Occupational Health and Safety

March 15, 2010

‘Quality product cannot come from cutting corners on safety’

The following letter was sent to Burnaby, British Columbia mayor Derek Corrigan in response to his comments in a story in the March 10 Journal of Commerce on the municipality’s fair wage policy.

March 15, 2010

Construction restarting on hospital in Fort St. John, British Columbia

Steel and other building materials are on-site awaiting co-operative weather and a construction re-start on the $297.9 million Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care Project in northeastern British Columbia’s Peace River country.

March 10, 2010

International Living Building Institute launches new challenge

The International Living Building Institute (ILBI) put its greenest foot forward recently by launching version 2.0 of its Living Building Challenge (LBC) building rating system.

March 10, 2010

Independent contractors association criticizes Burnaby’s fair wage policy

B.C.’s open shop association is criticizing Burnaby’s fair wage policy for increasing construction costs and taxes, but the mayor said it is just good social policy with a 20-year track record of success.

March 3, 2010

In wake of toddler death, committee will study Calgary construction safety

In the aftermath of a toddler’s death from falling construction debris, the City of Calgary and the local construction industry have formed a committee to study safety.

March 3, 2010

Charges laid after investigations into falling debris in Calgary

Investigations into debris falling from two construction projects in Calgary during high winds have resulted in charges being laid under the Alberta Building Code against several companies.

March 1, 2010

Construction industry had most workplace fatalities in Alberta

The construction industry had the highest number of workplace fatalities of any sector in Alberta in 2009, but this figure is the lowest in the last five years.

March 1, 2010

Ottawa construction company T.K.S. Holdings fined in partial building collapse

T.K.S. Holdings Inc., an Ottawa real estate and construction company, pleaded guilty and was fined $50,000 for a violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a partial building collapse. The building and company owner, Tony Shahrasebi, pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000.

March 1, 2010

New engineering association forms in Fort McMurray, Alberta

The newest chapter of a national association for plant and facility maintenance has been established in Fort McMurray, Alberta, to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry in the region.

February 24, 2010

Construction worker falls six storeys to death in Ontario

Contrary to some news reports, the death of a 43-year-old worker at a Scarborough-area restoration construction site last week didn’t involve a swing stage, confirmed Ontario’s Ministry of Labour.

February 24, 2010

ITC Construction lends health and safety director to Winter Games

The person in charge of safety with a local construction firm is monitoring Olympic venue safety in Vancouver as a volunteer.

February 22, 2010

Change is in the air for B.C.’s roadbuilders training

Some things change and some things stay the same.

February 22, 2010

Construction worker falls six storeys to death in Toronto

Contrary to some news reports, the death of a 43-year-old worker at a Scarborough-area restoration construction site Thursday didn’t involve a swing stage, confirms Ontario’s Ministry of Labour.

February 17, 2010

As Olympics gear up, construction slows slightly

Contractors at construction sites in Vancouver are changing their work schedules and street use plans in order to accommodate Olympic activities and traffic restrictions.

February 15, 2010

Infrastructure investment gets mixed reaction

While the Alberta Budget’s investment in basic infrastructure was applauded by the construction industry, the City of Calgary is concerned about what it means for municipal projects.