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.
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
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
British Columbia’s health and safety regulator will be passing two recent deadly lumber mill explosion cases to the Crown — bringing forward the possibility of jail time. WorkSafeBC announced early last week that it would not be pursuing administrative penalties in the Lakeland and Babine lumber mill explosions and would instead be referring the cases … Continue reading
A 90 kilogram pane of glass plunging 36 storeys down onto an apparent construction worker’s car Thursday morning has residents outraged at the falling debris’ proximity to a nearby courtyard where children play. Wade King, a resident living there for 13 years, said a neighbour doing yoga in the courtyard even had a piece of … 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
At least 11 sawmill sites in the Interior still had hazardous dust levels following fatal explosions WorkSafeBC has expanded an order to clean up wood dust that is an explosive hazard to include panel and wood pellet plants. The order released today also includes pulp and paper mills. The workplace safety agency already ordered the … Continue reading
Sawmills in B.C.’s Interior were warned wood dust was an explosive risk before two deadly sawmill explosions earlier this year, in which wood dust is suspected as a factor. But the advice took a back seat to concern that dust was harmful to workers’ lungs. In thousands of pages of 2007 to 2011 WorkSafeBC inspection … Continue reading
When your company registered for SAFE Companies, either you or an employee of your company attended the Small Employer Occupational Health & Safety Training (SEOHS) 2-day training course. This training made the person who took the course the company’s internal ‘auditor’. The WorkSafeBC Certificate of Recognition program requires auditors to complete seven (7) hours of … Continue reading
CLICK HERE TO VIEW EXPLOSION PHOTOS At least five explosions linked to wood dust have rocked B.C. wood manufacturing plants since 2009. None of the earlier explosions resulted in injuries, unlike the two fatal incidents that killed four workers at Lakeland Mills in Prince George and Babine Forest Products mill in Burns Lake this year. … Continue reading
The WorkSafeBC Board of Directors approved May-June public hearings regarding proposed regulatory amendments to: Part 5, Chemical Agents and Biological Agents Part 11, Fall Protection Part 12, Tools, Machinery and Equipment Part 12, Tools, Machinery and Equipment; and consequential amendments to Part 23, Oil and Gas Part 13, Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms, and … Continue reading
by Linda Johnson B.C. employers and workers have a new tool to help them reduce the risk of domestic violence in the workplace. WorkSafeBC, the province’s workers’ compensation board, today introduced an online kit that provides information on issues such as recognizing the signs of domestic violence, providing support to an abused worker and what to … Continue reading
A construction site worker written up by WorkSafeBC for wearing a high visibility safety vest that was black. WorkSafeBC is very clear about the safety apparel approved for wear in every situation. In every case, the colour choices are clear: G8.24 High Visibility Apparel Issued August 1, 1999; Editorial Revision April 2005 Type 1 – Vest, shirt … Continue reading