2017 marks the 100-year anniversary of B.C.’s workers’ compensation system. New videos share highlights of WorkSafeBC’s past 100 years. This is a milestone year for WorkSafeBC, the organization that sponsors this blog. Over the past 100 years, the workers’ compensation system has evolved in many ways. To learn more about its rich history, you can […]
Wildlife-vehicle collisions can have serious consequences. Road Watch BC aims to prevent crashes by getting the public to report wildlife sightings. Wildlife-vehicle collisions can be deadly. Animals and people can be killed or injured. A few years ago, a worker driving on a forest service road swerved to avoid a deer and rolled down an […]
When you’re driving, you’re driving. That’s your only role. Do a “self-check” to focus before getting in your vehicle. Tell yourself “Okay, I’m driving now.” Our state of mind influences how we drive. Driving while angry, for example, is well-known as a bad idea. Just look at all the crazy road rage videos on YouTube! […]
When you work in the forest – whether for forestry or oil and gas – it’s not uncommon to be working amid wildfires. How can employers be prepared for this? I’ll never forget the footage of people driving away from the Fort McMurray fire. One year ago, on May 3, 2016, more than 90,000 people fled […]
Those in the motion picture and performing arts industries often work long hours. Actsafe offers recommendations to help workers manage their fatigue. My friend who works on film crews says an average shift on set is 14 hours. “It’s cheaper to pay overtime and work the crew long days than it is to pay for […]
A subcontractor was using a rock saw to cut asphalt but not wearing eye protection. An employee saw this and asked him to stop work until he had suitable eye protection. Once the protection was in place, he was allowed to continue. That’s one of the near-miss incidents reported in the “learnings database” on the […]
Proper maintenance is an important part of workplace safety. We’ve heard this many times before, and I wrote about it in my post Training and equipment maintenance key to safety. But it’s also critical to keep safety in mind while doing maintenance and repairs. This topic came up recently when I was talking with WorkSafeBC […]
Without proper ventilation and personal protective equipment, workers may be exposed to levels that can put them at risk of adverse health effects.
If you are a person who drives during a work shift – or you employ people who do – please read these tips
Falls are one of the leading causes of injuries to B.C. construction workers – and falls from ladders are the cause behind most construction-related falls. “The humble ladder: everybody just looks at it and thinks that’s the tool to grab.” Construction industry specialist Kathy Tull told me this when I asked her about people’s attitudes […]
