The Jim Bassett Story produced by WorkSafeBC Faller Jim Bassett recently retired after 37 years accident free. In this video, Jim, his wife, and a former co-worker reflect on his career in forestry and the importance of safety and planning on the job.
Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work is the theme for the ILO World Day for safety and health at work in 2014, celebrated on April 28. Chemicals are essential for modern life, but can be a danger to workers. Some of these dangers are well known, others less so. Ideally, the … Continue reading
“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” — Niels Bohr Text message to chemical plant manager: Chlorine leak expected on line 2 tomorrow. Inspect and repair. High priority email and automatic call to coal mine superintendent: 83% chance of roof fall on section 4. Evacuate immediately and take corrective actions. Monthly … Continue reading
Very widespread, crystalline silica is an important component of materials commonly used in the construction industry, namely sand, concrete and brick. Its prolonged inhalation at high concentrations can cause a lung disease called silicosis. This substance is also known to be carcinogenic when inhaled in the workplace, and deaths are associated with it. The construction … Continue reading
A Feb. 27 letter from four Congressional Committee leaders requests action from the White House on OSHA’s proposal to update its crystalline silica exposure standard. The silica standard has been delayed at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for over two years; it was originally sent to OIRA on Feb. 14, 2011, for … Continue reading
Publishing a video on the Vancouver Sun website this week, Jerome Klett, owner of 4W’s Demo Ltd. reveals how much preparation goes into asbestos removal and he stresses how important it is to do it properly and safely. Watch as 4W’s employees block off a basement deemed for asbestos removal. Visit the Vancouver Sun here … Continue reading
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the Government of Canada is working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) to put in place Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and related training in community hockey arenas across the country in order to help save lives. “Our Government is committed to protecting the health and … Continue reading
WorkSafeBC is inviting feedback on proposed policy amendments relating to three topics on the treatment of principals of limited companies. The first issue relates to the treatment of principals as workers. Current policy contains an exception to the general rule that principals of limited companies are considered workers under the Workers Compensation Act. This exception … Continue reading
by Sandy Naiman Accurately measuring workplace safety may seem easy, but it’s not. Time-loss injury rates and the number of accidents and fatalities during a specific period is an industry standard for measuring safety – with zero as the ultimate goal. In fact, WorkSafe Saskatchewan has set its sights on zero injuries and fatalities with an … Continue reading
Owners/Operators – apply to become a member of the BC Forest Safety Council. The British Columbia Forest Safety Council (the Council) was created by the forestry industry in September 2004 as a not-for-profit society dedicated to promoting forest safety. Through the efforts of industry, solid progress in reducing serious injuries and fatalities has been made … Continue reading
A wood products plant in Meadow Lake, Sask. reopened four days after an early morning fire. The blaze broke out at about 3 a.m. on Jan. 18, inside a bulk storage facility adjacent to the Meadow Lake oriented strand board plant operated by Vernon, British Columbia-based Tolko Industries Ltd., said a news release from the … Continue reading
Sign up today for a free webinar on the national standard for psychological health and safety in Canadian workplaces In any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health problem or illness, with a cost to the economy estimated to be in excess of $50 billion annually. Mental health problems and … Continue reading
A B.C. safety agency has urged changes for sawmill owners and to the fire and electrical codes in an effort to mitigate the risks posed by explosive levels of wood dust and to avoid the kind of explosion that killed two mill workers last year. The BC Safety Authority, which oversees the safe installation and … Continue reading
About one in five Canadians experience mental health issues at some point during their working years. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, it is estimated that mental illness costs the Canadian economy more than $50 billion per year in terms of healthcare service use, lost workdays and work disruptions. A healthy Canadian economy … Continue reading
Montréal, December 11, 2012 – Combining CSST data for the years 2005 to 2007 with Census data published by Statistics Canada for the year 2006 has allowed the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) to produce a study containing several innovative portraits of the situation of Quebec workers receiving compensation … Continue reading