Injury Type: Fractures, internal injuries Core Activity: Painting or wallpapering Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2016-Feb ID Number: 2016177720007 A worker fell about 16 feet from a portable ladder that was set up on a skirt roof to conduct painting on the fascia of a newly constructed home. Injury Type: Injuries to head; internal…
Read MoreBuilders’ Super Week – March 8 to 10
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC is hosting Builders’ Super Week on March 8-10 in Vancouver. At this unique event, builders can choose from a variety of continuing education sessions and qualify to receive CPD points they will need to renew their licence. CHBABC will offer member prices to those that register from COCA….
Read MoreWorkSafeBC Notice of Appeal
Richmond, B.C. — March 2, 2016: On February 26, 2016, the Supreme Court of British Columbia rejected WorkSafeBC’s application for a finding that Seattle Environmental Consulting Ltd, Mike Singh and Shawn Singh, are in contempt of an earlier order of the court, which requires that they abide by the Workers’ Compensation Act (“Act”) and Occupational…
Read MoreB.C. needs innovation collaboration: BCCA
by RUSSELL HIXSON Feb 26, 2016 The British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) has published an industry study that reveals the province’s construction sector is lagging behind other jurisdictions when it comes to innovation. “B.C. is a leader in green building, wood, and procurement technologies, but we have catching up to do in most areas…
Read MoreIndustry Voices: Prime contractors key in site safety
by MIKE MCKENNA Feb 26, 2016 Although everyone on a construction site has a role to play when it comes to safety, it’s the prime contractor who is ultimately responsible for having a system to ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC rules and regulations. It’s a challenging endeavour that involves coordinating all H&S activities; often, say those on…
Read MoreReminder: Consultation on 14 proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
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,…
Read MoreOHS Penalty Policies
On January 26, 2016, WorkSafeBCs 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 employers size and the seriousness of the…
Read MoreConsultation on the 2016-2018 Policy Priorities Workplan
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…
Read MoreOHS Citations and Employer Incident Investigation Reports
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…
Read MoreRecent Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC ~ January 2016
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…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC studies non-auditory impacts of noise
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,…
Read MoreConsultation on a proposed amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
WorkSafeBCs 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 MoreRisk 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 MoreView 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 MoreIndustry 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 MoreWorkSafeBC 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 MoreDecember / 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 MoreWorkSafe BC Job Posting ~ Manager, Industry and Labour Services (Construction)
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,…
Read MoreHistoric safety case sends project manager to prison
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…
Read MoreChanges 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…
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