Consultation on a proposed amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation

WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors has approved the release of a proposed consequential amendment to definitions containing former Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) classifications in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback prior to the proposed amendment being taken to public hearing in 2016. View the…

Read More

Risk awareness web pages now live

Everyone has a role to play in identifying any risk of harm in the workplace. Employers have a particular responsibility to manage those risks. The WorkSafeBC Risk Analysis Unit supports increased awareness by looking for and communicating about certain types of risks that employers and workers may not be aware of or which are difficult…

Read More

View from the Board: High-risk strategy builds upon last year’s progress

Journal of Commerce ~ by DON SCHOUTEN   ~ Jan 26, 2016 Every January, WorkSafeBC renews its provincial high-risk strategy focusing on the biggest safety issues. While it evolves to keep pace with what’s been happening in the industry, each year’s strategy always maintains an emphasis on long-standing problems. But, don’t think we’re living out Albert Einstein’s definition…

Read More

Industry Voices: Private workers’ compensation isn’t an option

Journal of Commerce ~ by MERRIL JAMES O’DONNELL   ~ Jan 26, 2016 In a recent Vancouver Sun opinion editorial the executive vice president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) Laura Jones referred to B.C. businesses that pay premiums to the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) as “customers.” Ms. Jones says she likes to describe businesses as…

Read More

WorkSafeBC not seeing much bullying in construction

Journal of Commerce ~ by SHANNON MONEO       Jan 26, 2016 The construction industry is often portrayed as a workplace where bullying and harassment may go unchecked. And, even though the B.C. government passed Bill 14 in 2012 to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to specifically address bullying and harassment, claims from the construction industry are only…

Read More

December / January Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC

Injury: Lacerated arm Core Activity: Electrical work Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-Jan ID Number: 2016157560002 An electrician was severely cut by the utility knife he was using to strip hard plastic wire sheathing from the termination areas of a wire. Injury: Fractured leg, lacerated hand Core Activity: Electrical work Location: Lower Mainland Date…

Read More

Changes Effective January 1, 2016

2016 Regulatory Amendments Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation made in 2015 are listed here. The online Regulation and excerpts and summaries of the Act are updated once the amendments come into effect. 2016 Policy Updates The Prevention Manual contains policies of WorkSafeBC with respect to prevention matters…

Read More

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…

Read More

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,…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More