The consultation period for 14 proposed regulatory amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation closes March 31, 2016. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback prior to the proposed amendments being taken to public hearing this fall. View each amendment package below: Section 1.1, Definitions, WHMIS classification Section 4.43.1, General Conditions,…

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On January 26, 2016, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors (BOD) approved changes to the OHS Penalty Policies, following consultation in the fall of 2015. The changes include: Overall changes to streamline, clarify, and update existing policies. Changes to penalty amount calculations to make penalties more proportionate relative to an employer’s size and the seriousness of the…

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The Policy, Regulation and Research Division has prepared a draft 2016-–2018 workplan for stakeholder review and comment. This workplan will encompass policy priorities relating to compensation, occupational disease, assessments, and occupational health and safety (OHS). OHS regulatory amendments will be included in the consultation process. Stakeholders are invited to review the discussion paper and proposed…

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OHS Citations The Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2015 (Bill 9) resulted in numerous changes to Part 3 of the Workers Compensation Act. Amendments relating to OHS Citations were in force on August 4, 2015, and are being implemented as of February 1, 2016. OHS Citations are another tool WorkSafeBC officers can use to obtain compliance…

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Injury Type: Partial amputation of a finger Core Activity: House or other wood frame contracting, construction, or renovation work Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-Jan ID Number: 2016162930001 A worker was using a circular saw to rip lumber when the circular saw kicked back and contacted the worker’s hand. Injury Type: Fractures of head…

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Journal of Commerce by PETER CAULFIELD   – Jan 28, 2016 last update:Jan 29, 2016  Starting this year, WorkSafeBC (WSBC) will begin investigating an aspect of workplace noise that has so far been heard from only rarely. “WorkSafe has identified the non-auditory effects of workplace noise on workers’ health as something that needs to be investigated,” said Colin Murray,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Due to recent changes at WorkSafe BC, Don Schouten, our Industry liaison, has been transferred to oversee Utilities in BC (this includes Site C and other large projects).  Congratulations Don…we will continue to work with you in this new capacity and very much value your ongoing contribution to Construction. As a result of this change,…

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Journal of Commerce by RUSSELL HIXSON  ~ Jan 14, 2016 In a rare use of legislation designed to hold employers accountable for harm to employees, a Toronto project manager has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for the death of four workers. The conviction was made possible by the seldon-used Westray Bill. “We were pleased…

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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…

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But still too many workers dying: union BY GORDON HOEKSTRA, VANCOUVER SUN   |   JANUARY 5, 2016 4:30 PM VANCOUVER — The rate of workers being killed on the job through injury is falling in British Columbia, including in some of B.C.’s high-risk sectors such as forestry and construction. There is no single factor for the…

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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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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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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 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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