The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is now accepting entries for the 2012-2013 Dick Martin Scholarship Award. This annual, national award is offered to students enrolled in an occupational health and safety course or program in an accredited Canadian college or university, leading to an occupational health and safety certificate, diploma or degree. … Continue reading
Safety Alert Type: Manual Harvesting/Bucking Location: Northwest of Port Alice, Vancouver Island Date of Incident: 2012-09-13 Company Name: BC Forest Safety Council Details of Incident: It is with great sadness that the BC Forest Safety Council notifies the forestry community of our eighth fatality in 2012. This is the fourth faller fatality of the year. … Continue reading
The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Labour Minister, today addressed the 6th China International Forum on Work Safety. The forum participants included international labour officials, health and safety policy experts and practitioners. “Canadians know the importance of health and safety protection and that our whole economy benefits from safe workplaces,” said Minister Raitt. “The Government of Canada … Continue reading
An Albertan politician is calling upon fast food barons to boycott farms in the province until child labour laws meet international standards. David Swann, MLA for Calgary-Mountainview and the Liberal critic for health and human resources, recently announced he would be putting pressure on the government and manufacturers to increase safety in the agriculture industry. … Continue reading
The fatalities came fast. First, a 1,300 kilogram steel wall slipped loose from a crane, smashing into another wall and bringing both down onto 40-year-old Bobby Lee Tohannie and 24-year-old Angel Hernandez. Half a year later, Harvey Englander was struck by the counter-weight for a construction elevator. Then, ironworker Harold Billingsley and electrician Mark Wescoat … Continue reading
Canada’s Labour Minister highlights Labour Day and the importance of health and safety awareness among young workers As Canadians will celebrate Labour Day on Monday, a tradition observed for well over 100 years in Canada, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Labour Minister, highlighted the importance of providing Canadians with the information they need to prevent … Continue reading
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today reaffirmed that mariners in Vancouver will see no change in the excellent service Canadians have come to expect from the Canadian Coast Guard. “The safety of mariners is the top priority of the Canadian Coast Guard and consolidating our Coast Guard presence in the Vancouver … Continue reading
While many people are still trying to wrap their heads around the idea of nanoparticles – subatomic particles that may behave differently than larger particles of the same composition – the field of nanotechnology has moved ahead to include advanced nanomaterials, which could expose the workers who handle them to serious health risks. Writing on … Continue reading
A college in rural Alberta has launched the first pipeline training centre in the province with the dual goals of providing entry-level workers in the oil and gas sector with practical skills as well as helping move more experienced workers into managerial roles. Last month, Portage College announced that it will open the facility in … Continue reading
Today the Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting Canada’s frontline police officers and making our communities safer during his remarks at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) annual conference. “Cooperation and information sharing between and among police forces is essential for helping keep our communities … Continue reading
Before three people were killed at a Langley mushroom farm, WorkSafeBC officials had investigated at least two other instances where mushroom farm workers were knocked unconscious by toxic gases. Despite accidents in 2006 and 2008, no broad warning was issued to the province’s five companies that produce mushroom compost or the 40 farms that use … Continue reading
From the beginning of July to the end of August, the Ministry of Labour (MOL) will conduct a blitz on tower cranes, mobile cranes, and concrete pumping equipment. Improper use of this equipment could result injury or death to workers as well as to the public. The blitz is designed to raise awareness about the … Continue reading
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that a major environmental remediation project will be undertaken to remove contaminated sediment in the Esquimalt Graving Dock water lot. A Request for Proposals for the first phase of the project, the construction of a sheet pile … Continue reading