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Occupational Health and Safety

September 1, 2008

Number of deaths climbed in 2007 says B.C. Safety Authority

In 2007, there were 329 reported incidents that were directly related to regulated equipment or operations according to the annual report.

September 1, 2008

Drug treatment facility not included in B.C.’s new drug testing policy

The only residential drug treatment centre in western Canada geared specifically to meet the needs of construction workers with substance abuse problems has not been included in B.C.’s new drug testing policy.

August 27, 2008

Saskatchewan changes temporary worker program

Some labour unions in Saskatchewan are skeptical about a joint initiative between the federal and provincial governments to make improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program allows the provincial government to select skilled workers and nominate applicants for landed immigrant status.

August 27, 2008

Unionized construction workers in British Columbia subject to new drug policy

Unionized construction workers, who have a problem with drinking or getting high on the job, are being targeted by a new drug testing program, which is the first of its kind in Canada.

August 25, 2008

Committee begins draft of Canadian building-commissioning standard

A committee that includes representation from building owners, government agencies and the design and contracting communities is gearing up to draft a long-awaited national standard on building commissioning.

August 25, 2008

New Thunder Bay-to-Alberta shipping route handles cargo bound for oilsands

A new Canadian shipping route will allow cargo to flow to oilsands construction sites in Northern Alberta from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

August 20, 2008

Twelve Algerian employees of SNC-Lavalin die in bus bombing

Twelve Algerian employees of SNC-Lavalin were killed in a terrorist attack on August 20, 2008, while riding on a bus to work on the Koudiat Acerdoune water treatment plant and distribution project in Algeria. Another 15 employees were wounded in the bombing.

August 20, 2008

WorkSafeBC expects drop in base assessment rates for construction industry

For the third year in a row, most WorkSafeBC base assessment rates will drop for employers in B.C.’s construction industry.

August 20, 2008

British Columbia construction unions and employers reach agreement on drug testing

On August 21, 2008, the Construction Labour Relations Association (CLRA) of B.C. and the Bargaining Council of British Columbia Building Trades Unions announced that the province’ construction unions and their employers have developed a substance-abuse testing and treatment policy.

August 20, 2008

Canadian Demolition Safety Manual ready for distribution

The Canadian demolition industry’s first-ever safety manual has been published and industry representatives continue to make further inroads with the National Demolition Association (NDA) in the United States.

August 18, 2008

Denel Trucking employee dies at Calgary industrial site

James Jacob Rintoul, 20, was helping a driver back up an empty truck at low speed in the industrial yard of Volker Stevin Contracting Ltd. when he was crushed under the wheels of a trailer.

August 18, 2008

British Columbia government invests $12 million in Highway 99 improvements

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon announced on August 1, 2008 that the government will spend $5.2-million for the construction of a new two-lane concrete bridge 13 kilometres south of Lillooet and $7.1-million for paving north of Pemberton.

August 13, 2008

Ontario inspectors conduct jobsite safety blitz aimed at younger workers

Ontario inspectors are now blitzing worksites and locations across the province in order to make an immediate impact on improving health and safety, said Ontario’s labour minister.

August 11, 2008

McMaster study looks at link between diesel fumes and diabetes

The operating engineers’ union supports a study looking at possible connections between diesel fume exposure and diabetes among its members.

August 11, 2008

Ceremony marks construction start on Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital

Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is a public-private-partnership between the Vancouver Island Health Authority and ISL Health.

August 6, 2008

CCA seeks details on premiers’ national labour mobility directive

A decision by Canadian premiers to increase full labour mobility nationwide is being met with cautious optimism across the Canadian construction landscape.

August 6, 2008

British Columbia and Alberta see rapid increases in number of temporary foreign workers

Alberta and B.C. are experiencing the most rapid increases in the number of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) of any province in Canada, according to federal government statistics

August 6, 2008

Readers respond to JOC poll: Is B.C. doing enough about crane safety?

TIC Canada equipment supervisor Mike Garies responds to the JOC poll question “Is B.C. doing enough about crane safety?”

August 4, 2008

Bilfinger Berger Canada files suit against Metro Vancouver over Capilano-Seymour project

Metro Vancouver hired Bilfinger Berger Canada (BBC) Inc. in 2004 to construct twin tunnels with a combined length of 14.2 kilometres for the Capilano-Seymour water filtration project. BBC suspended work on the $100 million project in January 2008, due to concerns about the safety of underground workers.

August 4, 2008

Girls GETT it together at program to introduce trades

Thirteen-year-olds Lauren Tonello (left) and Mikayla Wong worked together recently to build a go-cart at the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s “Girls Exploring Trades and Technology” (GETT) program.

July 30, 2008

15-year-old boy dies after being buried by asphalt

A teenager is dead after being buried by searing-hot asphalt near Winnipeg.

July 30, 2008

Reader Response: Plan to split ironworker trade into three certificates meets with opposition

Here at Journal of Commerce, we asked readers, “Will splitting ironworker trades training into three specialized certificates benefit young apprentices?” Here’s what you had to say...

July 30, 2008

Korean workers embark on new careers as heavy-equipment operators in Alberta

Hunt International, a world wide recruitment and human resources firm, is providing workers in Korea with training in heavy equipment operation, so they can obtain employment in B.C. and Alberta.

July 30, 2008

Worker injured in crane accident at Vancouver Pile Driving yard

A worker was tossed 10 metres into the air during a crane mishap in North Vancouver on July 25, 2008.

July 30, 2008

Stolen road construction equipment left on tracks derails CN train

A train derailment occurred east of Edmonton after a piece of road construction equipment was deliberately placed on railway tracks.

July 30, 2008

COCA president stands behind WorkSafeBC’s claims statistics

WorkSafeBC 2007 statistics indicate there were fewer claims for injury accidents and survival benefits per 1,000 employees than ever recorded in the history of the construction industry.