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The Construction Safety Association of BC Ð Update on Industry Safety

In 2005 the first courses in the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program were launched in various regions throughout the province. The Construction Safety Association of BCÕs Board members were confident then that the new safety program would be a success and it has been!

To date, over 8,000 construction industry workers, supervisors, and owners/managers have taken courses in the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program. ÒWhile approximately 140 companies to the end of 2006 were COR certified, the number of employees taking training indicates that these companies are dedicated to improving safety culture in the workplace,Ó says CSABC Executive Director, Cathy Lange.

Chevron Canada's Burnaby Refinery is also serious about improving safety culture, so serious that the company now recognizes and gives higher ranking to contracting companies who have earned a Certificate of Recognition from training organizations such as CSABC.

According to Refinery Manager Andy Waltz, "We think the COR program can be very beneficial because it provides effective, accessible, and practical training for everyone on a job site. WeÕre particularly impressed with the worker programs which seems to be just what the construction industry needs right now, given the trade shortage."

"While the construction industry has seen a decline in injury rates and durations over the past couple of years, site safety could be compromised as contractors Ð under pressure to meet deadlines as a result of the current trade shortage, hire increasing numbers of inexperienced workers, many of whom may not have even a basic awareness of job site hazards. Because of this, the COR program and CSABCÕs safety training should be considered by all construction companies", reports Lange.

Lange is excited to report a number of improvements in 2007 to COR training, including:
- Revisions to the owners course which was updated to include new/young worker legislation and prime contractor responsibilities.
- The addition of more venues to offer Construction Safety Training System (worker training). Twenty additional venues were added in 2007 bringing the total to 70 providers in the province including construction associations, high schools, trade schools, and St. John Ambulance.
- Introduction of a national audit standard for all provinces offering a certificate or recognition program. The new document and two-day auditor training course were launched around the province this spring.

In 2008 CSABC is adding to its stable of courses and will be offering a Low/moderate Risk Traffic Control Fundamentals course in partnership with the BC Safety Council. In addition, CSABC will be giving their seal of approval on two providers of fall protection training.

WorkSafeBC classifies falls in their top 3 types of accidents to occur on a construction site. "Consistent fall protection training, to a recognized standard, is critical for the industry and a top priority for CSABC in 2008", says Lange.

In order to better serve the industry, CSABC has opened an office in Burnaby and appointed Cathy Lange as Executive Director. Grant McMillan has stepped down as Chair of CSABC and will be replaced by Wayne Fettback, Western Pacific Enterprises GP, with Don McNiven, Kirkmichael Ent. Ltd. as Vice Chair.

Past Chair Grant McMillan said that "The CSABC has a great Board of Directors and I am very pleased to see Wayne and Don coming in as Chair and Vice Chair. ÊThey are leaders in the industry Ñ and they lead by example with their own companies. ÊThe appointment of Cathy Lange as Executive Director is great news for our industry. ÊShe has done excellent work on behalf of contractors, supervisors and workers and I know that CSABC will continue to provide great service with her commitment to workplace safety."

For more information about the Certificate of Recognition (COR) Program and how your company might qualify for a rebate on your WorkSafeBC base assessment, contact CSABC at 604.434.3222 or visit the website at www.csab.ca SMJ

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