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…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC urges contractors not to ‘risk it’ with asbestos
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…
Read MoreAlberta government to review occupational health and safety system
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…
Read MoreJuly-August Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
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…
Read MoreAsbestos – Why Risk It? for Contractors
On the heels of the Asbestos homeowner campaign WorkSafeBC has launched a targeted contractor awareness initiative to support their Prevention Field Services work in construction. Their purpose is to get the word out directly to contractors regarding their obligation to manage asbestos safely and responsibly. Their communication strategy… Approximately 14,500 asbestos mailers are being mailed…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC issues hot weather worker tips
Journal of Commerce | OH&S | by JOC NEWS SERVICE | Aug 3, 2017 VANCOUVER — WorkSafeBC is warning Vancouver workers to take precautions as the temperature climbs past 30 C this week. WorkSafeBC recommends outdoor workers drink water every 20 minutes, wear light-coloured, loose fitting clothing made of breathable fabric and do the hardest physical work during the…
Read MoreAsbestos – Why Risk it?
Not dealing with asbestos properly can result in WorkSafeBC fines or stop work orders that could harm your professional reputation. More importantly there is a risk to workers and contractors have a responsibility to ensure their safety. Asbestos exposure remains the number one killer of workers in B.C. Whether you’re a general contractor, abatement contractor…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC launches youth worker campaign focused on safety awareness
Journal of Commerce | OH&S | by WARREN FREY | Jul 28, 2017 WorkSafeBC has launched a safety campaign aimed at raising awareness among young workers who could be at risk on the job. The Listen to Your Gut campaign encourages young workers to speak up when faced with what they perceive as an unsafe situation. Safety awareness…
Read MoreJune – July Recent Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Close call Core Activity: Steep slope roofing Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2017-Jul ID Number: 2017114550019 A worker fell about 8 feet from a narrow section of roof but his fall was arrested by a fall protection system. Injury Type: Fractured arm Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or…
Read MoreNew Premier’s Direction to the Minister of Labour
The new Premier has issued directions to each of his new Ministers. See the mandate for Minister Bains, Minister of Labour.
Alberta WCB defies good practice by keeping surplus funds: ACA
Journal of Commerce | by RUSSELL HIXSON | Jul 19, 2017 An independent review panel has presented the Alberta government with recommendations to modernize its Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). But a first glance has some construction industry stakeholders concerned. The WCB system provides no-fault benefits and supports a safe return to work for injured workers. The last…
Read MoreB.C. woman charged in flagger hit and run incident
Journal of Commerce | GOVERNMENT | by JOC NEWS SERVICE | Jul 12, 2017 Burnaby, B.C. – Charges have been approved for a Surrey, B.C. woman who allegedly struck two construction flaggers with a car before fleeing the scene. The woman is 38-year-old Brenda Ouma Aregay of Surrey, B.C. The charges include two counts of Assault with a Weapon,…
Read MoreJune 2017 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Abrasions and contusions (1 worker) Core Activity: Traffic control Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C. Date of Incident: 2017-Jun ID Number: 2017154960020 A traffic control person (a young worker) was struck by a moving vehicle in a construction zone. The worker and the vehicle landed in a drainage ditch about 12 feet below the road…
Read MoreSerious injuries in construction can be hard to see
Journal of Commerce | OH&S | by PETER CAULFIELD Jul 17, 2017 Construction is a tough line of work. Not only is it physically demanding, it is emotionally exacting, too. And sometimes the body or the spirit gets damaged. Or even crushed. Although physical injuries in workplace are relatively easy to identify, what does a psychological injury…
Read MoreNew labour code to keep asbestos levels to ‘near zero’
Journal of Commerce | GOVERNMENT | by JOC NEWS SERVICE | Jul 14, 2017 OTTAWA, ONT. – Patty Hajdu, minister of employment, workforce development and labour, announced recently that, as part of the federal government’s comprehensive ban on asbestos, it is enhancing the Canada Labour Code for workers by lowering the exposure to airborne chrysotile asbestos to as…
Read MoreConstruction industry weighs in on new B.C. government
Journal of Commerce | GOVERNMENT | by WARREN FREY Jul 10, 2017 Political stability has returned to British Columbia…for now. After weeks of uncertainty which resulted from an inconclusive provincial election, British Columbia Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon declared on June 29 that BC NDP Leader John Horgan and Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver would form the next government. British…
Read MoreNew standards proposed for concrete pumps and booms
Journal of Commerce | 5 Jul 2017 | PETER CAULFIELD CORRESPONDENT A Canadian Standards Association group called CSA Z151 that is drafting new standards for concrete pumps and placing booms has written a draft that has been made available for public review. Charles Kelly, president of Concrete BC, formerly the BC Ready Mixed Concrete Association,…
Read MorePartners Program (COR) consultation update
The Partners Program is a voluntary certification program designed to encourage employers in B.C. to take a proactive role in occupational health and safety. Employers registered in the Partners Program who meet program requirements achieve a Certificate of Recognition (COR) and become eligible to receive a financial incentive. The Policy, Regulation and Research Division began consultation on…
Read MoreAmendments to the OHS Penalty Amounts Policy D12-196-6
On June 28, 2017, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors (BOD) approved changes to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Penalty Amounts Policy (D12-196-6). The Policy, Regulation and Research Division consulted extensively on the OHS Penalty Amounts Policy in 2015. The approved changes reflect the intent of the 2016 revisions to the policy by clarifying that the…
Read MoreMay 2017 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Injuries to lower body Core Activity: Framing or residential forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2017-May ID Number: 2017182160004 A worker installing roof sheathing on a 10:12 sloped roof slid while clearing debris. He fell about 30 feet to grade. Injury Type: Penetrating wound to leg Core Activity: Plumbing repair Location: Vancouver…
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