On October 18, 2017, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors (BOD) approved amendments to the application statement of the previously approved policy amendment for the Occupational Health and Safety Penalty Amounts Policy (D12-196-6). These policy changes in the Prevention Manual were originally approved by the Board of Directors on June 28, 2017. The Board of Directors has…

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At their meeting on September 18, 2017, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved the release of a discussion paper with options, a narrative review of the scientific literature, and proposed policy amendments to stakeholders for comment. Policy on prior shoulder dislocations is longstanding. The scientific basis of the policy had been identified as requiring scientific review….

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Journal of Commerce | ASSOCIATIONS | by COCA | Oct 16, 2017 The preliminary assessment rates for 2018 have been announced by WorkSafeBC. The rates are described as preliminary because they have not yet been approved by the WorkSafeBC Board of Directors. This approval is expected by November. In most cases, the preliminary rates have historically become the final…

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Journal of Commerce | RESOURCE | by RUSSELL HIXSON |mnOct 11, 2017 Disappointed. It’s the word many in the construction and oil industries are using to sum up their feelings upon hearing TransCanada’s Energy East Pipeline will not proceed. On Oct. 5, TransCanada said it would no longer be proceeding with its proposed Energy East Pipeline and Eastern…

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Vancouver Sun | CHRIS GARDNER | Published on: October 10, 2017 It’s another week in Canada when businesses and investors are taking their ideas, their people, and their capital elsewhere. This week, it was the announcement that TransCanada has scrapped its $15.7 billion Energy East pipeline proposal, after the National Energy Board changed the regulatory review…

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Journal of Commerce | OH&S | by WORKSAFEBC | Oct 9, 2017 There’s little doubt that maintaining safe and effective worksites is the responsibility of everyone — workers and employers alike — but setting the safety standards onsite, raising awareness, sharing knowledge and providing training are often the role of supervisors. When it comes to high-risk related tasks like…

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Journal of Commerce | OH&S |  PETER CAULFIELD | Oct 9, 2017 Despite binders of rules and regulations aimed at making work safer, Canada still has a workplace safety problem, says Janet Lane, director of the Human Capital Centre at the Canada West Foundation (CWF) in Calgary. What to do about it? One approach is to legislate…

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WorkSafeBC’s website has been updated with the revised dates and locations of the 2018 Rate consultation sessions. Employers are encouraged to attend one of the six sessions (October 19th – 30th), at various locations in the Province to learn more about the proposed 2018 industry rates, injury trends in British Columbia, and what they can…

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Public consultation is central to the way they do business at WorkSafeBC. The Policy, Regulation and Research Division (PRRD) engages directly with stakeholders to ensure transparency and effectiveness when developing the policies and regulations that govern occupational health and safety, compensation, and assessments. Every year, the PRRD consults with stakeholders to help establish priorities for…

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At their meeting on March 30, 2017, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amending the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation by adding section 4.43.1, storage racks. The new B.C. storage rack regulation takes effect January 1, 2018. This regulation governs the installation, inspection, use, and maintenance of steel storage racks. It excludes shelving and display fixtures…

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The British Columbia Building Envelope Council (BCBEC) is hosting the 15th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology (CCBST) from November 6-8, 2017. This three-day conference provides the platform for industry-wide knowledge exchange and thought-provoking conversation. Register Now.  Register early to confirm your seat and take advantage of discounted rates. Registration questions? Email CCBST2017 at: society@telus.net or…

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Published on: September 29, 2017 WorkSafeBC announced today that the preliminary average base rate for 2018 will be 1.55 percent of employers’ assessable payroll. General Construction – search for your sub-sector here ICI sector — a decrease  from 2.74 to 2.26 per $100 of payroll WorkSafeBC is committed to preventing workplace injury and illness and…

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Injury Type: Soft tissue injuries Core Activity: Fire sprinkler system installation and/or service Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2017-Aug ID Number: 2017165370048 A young worker was walking on the floor of a building under construction when the floor material broke, causing the worker to fall between the floor joists. Injury Type: Penetrating injury to…

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WorkSafeBC has produced a new safety resource about constructing pipelines that may be of interest to your audiences. The Pipeline Construction Inspection Guide is aimed at helping employers, owners and workers understand the key health and safety requirements for pipeline construction operations. Alongside a glossary of terms, the guide lays out WorkSafeBC’s regulatory jurisdiction over pipelines…

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Journal of Commerce | ASSOCIATIONS | by RUSSELL HIXSON | Sep 20, 2017 Sweeping recommendations to transform Alberta’s Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has the Alberta Construction Association (ACA) deeply concerned. The association has been poring over the 189-page report and its 60 recommendations since it was delivered to the provincial government this summer by an independent review panel….

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Journal of Commerce | TECHNOLOGY  | by RUSSELL HIXSON | Sep 20, 2017 Safety information is now just a swipe away for workers in Saskatchewan. At more than 500 pages, the OH&S Regulations and Saskatchewan Employment Act is a daunting document to wade through while on a jobsite or even carry around. The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA)…

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Every day, 26 young workers are injured on the job -— that’s one person every 55 minutes. Starting a new job, especially a first job, can be a little scary, but it shouldn’t be dangerous. That’s why WorkSafeBC needs your help to better understand young workers’ awareness of workplace health and safety issues. This is…

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Journal of Commerce  | OH&S  | by RUSSELL HIXSON | Aug 25, 2017 WorkSafeBC is focusing its latest campaign on warning contractors about the danger asbestos poses to their workers and businesses. Asbestos-abatement, demolition and general contracts are all the subject of the new mailer campaign urging them to keep workers safe. More than 15,000 mailers have been…

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Journal of Commerce | OH&S |  by JOC NEWS SERVICE  | Aug 18, 2017 EDMONTON – The Alberta government is launching a review of the province’s health and safety system, which has not been revamped since 1976. Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act sets minimum standards for workplace health and safety and lists the roles and…

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Injury Type: Close call Core Activity: Crane operation Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2017-Jul ID Number: 2017175270007 A tower crane was hoisting two concrete test blocks before the start of a daily shift. As the second test block was hoisted, the load line failed, sending the two test blocks and load block to the…

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