Posts Tagged ‘ WorkSafeBC ’

What You Need to Know About Stricter Chain-Up Rules

We’ve introduced better chain-up regulations for commercial vehicles, which will provide more clarity for professional drivers this winter. That means safer roads, too. The changes come in the wake of one of our worst winters for highway closures. Unprepared commercial trucks caused 41 highway closures because they were either poorly equipped or totally unequipped with chains. In some cases, this was due to the driver’s inability to install the chains properly. Loss of traction in winter conditions leads to...

National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims

re-mem-brance (ri-mem-‘br-ens) noun. the act or process of remembering the state of being remembered Today (Nov. 21) is National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims in Canada– a day set aside to remember those killed or seriously injured on Canadian roads. It’s also a time to consider the victims’ friends and families who are left struggling with the sudden loss of people they love. We choose not to use the word “accident” because these crashes are more often...

We sometimes get the question: what kinds of inspections do commercial vehicles have to go through to ensure they are operating safely? It’s a great question, especially since the way CVSE (Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement) carries out inspections has evolved over the years. The most notable change is increasing mobile inspections and using technology to help focus inspections on commercial vehicles that need them. So, how does this play out? Then… Well, looking back 15 years, all commercial...

April 28 represents the annual Day of Mourning, which honours those who have lost their lives on the job as a result of work-related accidents or occupational diseases. In 2017, in British Columbia, 158 workers lost their lives to a workplace injury or disease. The Day of Mourning is a time to remember these tragic losses and renew your commitment to creating a safer workplace. We encourage you to reflect and discuss workplace safety with your respective work groups...

There are several good things about winter… Hockey Toques Hot chocolate Tobogganing The scent of wood smoke But there are also several bad things about winter, and some of them have to do with driving. Black ice Dead batteries Reduced visibility Sudden weather changes Slush… cold, nasty slush… and the list goes on Whether it’s driving for work or shuttling the kids to early morning hockey practice, knowledge is power when it comes to reducing your risk of...

Many of us work in an office setting. It’s quiet and climate controlled. Paper cuts and sitting too much are the biggest hazards. But imagine your office was actually beside a city street or provincial highway. Quite the contrast, eh? Suddenly, your safety is not fully in your control. In many respects, getting home safely is in the hands of drivers passing by – perhaps some in a rush to get to their offices. WorkSafeBC brings this contrast to...

You’re invited to have some serious fun with the Cone Zone BC work zone safety awareness campaign. Live in the Cloverdale area? Come on down to the Cloverdale Rodeo Go-Kart Ride May 15-18, 2015. The Work Zone Safety Alliance is inviting kids ages 10 to 16 to learn about roadside safety while driving a Go Kart around a large circuit, complete with real world work zone hazards. Don’t worry, parents, there’s fun for you, too. Check out the complete...

Starting October 20th, 2014, changes to the Motor Vehicle Act regulations means an increase in driver penalty points (from 0 to 3) for those caught talking on a handheld device while driving. This new penalty also covers: watching a DVD, programming a phone’s GPS. operating hand-held audio players. The points will be combined with the $167 fine that already exists and makes it all now in line with the penalty currently given to drivers for texting. To get really...

You could be anywhere when your vehicle fails unexpectedly. Whether it’s a busy freeway or a quiet neighbourhood street, there’s a sense of vulnerability when you’re left stranded. Tow truck operators like Larry Styba regularly come to B.C. travellers’ rescue. That’s their job. But their job puts them in vulnerable positions, too. We recently talked to Larry about how travellers can protect themselves and tow truck operators in cone zones on B.C. Highways. TranBC: Hi Larry. Thanks for joining...

How You Can Save Police from Roadside Injuries Police officers not only enforce Cone Zones, they are also protected by them. Sure, bright orange pylons aren’t usually present to announce when an officer is in a vulnerable position, but drivers should still approach with caution police and other emergency personnel working along roads. RCMP Staff Sgt. Pat McTiernan has been experiencing Cone Zones from the perspectives of both enforcer and roadside worker for 35 years. He has been struck,...