On Behalf of ECABC: Registration is now open for ECABC’s conference and AGM, taking place this year on June 12-13 at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria. We hope that you and other members of your organization will be able to join us for BC’s largest event for the electrical construction sector. The business conference begins at…
Read MoreBC Conservatives calls for broad crane safety reforms from WorkSafeBC
Canadian Occupational Safety | Jim Wilson | March 18, 2025 Report outlining recommendations from Kelowna crane collapse in 2021 ‘needs to be a priority’ The Conservative Party of British Columbia is calling on the provincial government to step in and direct WorkSafeBC to release its report into the deadly crane collapse incident that happened in…
Read MoreB.C. drug decriminalization and safer supply associated with more overdoses: study
Vancouver Sun | The Canadian Press | Mar 25, 2025 A study into safer supply and drug decriminalization policies in B.C. has found that both policies were associated with increased opioid overdose hospitalizations. The report says that there was no change in deaths associated with safer supply, but neither policy appeared to mitigate the opioid…
Read MoreRecent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
March 18, 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: Injury to finger Core Activity: Finishing carpentry Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2025-Feb ID Number: 2025166920004 A worker was operating a…
Read MoreProminent GCs unite to form Canadian Construction Safety Council
Journal of Commerce | DCN-JOC News Services | March 20, 2025 TORONTO – Several major general contractors have joined forces to form the Canadian Construction Safety Council (CCSC), with a mission to elevate safety performance and establish innovative new industry benchmarks to protect workers. Founding members include Aecon, AtkinsRéalis, Bird Construction Inc., Dragados Canada Inc., EllisDon…
Read More‘Critical safety failures’ behind deadly Oakridge crane accident, WorkSafeBC says
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…
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