Strategically designing the workspace in child care centres helps educators prevent musculoskeletal injuries and provide the best care to kids. WorkSafeBC ergonomist and human factors specialist Gina Vahlas recently spoke at the 2019 conference of the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC) about preventing musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) among those who work in child care. Child […]
Improvements to the NOP submission process include new features to make it easier for B.C. employers to provide legally required info to WorkSafeBC. B.C. employers have a legal requirement to notify WorkSafeBC before they begin certain types of projects. For example, if they’re working with hazardous materials, they need to let WorkSafeBC know, in writing, […]
Employers at wood pellet mills need to ensure their operators can easily detect, understand, and respond to alarms for preventing fires and explosions. Operators at wood pellet mills who oversee the manufacturing processes get a lot of “screen time.” This is certainly true for operators working for Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Canada’s largest wood pellet manufacturer, […]
It’s back-to-school time and the weather is getting cooler. This means flu season will soon be in full swing. How can we arm ourselves against it? It’s that time of year again. Flu season is on the way, and I’ll be doing everything possible to avoid getting the flu. Generally, I try to keep my […]
Steep slope logging is a leading source of injuries in forestry. Industry has identified some best practices to better protect workers on this terrain. In 2017, a forestry worker died in Northern B.C. while using a feller buncher to cut timber on a steep slope. He was trapped inside the machine after it tipped over […]
A new safety video series shows how to prevent common injuries in the kitchen and features B.C. chefs, who offer safety tips from their own experiences. Many years ago, I had a job bussing tables. After the lunch rush, a cook asked me to cut some lemons with a great big knife that seemed quite […]
“Could this have been you?” Learn about recent fatalities, injuries, and close calls in B.C. workplaces so you can prevent similar incidents from happening. I’m one of more than 12,000 people who subscribe to an enews with summaries of recent workplace incidents reported to WorkSafeBC. Ten years ago, I signed up for this information. At […]
It’s essential to identify potential hazards when harvesting timber near power lines. Start during the planning stage, to keep workers safe. Forest companies and harvesting contractors should contact BC Hydro at the planning stage of any logging project near power lines. I read about this in a recent monthly safety alert from the BC Forest […]
The next three months are the most dangerous for driving. If you drive for work, make sure to plan for safety, prepare your vehicle, and slow down. Last winter’s extreme conditions in B.C. caught many drivers by surprise. October, November, and December are the most dangerous months for people who drive for work. Almost 30 […]
Smoke from B.C. wildfires is causing terrible air quality in some regions. How can outdoor workers and volunteers protect themselves from forest fire smoke? This question is on the minds of many in B.C. as forest fire season continues with a vengeance. Employers can find answers in WorkSafeBC’s Wildfire smoke: Frequently asked questions. (Please note […]
