Although former premier Gordon Campbell disagrees with a WorkSafeBC ruling concerning the death of a roofer at his vacation home, he said Tuesday he will not appeal it. Now Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Campbell said he’s more worried about the family of David Lesko, the roofer who died after falling through an … Continue reading
by correspondent Peter Caulfield A Vancouver construction safety expert says the industry needs to change the way it manages workplace safety if owners and contractors are to increase the return on investment (ROI) from their safety programs. Jeffery Lyth, director of corporate health and safety for ITC Construction Group and regional safety co-ordinator with the … Continue reading
By Gary McKenna – The Tri-City News A roofing company working in Coquitlam was hit with an $87,000 fine for not using adequate fall protection on its construction site last year. Natt Roofing Ltd. may appeal the WorkSafeBC ruling, which was issued in late 2011 after a supervisor with the company and a worker were seen at risk … Continue reading
Peter Kiewit tops list of B.C. employers penalized for safety violations. British Columbia employers who seriously violated health and safety rules on the job site — including incidents that resulted in the deaths of 17 workers — were fined a total of $4.9 million last year by WorkSafeBC. In all, the provincial work-safety agency handed … Continue reading
BURNABY, BC, Feb. 17, 2012 /CNW/ – WorkSafeBC has launched a new online safe driving website in partnership with the BCAA Road Safety Foundation. RoadSafetyAtWork.ca is aimed at employers whose workers are required to drive in the course of their work. The website features a host of tips and materials to help employers and workers stay safe while on … Continue reading
VANCOUVER, Feb. 16, 2012 /CNW/ – Ten years ago, a survey of BC ultrasound technologists found 91% of them had suffered work-related injuries at some point in their careers. Medical literature still says 80% of sonographers seek medical treatment for musculoskeletal injuries, 17% miss work due to the symptoms of their injuries, and 15% reduce … Continue reading
By Andrea Raso Amer WorkSafe BC (the Province’s occupational health and safety regulator) recently introduced policy guidelines which describe an employers’ responsibilities over its internal joint health and safety committee. The guidelines also set out the factors that WorkSafe may take into account when deciding whether when an employer is exempt from the joint committee requirements set … Continue reading
The North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH Week) is an annual event where employers, workers, and all partners in occupational health and safety focus on preventing injury and illness in the workplace. It will take place from May 6-12, 2012. Your workplace can take part by: Setting new goals for workplace health and … Continue reading
Written by Susan Main Mike McKenna – executive director of the BC Construction Safety Alliance – gave the thumbs-up to a new app that lets employers and homeowners request clearance letters from WorkSafeBC via smart phone. “This new app is of real benefit from a construction safety perspective because it allows the purchasers of construction services – like general … Continue reading
There are new Occupational Health and Safety Regulation amendments approved by WorkSafeBC Board of Directors that take effect February 1, 2012. These changes will impact Safety Programs, and safe work procedures. Some include amendments to: Part 6, Substance-Specific Requirements – Asbestos-containing material definition (from 1% to 0.5%) Part 9, Confined Spaces – new requirements for … Continue reading
The B.C. government plans to hire 10 new mine inspectors over a 12-month period – more than a 25-per-cent increase – to keep pace with increased mining activity and help ensure work-site safety. BY VANCOUVER SUN The B.C. government plans to hire 10 new mine inspectors over a 12-month period – more than a 25-per-cent … Continue reading
The BC Coroners Service has announced it will hold a public inquest into the deaths of three workers who died on a mushroom farm in Langley in September 2008. Ut Tran aged 35, Han Pham aged 47 and Chi Wai (Jimmy) Chan aged 55 all died within moments of entering a pump shed where toxic … Continue reading
Richmond, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has released a report on its investigation into the workplace incident in which three workers died and two others were seriously injured at a mushroom composting facility in Langley, B.C., on September 5, 2008. “This was a tragic loss of life and would have been entirely preventable had the employer complied … Continue reading