OHS specialist Glenn Russell recalls how seeing a worker’s serious, life-changing injury inspired his motivation to raise awareness of fall protection. A worker on a steep slope roof fell and fractured his leg when his fall protection equipment failed. The vertical lifeline was old and it broke, according to the summary of a recent incident […]
The guideline outlines the requirement for personal protective equipment (PPE) to be available for all body types, not just sized for men’s bodies. A new guideline addressing the issue of ill-fitting PPE, which can compromise worker safety, came into effect in November 2022. I instantly thought about Jodi Huettner when I read a recent WorkSafeBC […]
Employers need workers’ insight into tasks that cause discomfort so they can find solutions that foster safety. You know those huge bins of fruits and vegetables we see in grocery stores? Stocking these items is one of the many tasks that put workers at risk of musculoskeletal injury (MSI). MSIs account for approximately 30 percent […]
A serious injury at a composting facility is a reminder to employers that workers need to be properly trained and show their ability to perform lockout procedures. A new and young worker was seriously injured while clearing composted material out of a large bin in 2020. The auger on the bottom of the bin was […]
Reviewing the basics of power tool safety is important in the workplace, but it’s also crucial at home before starting any kind of DIY project. In a workplace, employers are responsible for providing safety training and supervision. They need to be aware of hazards and have plans for ensuring workers know how to perform specific […]
A broken refrigeration system could release gas that displaces oxygen from the room before workers can react — controls and training are key. “We can’t see asphyxiant gas, so we don’t necessarily realise it’s a risk,” says David Ogilvie, an occupational hygiene officer with WorkSafeBC. “Any mechanical system using gas could fail, with severe consequences. […]
Finding new opportunities for workers after workplace injuries that prevent them from returning to their previous jobs. Recently I read about WorkSafeBC’s Hire a Worker program in the Spring 2023 issue of WorkSafe Magazine. This free service matches B.C. employers with experienced workers who have recovered from a workplace injury and are ready to return […]
A WorkSafeBC prevention officer shares how his personal experience with workplace injury helps him make a difference for employers and workers. Occupational safety officer Carl Howells reinvented his career after a life-changing workplace injury. In 2011, Carl was working as a carpenter on a construction site when he was injured. As a result, he spent […]
BC 1 Call reminds homeowners, and commercial contractors to “click or call before you dig” into the ground for any outdoor project, big or small. In 2020, a worker was seriously injured while operating an ATV at a vineyard. The worker was driving down an 11% slope when the ATV lurched ahead unexpectedly. The ATV […]
One worker was seriously injured while driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) downhill in a vineyard. In 2020, a worker was seriously injured while operating an ATV at a vineyard. The worker was driving down an 11% slope when the ATV lurched ahead unexpectedly. The ATV and its driver fell down two steep slopes. They landed […]
