WorkSafeBC battle with Vancouver-based asbestos firm far from over

Agency seeks new contempt citation against Seattle Environmental BY GORDON HOEKSTRA, VANCOUVER SUN     JANUARY 3, 2016 VANCOUVER — WorkSafeBC has applied to B.C. Supreme Court for another contempt order against asbestos-removal company Seattle Environmental and its operators. The province’s chief workplace safety agency argues they have breached a 2012 court order stipulating they not…

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Consultation on two additional proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors has approved the release of two additional proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback prior to the proposed amendments being taken to public hearing in 2016. The proposed regulatory amendment packages under review are: Section 6.58.1, Substance Specific Requirements,…

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Happy Holidays from COCA

On behalf of everyone at COCA, we want to thank you for your contributions and insight over the past year.  We want to wish you and yours a wonderful and safe holiday season and hope to see you in the new year!

WorkSafeBC Consultation relating to Proposed Amendments for Notice of Project

WorkSafeBC is proposing amendments to Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (“OHSR”) Part 20, relating to notice of project. A proposed amendments relating to notice of project requirements (with explanatory notes) is now posted for public consultation on the WorkSafeBC website at http://www.worksafebc.com/regulation_and_policy/policy_consultation/law_40_10_1260.asp.  The public consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide written feedback on…

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November 2015 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC

Injury Type: Serious laceration of arm Core Activity: Commercial refrigeration or commercial air conditioning work Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Nov ID Number: 2015147280109 A worker was using a freshly sharpened chisel-edged scraping tool (a hand tool) to remove caulking from a refrigeration panel that was being prepared for installation. The tool contacted the…

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Release for consultation of proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors has approved the release for consultation of proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback prior to the proposed amendments being taken to public hearing in 2016. The proposed regulatory amendment packages under review are: Section 4.43.1, General Conditions, new…

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October 2015 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC

Injury Type: Penetrating injury to arm Core Activity: Framing or residential forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Oct ID Number: 2015173250287 As a worker was climbing a stepladder with a pneumatic nailer, it discharged two nails into the worker’s arm. Injury Type: Partial amputation of finger Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Lower Mainland…

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October 28 Guideline Updates

Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations.  Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…

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LMAPR and OHS Citations policy

On October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors (BOD) approved the Lower Maximum Administrative Penalties Regulation (LMAPR) and Item D12-196.1-1, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Citations, of the Prevention Manual. The LMAPR and OHS Citations policy set out that WorkSafeBC may impose an OHS Citation on an employer for failure to comply with an order,…

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Changes regarding Employer Incident Investigations

At its meeting on October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the following as a result of changes to the Workers Compensation Act regarding employers’ reports of accidents or incident investigations: The deletion of section 3.4 from the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation, B.C. Reg. 296/97 The consequential amendment to section 24.34 of…

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August & September 2015 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC

Injury Type: Fractured leg Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Sep ID Number: 2015156680091 A carpenter was stripping a concrete wall gang form at a residential highrise building. As he disassembled the attached work platform, he fell off the form, landing on the concrete floor about 2 metres below. Injury…

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September 22 Guideline Updates

Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…

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Government takes further action on workplace safety

Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act were introduced in the House on October 8th.   With the introduction of Bill 35, government has taken decisive action to address the Lakeland and Babine coroner’s inquest recommendations that were directed to the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour. According to the government’s…

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Ken Farey Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

On September 30th, 2015, Grant McMillan, former President, thanked Ken Farey on behalf of COCA for his many years of contributions as the Chair of COCA over 17 years.  Then, with incoming Chair Wayne Fettback, Ken was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The COCA Board also made Ken an Honorary Board Member.

Consultation on proposed changes to OHS Penalty Policies

October 2, 2015 Dear Stakeholder: WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors has approved the release for consultation of a discussion paper regarding proposed changes to the following policies regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Penalties: Criteria for Imposing OHS Penalties (D12-196-1) Transfer of OHS History (D12-196-3) OHS Penalty Amounts (D12-196-6) Claims Cost Levies (D24-73-1) First Aid Equipment…

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