This fall, the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) will launch Asbestos Control Training (ACT) a series of 5 courses beginning with Asbestos 101 (Awareness Training) with specialty courses to follow. Courses are self-paced and accessible online 24/7. Asbestos Control Training is complimented by BCCSA’s newly developed Asbestos Control Tool, an easy to use resource [...]
The last session of the 5 Part Virtual Summit included in the Psychological Support Toolkit for Employees and Employers: COVID-19 will be streamed at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29. It will feature an industry leaders panel providing their perspective on COVID-19 and the effects on mental health and wellness in the workplace. Register [...]
Mental health issues in the workplace are among the top concerns for organizations of all sizes. For this reason, VRCA has expanded the resources section on its website to include information about mental health and wellness. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, one in five Canadians experience a mental health problem or [...]
Did you know that suicide is the No. 2 cause of death for men in the construction industry aged 19-54? Depression and mental health must not be a taboo topic in construction. The BC Construction Safety Alliance and VRCA are co-hosting a seminar on mental health in the construction industry on Feb. 6. Entiled [...]
The following article has been contributed by WorkSafeBC. Asbestos exposure remains the leading cause of occupational disease in the province. Those with the highest risk of exposure are maintenance, custodial and contract workers hired for repairs or renovations in and around commercial buildings. Under the Workers Compensation Act, commercial property owners are required to [...]
Ready or not, recreational cannabis will become legal in Canada on Wednesday, Oct. 17. To help employers prepare for the legalization of cannabis, there are a number of resources available online, such as The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) whitepaper, Workplace Strategies: Risk of Impairment from Cannabis, which provides guidance on [...]
April 28 has been designated the national Day of Mourning, a time when we come together to remember those who have lost their lives due to work-related incidents or occupational diseases. Last year, 158 workers from a variety of industries died as a result of their work. Sadly, in a recent three-week period alone, [...]
WorkSafeBC recently published a new safety bulletin about reducing the risk of pentane gas fires and explosions. Expanded polystyrene is a synthetic foam material that has a wide range of uses in many industries. Applications include: insulation in buildings (especially cold storage buildings); piping; concrete formwork; wine tanks; wharf and float manufacturing; and applications [...]
WorkSafeBC's Policy, Regulation and Research Division is requesting feedback on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback prior to the proposed amendments being taken to public hearing in fall of 2018. There are three regulatory amendment packages under review. Part 8, Personal [...]