WorkSafeBC prevention officers visit herring fishery crews to look at PPE, worker supervision, safe work procedures, and other risk-reduction tactics. Commercial fishing continues to have one of the highest fatality rates, per capita, of industries in B.C. At the start of this year’s herring fishery, WorkSafeBC prevention officers are visiting crews to review employers’ safety […]
Young people entering the workforce need to know how using hearing protection can prevent noise-induced hearing loss that may start early and is irreversible. On average, around one in 10 workers under the age of 21 shows signs of hearing loss. Raising young workers’ awareness of hearing protection is an important goal for health and […]
Fish Safe BC’s contest challenges commercial fishing crews to record and submit videos or photos that show how efficiently they can put on survival suits. Most of us have probably never heard of survival suits, but they’re extremely important — especially if you’re a fisherman. Survival suits are used when fishermen are preparing to abandon ship, […]
Workers at recycling facilities need hearing protection and other PPE to protect against exposure to high noise levels and other hazards. This is the second post in a series about workplace hazards in the recycling industry. See the first post, Sorting out workplace safety in the waste and recycling industry. Hearing protection is essential for […]
An increase in online shopping is putting pressure on warehouse workers. It’s important they know how to operate power pallet jacks safely. As online shopping rises in popularity, more companies are competing for their share of the market, promising lots of stock and quick delivery. At the same time, there is a labour shortage and […]
An AgSafe safety advisor is reminding employers about how important it is to choose the right respirators for their workers and to ensure they fit properly. During this past summer, Emily Kerr, safety advisor with AgSafe, the health and safety association for the agriculture industry, shared this safety message on Twitter: “I’d like to take […]
Improved slip-resistant mat technology can help prevent fall injuries. Here are things for employers to consider when looking for mats for their workplace. This is part two of a focus on slips, trips, and falls. Check out last week’s post, Getting a grip on slips and trips in manufacturing. Each year in B.C., close to […]
To prevent drowning, crewmembers on B.C. fishing vessels are now required to wear PFDs or lifejackets whenever they are on the deck. Fishing is a unique occupation with safety concerns unlike any other. “The reality of working on a commercial fishing vessel will never change, in terms of the risk of working on the water,” […]
Hearing loss affects all aspects of life. A new video series from WorkSafeBC shows how workers in different industries can be affected by noise exposure. When we think about work-related noise exposure, we usually picture workers using loud machines in industries like construction and manufacturing. But noise-induced hearing loss affects people in other industries too. […]
In the past five years, more than 60 workers in B.C. were injured by drill presses. One safety officer says education is key to preventing such incidents. Mark Phifer, an occupational safety officer (OSO) with WorkSafeBC, has been doing inspections and attending incidents at B.C. workplaces for almost 20 years. Many of those incidents involved […]
