Author Archives: Kerry Hall

On March 7, 2007 Amarjit Kaur Bal, Sukhvinder Kaur Punia, and Sarabjit Kaur Sidhu were killed while being transported to their worksite as farmworkers in an overloaded passenger van alongside 11 fellow workers. An annual ceremony will be held this Sunday, March 5, 2023 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. The ceremony, attended by the families of the three workers, will honour their lives, and the lives and labour of all farmworkers in recognition of their ongoing efforts for dignity and safety at work.

The event program will end with a moment of silence and a candlelit procession to the Golden Tree memorial. All are welcome to attend.

Date:

Sunday, March 5, 2023 - 12:30 to 14:00

Location:

Matsqui Centennial Auditorium
32315 South Fraser Way
Abbotsford

Did you know that October is Mental Health Awareness month?

Come join us for our mental health webinar!  In 2020, our first webinar explored self-care during COVID.  In this webinar, we’ll explore the impacts of mental health in the workplace, since COVID.

Description: Each year in Canada, 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health problem. Over a lifetime that number increases to a staggering 1 in 3. The impact on our economy is a cost of more than $51 billion.

The objective of this webinar is to look at

• some psychosocial risk factors and how they impact the workplace
• warning signs of a psychologically unsafe workplace
• tools to help support workers individually and collectively

When: Monday October 31, 2022, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Pacific (One hour webinar followed by 30 minute Q&A)

Cost: Free with mandatory pre-registration

Platform: Zoom.  We recommend downloading the Zoom app or the Zoom client here.  If you’re unfamiliar with Zoom webinar functions, please review the Attending Webinars section here.

Registration Link:
https://healthandsafetybc.microsoftcrmportals.com/event/sessions?id=Webinar_-_Impacts_of_Mental_Health_Since_COVID_Reflect_Rally_and_Respond462199255

Changes are coming in August to the right to refuse unsafe work

Workers have the right to refuse work that would “create an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person”. When a worker exercises this right it helps identify hazards and keep workplaces safer for all.

Starting August 22, 2022, WorkSafeBC will be implementing amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety regulations that create an entire new section (3.12.1). This section makes important changes to the process, including what employers can and can’t do after a refusal takes place.

Starting August employers must ensure a subsequent worker is advised in writing (an email or text, for example) of any unresolved work refusal made in relation to assigned work.

Reassignment of refused work (Entire section is new)

3.12.1 (1) If a worker refuses work under section 3.12, the employer must not require or permit another worker to do the refused work unless

(a) the matter has been resolved under section 3.12 (3), (4) or (5), or

(b) the employer has, in writing, advised the other worker and a person referred to in section 3.12 (4)(a), (b) or (c) of all of the following:

(i) the refusal;

(ii) the unsafe condition reported under section 3.12 (2);

(iii) the reasons why the task would not create an undue hazard to the health and safety of the other worker or any other person;

(iv) the right of the other worker under section 3.12 to refuse unsafe work.

Source: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/law-policy/discussion-papers/bod-approves-amendments-ohsr-march22/part-3?lang=en

This International Women’s Day (March 8, 2022) the BCFED Health & Safety Centre is bringing together an action-focused webinar to share knowledge, skills and tools for addressing women’s health and safety in the workplace.

Join us on International Women’s Day and build your capacity to identify and address gender-based inequities in health and safety and learn how they impact women at work.

When: Tuesday, March 8^th 12-1:30 PST (One hour webinar followed by 30 minute Q&A)

Cost: Free with mandatory pre-registration

Description: All workers face health and safety issues at work - injuries, workplace hazards, diseases, and stress. Many of these issues have a gender dimension and affect women in particular ways. This webinar will give an overview of the challenges women face in the workplace and ways to take action that address ongoing inequities.

• Understand gender-based inequities in health & safety and how they impact women
• Discuss workplace hazards that put women at risk to their physical and psychological health and safety
• Explore actions that webinar participants can take to address inequities

Registration Link:
https://healthandsafetybc.microsoftcrmportals.com/event/sessions?id=Webinar_-_Womens_Health_Safety_in_the_Workplace1747970803