Storage Racks An amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, governing the use of storage racks, came into effect on January 1, 2018. A corresponding guideline is also available. CPI adjustments to the Act and policies Dollar amounts in the Workers Compensation Act were adjusted to reflect the consumer price index (CPI). Penalty amounts…
Read More2018 High Risk Strategy
The Construction High Risk Strategy (HRS) is designed to reduce the construction industry’s serious injury rate through risk-reduction tactics focused on health and safety responsibilities specific to planning and supervision and high-risk work activities. The 2018-2020 Construction HRS is focused on three areas: Health and safety responsibilities — Planning and supervision Officers will conduct workplace…
Read MoreB.C. industry applauds long overdue asbestos regulations
British Columbia’s construction industry is applauding a new move by the feds to clamp down on asbestos, but there is still work to be done. The Government of Canada recently proposed a new set of regulations to prohibit the sale, use, import and export of asbestos, and products that contain the substance as well as…
Read MoreBentall construction tragedy remembered as work-related injuries up in 2016 over previous year
GORDON HOEKSTRA | Vancouver Sun | January 8, 2018 Friends, family and dignitaries pay tribute to four construction workers at the Burrard Street SkyTrain Station in Vancouver on Jan. 8. The men died Jan. 7, 1981, from a fall from the 36th floor of the Bentall IV tower.ARLEN REDEKOP / PNG The family comes every year to remember the…
Read MoreOn the Air with The Construction Record: Silica tool a game changer on jobsites
JOC News Service | January 3, 2018 The Construction Record, Canada’s only regularly running construction industry podcast, spoke to British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance executive director Mike McKenna and Mierau Contractors Ltd. president Kevin Mierau about a new online tool for quantifying silica levels on worksites and its application both in British Columbia and across the country….
Read MoreGovernment takes another step to ban asbestos with new, proposed rules
The Canadian Press | January 8, 2018 OTTAWA – The federal government has laid out a tough set of proposed new regulations to prohibit the use, sale, import and export of asbestos and products that contain it, as well as the manufacture of products containing the cancer-causing mineral. The rules fulfil a Liberal promise made more than…
Read MoreNovember and December Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Injuries to head Core Activity: Siding, awning, or gutter installation, service, or repair Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2017-Dec ID Number: 2017145570060 A worker set up a metal extension ladder to clean gutters at a residence. Both the worker and ladder were heard falling. The worker fell about 10 feet to grade,…
Read MoreConstruction Foundation of BC offers industry ways to give back
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | December 20, 2017 SKILLS CANADA BC — A student competes at a Skills Canada BC event. The events offer an Olympic-style competition for young people interested in the trades. The Construction Foundation of British Columbia is encouraging companies to help support the students as they try to advance through to…
Read MoreUpdate on COR (Certificate of Recognition or Partners’ Program) from the Employer’s Forum
Further to our meeting on December 7th and notices shared this past week, we are sharing update written by Dave Earle, The Employers’ Forum’s Past President, who has been intimately involved in the review and who sits at the COCA table. His report: Members will undoubtedly have questions around WSBC’s consultation on the COR program….
Read MoreRespond to WorkSafeBC on COR by Friday December 15th
As you are well aware, a draft policy for the Health & Safety Management Program (Certificate of Recognition) went out for public consultation earlier this year. WorkSafeBC has been developing draft practices throughout the year and have been engaged with a small working group of three employer representatives and three labour representatives since July to…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC releases ladder safety videos
Journal Of Commerce | News Service | December 6, 2017 VANCOUVER — WorkSafeBC is reminding workers how to properly use ladders with a new series of safety videos. The six videos remind workers, employers and homeowners how to use ladders safely, both on the job and at home while setting up Christmas decorations. WorkSafeBC statistics show that…
Read MoreNew WSBC Chair and Directors
VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s Minister of Labour Harry Bains has appointed five members to WorkSafeBC’s board of directors. Ralph McGinn is the new board chair, and Lee Loftus, Baltej Dhillon and Kay Teschke are new board members effective immediately. Margaret McNeil, a current board member whose term ended on Dec. 1, has been reappointed for…
Read MoreOctober 2017 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Burning eyes, sore throat (2 workers) Core Activity: Plumbing, heating, vent, residential air conditioning, or central vacuum system installation or repair Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2017-Nov ID Number: 2017182820003 Two workers were conducting maintenance work on a sprinkler system valve in a condominium’s sprinkler mechanical room. Sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid…
Read MoreAlberta looks to completely revamp workplace safety rules with Bill 30
Journal of Commerce | Russell Hixson | November 30, 2017 A new bill Alberta is looking to pass could massively overhaul the province’s workplace health and safety systems and rules. According to Alberta officials, Bill 30 would modernize the current system by improving safety, supporting injured workers and increasing employee participation. However, the bill as well as…
Read MoreFormwork Safety Bulletins
Drop head slab formwork systems are becoming more prevalent in B.C.’s construction industry. When working with drop head formwork systems, construction workers and supervisors must understand the differences between backshoring and reshoring; failure to understand the differences could create a life-threatening hazard to workers. Two new WorkSafeBC construction safety bulletins have been created to…
Read MoreConsultation on the 2018–2020 Policy Workplans
The Policy, Regulation and Research Division has prepared draft 2018–2020 workplans for stakeholder review and comment. These workplans will encompass policy priorities relating to compensation, occupational disease, assessments and occupational health and safety. Stakeholders are invited to review the discussion paper and proposed workplans, and to provide feedback by December 14, 2017. The discussion paper,…
Read MoreOctober Recent Workplace Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Lacerations, back pain Core Activity: Steep slope roofing Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2017-Oct ID Number: 2017155270010 In order to access and descend an aluminum extension ladder, a roofing worker had disconnected his fall protection harness lanyard from a lifeline on a 12:12 sloped roof. The worker lost his balance and…
Read MoreTechnical Safety BC Proposed Changes to Elevating Devices Regulations
Technical Safety BC (formerly BC Safety Authority) is proposing changes that would affect the elevating devices industry and owners and managers of buildings with elevating devices. They are proposing that: The 2016 edition of the ASME A17.1/CSA B44 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators be adopted into the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation, including: Requiring a…
Read MoreSeptember 2017 Recent work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Close call Core Activity: Excavation, or private landfill or transfer station operation Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2017-Sep ID Number: 2017173340009 A dump truck with a tandem trailer attached was parked. When the trailer assembly was detached from it, the dump truck rolled down an 8 percent grade for a distance…
Read MoreHomeowner Asbestos Awareness Campaign: Phase 2
Phase two of WorkSafeBC’s homeowner campaign begins October 16. Last year’s outreach resulted in 26 million impressions during the 6 week campaign and 52 percent of homeowners in B.C. recalled seeing it (an average campaign has about 26 percent recall so the campaign had great recognition). WorkSafeBC recognizes that in order for this important message…
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