Category Archives: Health & Safety

A University of Victoria researcher is calling for more mental health support for firefighters and victims of wildfires ahead of what could be another severe fire season in B.C. “It’s time to start the conversation about what the ongoing impact of climate change and wildfires is doing to people, emotionally and mentally,” said Ashley Berard, a PhD candidate in the Sociology Department, in a news release. Berard, who is studying the social impact of natural disasters, will present findings and recommendations at the upcoming Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Montreal starting 12 June. After speaking with people who live in small rural communities and cities such as Lytton and Kamloops, she said she consistently uncovered heightened feelings of anxiety and depression, an overwhelming sense of grief and loss, and increased stress related to possible physical effects of smoke inhalation.

Residents and long-weekend travellers are asked to plan ahead, be FireSmart and stay safe this Victoria Day long weekend. Wildfires near Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson First Nation resulted in early season evacuation orders and alerts for several northeastern communities in the region. Visitors should avoid the Fort Nelson area at this time. Highway 97 remains closed in both directions around Fort Nelson. For the latest road conditions and updates, visit: https://www.drivebc.ca This time of year, most new wildfires are preventable, and people are being asked to use caution and take steps to be more prepared this weekend. Throughout the province, people are encouraged to stay up to date on current wildfire activity and check for road closures, evacuation alerts and orders, weather conditions and follow instructions from local governments or First Nations. Several open-burning prohibitions are also in place around the province and are updated as conditions change.

Fatigue puts workers at a greater risk of sustaining injuries from hazards at work. WorkSafeBC’s information sheet Managing the risk of fatigue in the workplace provides guidance for employers and workers. “This resource represents a shift in thinking about fatigue in the workplace,” says Jenny Colman, an ergonomist with WorkSafeBC. “While we once saw fatigue as the hazard, we now think of it in terms of a contributory factor that can increase the risk of harm or potential for harm from work being performed. Therefore, higher protections need to be in place around the tasks performed by a worker who is tired.” Fatigue can make it difficult to concentrate, especially when it comes to tasks that require quick reactions, alertness, and vigilance. Recalling information and making decisions may be impeded, particularly when time is of the essence and complex information processing and comprehension is involved. …Irregular shift rotations can also amplify these effects.

If you are feeling anxious about the warm dry weather and lack of rain across the province, imagine what it feels like to be a B.C. wildfire fighter. Front-line workers are training for a volatile fire season and the physical and emotional demands are gruelling. CBC’s Shelley Joyce spoke to people about the stress those on the front lines face.

BRITISH COLUMBIA – Alex Lane’s wildland firefighting career began in May 2015, and on her second day, Lane was called to a large, complex fire. …”I really enjoyed the pace, the demand, the challenge,” she said. But during a slower fire season few years later, her mental health took a turn and she started having panic attacks at work. …Now, the B.C. Wildfire Service and other agencies are working to make sure wildland firefighters have mental health supports ready and available year round. Lane’s experience is not unusual, according to David Greer, B.C. Wildfire Service director of strategic engagement and partnerships. …Greer said the wildfire service is trying to be proactive about staff mental health; in spring 2023, the province launched an online training program for firefighters to help with managing stress and anxiety.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report into an emergency forced landing of an Air Tractor AT-802A aircraft, operated by Conair Group Inc., south of Cranbrook, British Columbia. On August 2, 2022, the firefighting aircraft, equipped with amphibious floats, was conducting aerial operations in the area of Connell Ridge, the site of multiple wildfires, when it sustained a loss of engine power. Unable to restore power, the pilot … completed an emergency landing in the trees, coming to rest approximately 200 m from the edge of the forest fire. The aircraft was substantially damaged by impact forces. The pilot, who was the sole occupant on board, sustained minor injuries. Firefighting aircraft must operate at low altitudes to fight forest fires effectively. At such low levels, recovery from an aircraft malfunction becomes extremely challenging. In such a situation, a pilot’s decision making and reaction time are critical for a successful outcome.

WorkSafeBC will be holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The virtual hearing will cover proposed changes to the following parts of the OHS Regulation: Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements — Combustible Dusts. The virtual public hearing will be streamed live on May 14, 2024, in two sessions. The first will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 3 to 5 p.m. We welcome your feedback on the proposed amendments. All feedback received will be presented to WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors for their consideration. You can provide feedback online or by email, or register to speak at the hearing by phone.

Over 100 people from across Canada participated in the online Drum Dryer Symposium on April 4, 2024, to hear from producers and subject matter experts on their learnings and experiences, the current state, and new approaches to drum dryer safety. The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) hosted the event in collaboration with the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) and Canadian Biomass, the Media Sponsor. One of the symposium’s outcomes was establishing a Drum Dryer Working Group. Over the next year, the group will work collaboratively to examine trends, identify opportunities for improvement, and formulate recommendations. Resources will be created and shared to help support the continuous improvement of drum dryers and enhance the sector’s safety culture. Julie Griffiths, Chair of WPAC’s Safety Committee and Quality, Sustainability, and Environmental Program Coordinator with Shaw Renewables, moderated the session. She opened by showing the video Best Practices for Managing Combustible Gas.

On April 28, workers, families, and employers will gather at commemorative ceremonies across the province to honour the 175 B.C. workers who lost their lives last year due to workplace injury and disease. When you lose a loved one, the pain never goes away. Join us as we reflect on those we’ve lost, and renew our commitment to creating healthy and safe workplaces for everyone. Whether you’re an employer, supervisor, prime contractor, or worker, you have a role to play in keeping the workplace safe. A public Day of Mourning ceremony will take place at Jack Poole Plaza in downtown Vancouver on Sunday, April 28th at 10:30 a.m., with the Olympic Cauldron being lit in honour of the day. A livestream of the event will be available at dayofmourning.bc.ca. For a list of ceremonies taking place around the province, please visit dayofmourning.bc.ca.

In manufacturing more fires are happening because of power tool batteries, especially the lithium-ion type. Understanding the risk is important for all workers so they can stay safe while working. Workers must understand the risks, particularly related to thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, which can lead to fires, explosions, and harmful gas release. Factors like overcharging or exposure to extreme heat can trigger this dangerous chain reaction. Following strict safety protocols is crucial for handling battery-powered equipment. IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY: Workers must remain vigilant and follow necessary precautions when handling battery-powered equipment to mitigate heightened fire risks from power tool batteries.

On November 1, 2024, amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation relating to occupational first aid will come into effect. Employers across the province will need to review their current first aid plans and make necessary adjustments to meet the new requirements. In April 2023, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, relating to the provision of occupational first aid. These amendments will take effect November 1, 2024, to give employers time to obtain any required first aid training and equipment necessitated by these changes. This backgrounder provides an overview of the changes. Visit our First aid requirements webpage for more information and resources.

WorkSafeBC is holding a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The virtual public hearing will be streamed live on May 14, 2024, in two sessions. The first will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second from 3 to 5 p.m. Further information on how to view or participate in the virtual public hearing will be provided closer to the hearing date. These details will be posted on worksafebc.com and communicated by enews. You can access the proposed amendments, along with explanatory notes, using this link: Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements — Combustible Dusts Public hearings provide stakeholders an opportunity to comment on proposed regulatory amendments. We welcome your feedback on these amendments either by written submission or by participation in the virtual public hearing. Written submissions will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2024.

…In recent years devastating fires have burned in all corners of the province as thousands of firefighters inhale wildfire smoke with little protection. But new research aims to shed light on how those conditions are impacting firefighters’ respiratory health. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, is embarking on what they’re considering “groundbreaking” research, looking at the respiratory health of wildland firefighters. “We don’t know a lot about how their vessels are reacting or not reacting to wildfire smoke,” said Madden Brewster, postdoctoral research fellow at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Researchers will track firefighters’ cardiorespiratory systems over the next two years collecting data before, during and after the fire season — something Brewster says “hasn’t really been done before.”

Rob Moonen

“The only constant is change” is an accurate way to describe BC’s forest sector. And while change can be uncomfortable for many of us, our industry has a long and successful history of responding to change and doing it well. In 2004, the Forest Safety Task Force developed a report and action plan to eliminate deaths and serious injuries in BC’s forest industry. …The task force ultimately concluded that focus cannot simply be placed on reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries in the sector. To succeed, fundamental attitudes and behaviours about safety needed to change. Twenty years later, while there is still more work to do, the forest industry’s journey has been one of dynamic and positive change. Forest sector stakeholders have demonstrated that when we work together, we can achieve our collective goal of ensuring every forestry worker goes home safe, every day. With each passing year, industry has achieved new milestones in improved safety culture and performance.

Should someone who is injured on the job stop working until they have fully recovered? For many injured workers, the answer is no. Depending on their injury, they can benefit from remaining at work and taking on modified or alternative duties as needed. The key is for the worker and their employer to collaborate and stay connected every step of the way. These actions will help shorten the worker’s recovery time and strengthen the workplace’s health and safety culture. In addition, as of January 1, 2024, employers and workers have a legal duty to cooperate with one another in safe and timely return to work. …When it comes to a successful return-to-work journey, WorkSafeBC case manager Tai McLavy says the employer is the deciding factor in terms of accommodation, while the employee is the deciding factor when it comes to rehabilitation and motivation. An injured worker can benefit from remaining at work and taking on alternative duties as needed, depending on their injury.

SLAVE LAKE, Alberta — The company that operates Slave Lake Pulp has confirmed to Global News that a contractor was killed at the site on Wednesday. “A contractor was fatally injured at our pulp operation in Slave Lake. The incident occurred when the individual was working to repair a piece of mobile equipment. The mill was not operating at the time,” said Joyce Wagenaar, communications director for West Fraser, which operates Slave Lake Pulp. The spokesperson said West Fraser is cooperating with Alberta Occupation Health and Safety (OHS) during its investigation. “Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, colleagues, and our Slave Lake Pulp team during this difficult time,” Wagenaar said. Alberta Health Services said EMS responded to a site in Lesser Slave River just before 2 p.m. on March 13. A man was pronounced dead, AHS said. [END]

For centuries, people have found solace in walks through the forest and the practice of “forest bathing.” Now, researchers at UBC are delving into the science behind this tradition to understand its benefits better and make them accessible to all. Leading the experiment is Dr. Guangyu Wang, a professor at UBC’s department of forest resources management and director of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Natural Therapy (MINT). In this Q&A, Dr. Wang shares insights into their findings thus far. …Research indicates that forest bathing or forest therapy can alleviate stress, uplift mood and boost cognitive and immune functions. It may also reduce blood pressure and heart rate and improve sleep quality. At MINT, we explore this phenomenon. Our previous experiments revealed that exposure to negative ions and natural forest sounds significantly reduces stress and improves sleep quality, while even a two-hour forest therapy session can lower blood pressure and stress levels.