aid. Like first aid for a physical injury, mental health first aid (MHFA) gives the sufferer immediate help until the crisis is over, or until he or…
Read MoreInside Innovation: Bird Construction cyber-attack a warning to construction
Journal of Commerce | John Bleasby | February 3, 2020 The CBC reports that leading Canadian general contractor Bird Construction was recently the victim of a cyber-attack and ransom demand from a group known as Maze. The hacker group claims to have stolen 60 gigabytes of data. Bird Construction was founded in 1920. Today it is…
Read MoreJanuary 2020 work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
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: Lower body fracture Core Activity: Deck, railing, or fence installation Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2020-Jan A worker using a lifeline fell two…
Read MoreIndustry Special: First in Canada, BCCSA’s new online course for working with asbestos planned for mid-year launch
Journal of Commerce | BCCSA | January 27, 2020 Despite bans on the use of asbestos in construction, asbestos remains the leading cause of work-related deaths in British Columbia. That’s because legacy asbestos lingers and because asbestos-related conditions can take years to develop. As WorkSafe BC considers avenues to address the issue, BCCSA is taking a…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC to focus on crane safety in 2020
Journal of Commerce | Grant Cameron | January 22, 2020 WorkSafeBC has a number of initiatives planned in 2020 to ensure the estimated 300 tower cranes operating in the province are in proper working order and will not pose a danger to workers or the public. This year, a five-member provincial crane inspection team will focus…
Read MoreJOC Sponsored Content: CSA Group’s infection control training for health care facility construction, renovation, and maintenance projects
Journal of Commerce | CSA Group | January 13, 2020 Construction, renovation, and maintenance of health care facilities bring specific risks associated with potentially fatal infection and illness. Preventing and controlling infection while these activities take place requires the implementation and support of preventive measures intended to protect patients, staff, and visitors from potential harm. Focusing…
Read MoreSupreme Court dismisses B.C. case against Trans Mountain pipeline
Outcome resolves one of the last court challenges to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project Vancouver Sun | GEOFFREY MORGAN | Updated: January 16, 2020 CALGARY — The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously rejected British Columbia’s move to regulate the flow of heavy oil across its borders on Thursday, an outcome which resolves one of the…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC advises care when working in cold weather
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | January 13, 2020 VANCOUVER – As a cold snap and winter conditions such as snow and ice envelop many areas in British Columbia, WorkSafeBC is advising workers and employers to take precautions when working outdoors. Between 2015 and 2018, 30 B.C. workers were injured as a result of…
Read MoreAlberta cuts health and safety committee requirements
Journal of Commerce News Service | December 23, 2019 EDMONTON, ALTA. – The Alberta government has announced it will do away with the requirement for health and safety committees at multiple worksites for some industries. The move has received praise from the Alberta Construction Association (ACA) which stated that joint committees have not shown improvement in…
Read MoreB.C. leaders pick top stories of 2019
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | December 30, 2019 It was another major year of news in construction and industry leaders in the west have chimed in with what they feel were the biggest news topics of 2019. “The major story is the skilled worker shortage, an abundance of major projects, and the need for…
Read MoreINDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES OP-ED: Scrapping CBAs in B.C. a perfect New Year’s resolution: PCA
For information only and not an endorsement – this information is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. Journal of Commerce | Paul de Jong | December 30, 2019 The Horgan government rolled out its so-called Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in the summer of 2018, touting…
Read MoreFeedback on OHSR Part 18 Traffic Control
The proposed amendments for OHSR Part 18 Traffic Control are out for public consultation and can be accessed using the link below. Please review and provide your feedback and comments by January 27, 2020. COCA will be submitting comments – please provide feedback directly or copy us on submissions to dave@cocabc.ca. https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/law-policy/discussion-papers/consultation-proposed-amendments-occupational-health-safety-regulation-jan-10-20/part-18?lang=en
VRCA, CCA displeased by Supreme Court of Canada decision to dismiss appeal on use of reprisal clauses by the City of Burnaby
Date Posted : Dec 16, 2019 VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) joins with the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) in expressing their displeasure to learn that the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal brought forward by contractor, J. Cote & Son Excavating. Last week’s decision effectively upholds the use of “reprisal clauses”…
Read MoreNovember 2019 Recent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
December 17, 2019 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: Electrical contact (1 worker) Core Activity: Electrical work Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2019-Dec Two workers were in an elevated…
Read MoreHappy Holidays from COCA!
A special greeting at Christmas time to express to you our sincere appreciation for your confidence and loyalty. We are deeply thankful and extend to you our best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.