OH&S Archives - constructconnect.com

Hotel operator fined more than $620,000 for asbestos infractions

wp-poster — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:15:22 +0000

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. – Hotel operator Northland Properties Corporation was fined $624,051.48 by WorkSafeBC in May in relation to several asbestos and lead violations. According to a penalty notice, the firm was renovating one its locations in Williams Lake, B.C. When WorkSafeBC inspected the site and observed debris from drywall, an identified asbestos-containing material (ACM) […]

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Ontario advancing harmonized national health and safety standards for construction workers

wp-poster — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:00:51 +0000

There’s no time for a summer lull for Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) policy advisers taking the next steps to advance harmonized interprovincial health and safety standards for construction workers. In April, labour ministers from across Canada endorsed a workplan with accelerated timelines to harmonize the health and safety accreditation required by the construction trades […]

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Home Hardware Stores Limited fined $75,000 after worker injured in fall

wp-poster — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:10:42 +0000

ST. JACOBS, ONT. – Retailer Home Hardware Stores Limited of St. Jacobs, Ont. has been fined after a worker was critically injured in a November 2023 incident. According to an Ontario court bulletin, on Nov. 3, 2023, a worker responsible for the fire management system was monitoring the water level in a reservoir in the basement […]

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Fires from coast to coast: A look at the wildfire situation across the country

Lindsey Cole — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:24:59 +0000

Wildfires are burning in several provinces, forcing thousands of people from their homes. Smoke from those fires is choking out millions in major cities across North America. Here’s a brief look at what is happening in different parts of the country:   ONTARIO Dozens of forest fires continue to burn across the northern part of the […]

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BC 1 Call and BC Landscape & Nursery Association sign MOU

wp-poster — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:10:16 +0000

VANCOUVER — BC One Call Limited (BC 1 Call) and the BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration on industry education, excavation safety, damage prevention and underground infrastructure protection. Landscape professionals and nurseries routinely undertake ground disturbance as part of installing and maintaining landscapes, irrigation systems, […]

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‘Each day, I still wonder why’: Construction Death Review sparks fresh calls for safety action

Daily Commercial News — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:25:12 +0000

This is the third and final article pertaining to the latest Construction Death Review (CDR) report, which examines 43 construction-related deaths in Ontario that occurred between 2015 and 2023 and one death that occurred in 1994. The first article gave a broad overview of the report and some of its recommendations. The second outlined the circumstances […]

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Ontario outdoor workers stay home, others mask up amid wildfire smoke

Daily Commercial News — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 17:58:21 +0000

TORONTO — Outdoor workers are donning masks, taking breaks or staying home altogether as wildfire smoke wafts across southern Ontario and health officials raise concerns. Environment Canada says the air quality in Toronto continues to be “very high risk,” with warnings in place from Windsor to Kingston. Chris Smith, who runs Toronto homebuilding company Woodsmith […]

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WorkSafeBC rates to stay flat in 2027

wp-poster — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:10:36 +0000

RICHMOND, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has announced the preliminary average base rate for 2027 will remain at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll. While it is still subject to final approval from the board of directors this fall, this will be the 10th consecutive year the average base rate has remained at this level, explains the […]

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Kelowna crane collapse victims, families have been failed by the system: IUOE Local 115

wp-poster — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:05:34 +0000

KELOWNA, B.C. — The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115 is demanding justice now after five years has passed since the Kelowna crane collapse tragedy and there’s still no movement on the case. On July 12, 2021, Cailen Vilness, Jared Zook, Eric Stemmer, Patrick Stemmer and Brad Zawislak were killed in the collapse, […]

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‘It is still all very vivid’: Family voices and fatal patterns outlined in second Ontario Construction Death Review

wp-poster — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:55:58 +0000

This is the second of three articles pertaining to the latest Construction Death Review Committee report, which examines 43 construction-related deaths in Ontario that occurred between 2015 and 2023 and one death that occurred in 1994. The first article gave a broad overview of the report and some of its recommendations. This article outlines […]

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STEP contractors significantly safer than industry average, ABC report finds

wp-poster — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:09:15 +0000

For decades, the U.S. construction industry has measured safety performance largely by looking in the rear-view mirror. Companies tracked injuries, lost-time incidents and workers removed from the job after incidents had already occurred. However, what has been less clear is whether proactive safety measures – the steps contractors take every day to prevent incidents – […]

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B.C. to implement training certification for crane operators

Lindsey Cole — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:08:59 +0000

VICTORIA – The Province of B.C. has announced it is expanding skilled trades certification to tower and mobile crane operators to ensure “consistent training and certification standards, improve crane safety and strengthen B.C.’s skilled trades workforce.” Beginning immediately, people working as tower or mobile crane operators will have one year to register as an apprentice […]

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