The Construction Record Podcast – Episode 314: BCCSA’s Health and Safety Conference

The Construction Record™ Podcast

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, we have interviews from the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance’s 2023 Health and Safety Conference, including BCCSA president Mike McKenna and safety expert Michael Fears.

McKenna gave an overview of both conference content and the importance of being able to network with one’s peers and spoke to the importance of mental health work being done throughout the industry. He also pointed to Jan 1., 2024 as a significant date for construction as both asbestos certification and concrete pump operation certification regulations come into effect.

He also said while the industry is booming, a growing labour shortages will continue to be a challenge along with insuring the work environment is conducive to worker retention.

Fears explained that the current system of safety rewards can actually be counter-productive as workers can hide injuries or errors and that the “external awards” approach leads to separating safety from the core of an organizational mission. He also encouraged companies to create safety rewards tailored to individuals and to not bring attention to safety initiatives but remain consistent in positively reinforcing positive employee safety behaviour.

We also have a summary of the latest headlines on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce including staff writer Angela Gismondi’s story about how offsite construction is a needed tool in addressing the housing crisis, WSIB’s extension of its Health and Safety Excellence program to the end of 2024, and the announcement by the B.C. government that three teams have been chosen to move forward to the Request For Proposals stage for the Massey Tunnel replacement project which will create an immersed eight-lane tube tunnel to replace the current aging infrastructure.

You can listen to The Construction Record on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music’s podcast section. Our previous interview with VRCA president Jeannine Martin about the 2023 Awards of Excellence is here. Thanks for listening.

DCN-JOC News Services

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WSIB double rebates for smaller businesses extended

Massey Tunnel replacement procurement process moves forward

First of two tunnel-boring machines breaks ground at future Oak-VGH Station

Winners revealed: Who took home a VRCA 2023 Gold Award of Excellence

Michael Fears

Energy Safety Canada