Information Bulletin VictoriaWednesday April 3, 2019 3:30 pm To increase the confidence of workers and employers, the British Columbia government will undertake a formal review of its workers’ compensation system with the appointment of retired labour lawyer Janet Patterson. To shift the workers’ compensation system to become more worker centred, the review will assess: the…
Read MoreBC One Call urges workers to call before digging
Journal Of Commerce | News Service | April 2, 2019 VANCOUVER — BC One Call is urging homeowners and contractors to pick up the phone and give them a ring before digging during Dig Safe Month. BC One Call reminded residents that they can go online or call to determine if they might damage underground infrastructure…
Read MoreIndustry Voices Op-Ed: Licensing asbestos abatement contractors won’t solve anything
Journal of Commerce | Mike Sully and Graham Dick | April 1, 2019| For information only and not an endorsement – this article is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. The BC Association of Restoration Contractors (BCARC) does not agree with the direction recommended…
Read MoreMarch 2019 work-related incidents reported to WorkSafeBC
March 28, 2019 These summaries of selected Construction work-related incidents recently reported to WorkSafeBC may help you to prevent similar incidents. See additional summaries online. Injury Type: Injury to upper body Core Activity: Masonry Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2019-Mar While positioning wooden scaffolding planks on a hop-up scaffolding bracket, a worker stepped on the unsupported end of a…
Read MoreRegulation changes for pressure welders take industry by surprise
Journal of Commerce | Jean Sorensen | March 29, 2019 For information only and not an endorsement – this article is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. The Mechanical Contractors Association of B.C. (MCABC) would like to see more consultation between government regulatory bodies…
Read MoreProposed policy amendments regarding activity-related soft tissue disorders (ASTDs) of the limbs
In January 2018, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors commissioned an external compensation policy review (CPR). The resulting report, entitled Restoring the Balance: A Worker-Centred Approach to Workers’ Compensation Policy, was published in April 2018 and contains a number of recommendations. Four of the recommendations propose changes to policy relating to the adjudication of ASTD claims. The Policy, Regulation…
Read MoreAssist companies with BC Builders Code
JOC News Service | March 27, 2019 For information only and not an endorsement – this article is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. VICTORIA — As part of a push to address harassment of women on jobsites, human resource consultants will be offered…
Read MoreChanges to employment law would upset labour market balance
For information only and not an endorsement – this article is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. Business in Vancouver | By Jock Finlayson, Ken Peacock | March 21, 2019 The BC NDP government’s activist policy agenda continues to keep the B.C. business community on its toes….
Read MoreConstruction Labour Relations Association of BC Announces New President and CEO
On behalf of Eric Akelaitis, Chairman, CLR Board of Directors March 22, 2019 Eric Akelaitis, Chair of CLR’s Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that on April 8, 2019, Ken McCormack will join the Construction Labour Relations Association of BC as President and CEO, replacing Clyde Scollan, who will be retiring this September. Ken McCormack most…
Read MoreAsbestos Contractor Barred as Union Calls for Licensing
Journal of Commerce | Jean Sorensen | March 25, 2019 For information only and not an endorsement – this article is shared to ensure members have the context and understanding of current issues that impact the Construction Industry. A B.C. Supreme Court (BCSC) has granted an injunction to the Workers Compensation Board (WCB), doing business…
Read MoreBC Housing Webinar – Building Smart: Key Considerations for High Performance Walls
BC Housing is offering a 3-hour interactive webinar on April 4, 2019 entitled Building Smart: Key Considerations for High Performance Walls. The workshop explores practical design and construction solutions to help achieve higher levels of performance in Part 3 buildings. Date: Thursday, April 4, 2019 Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Cost: $80 Location: Online Register now!
Expo digs deep into pipeline safety
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | March 21, 2019 Dial before you dig isn’t negotiable, but it is often forgotten. A FortisBC expert explained the potential hazards and procedures involved when builders dig around, over and under buried pipes and wires to attendees at the fourth annual Construction Expo in Cloverdale, B.C. Most of…
Read MorePublic hearings on proposed regulatory amendments
March 19, 2019 WorkSafeBC will be holding public hearings for proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation regarding Part 16, Mobile Equipment (with consequential amendments to Parts 1, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 26, 28, and 31). You can access the proposed amendments, along with explanatory notes and details of the public hearings, via the…
Read MoreFinal report: Research on Electric Shock & Working Energized
Last year Technical Safety BC, in collaboration with others like WorkSafeBC, conducted original mixed methods research to identify and uncover some of the behavioural and sociocultural factors involved in electric shock risk within the province of BC. A few highlights from our findings: 95% of survey respondents have experienced electric shock 97% minor shock (i.e.,…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC plans to tighten fall protection enforcement
Journal of Commerce | JOC News Service | March 15, 2019 VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s safety regulatory body recently announced, as part of its high-risk construction strategy, it will increase enforcement efforts for fall-protection-system anchors used in the residential wood-frame construction industry. Worksite inspections will focus on the health and safety responsibilities of prime contractors…
Read MoreBuildForce Canada promotes Respectful Workplace Policy Framework and Implementation Guide
VRCA | By David Weir|March 11th, 2019|In The News Companies looking to develop a respectful and inclusive workplace can also access a guide developed by BuildForce Canada. The Respectful Workplace Policy Framework and Implementation Guide are part of the BuildForce Canada Respectful and Inclusive Workplace Toolkit that also includes the Online Self-Assessment Tool to enable organizations to assess…
Read MoreB.C. construction industry introduces worksite conduct standards to improve worker retention
VRCA | By David Weir|March 11th, 2019|In The News The Province of B.C. and the BC Construction Association (BCCA) marked International Women’s Day on March 8 with the launch of the Builders Code, a comprehensive program that aims to address B.C.’s skilled labour shortage by reducing harassment, bullying and hazing on construction worksites. The Builders…
Read MoreSaskatchewan workplace fatalities, injuries up in 2018: WCB report
Journal of Commerce | The Canadian Press | March 19, 2019 REGINA — Figures from the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board show the number of jobsite fatalities in the province in 2018 rose 78 per cent from the previous year. The figures indicate 48 people lost their lives last year, compared to 27 the year before….
Read MoreWorkSafeBC breaks down the basics at Cloverdale Construction Expo
Journal of Commerce | Warren Frey | March 18, 2019 Lower Mainland construction companies covered the gamut from fall protection to harmful materials at a recent safety seminar. WorkSafeBC occupational safety officer Sandeep Mangat detailed best practices and “good to know” facts to attendees at the fourth annual Construction Expo in Cloverdale, B.C. Mangat stressed…
Read MoreVirtual reality puts crane operators in the air without actually being there
Journal of Commerce | Peter Caulfield | March 11, 2019 In Alberta, aspiring crane operators are being taught how to operate their machinery with the help of virtual reality (VR) simulators that owe a lot to video game software. Serious Labs, an Edmonton-based software company, has partnered with Industrial Training International Inc. (ITI), a U.S….
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