GFL = Green for Life. It also means communicating safety consciousness.

AuditSoft, the leading Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) auditing software, has been selected to provide auditing and data analytics solutions to the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program offered by SafetyDriven – Trucking Safety Council of BC.

The partnership with SafetyDriven, which is based in Langley, British Columbia, means AuditSoft now supports the trucking industry in all of Canada’s Western provinces. It follows a number of new partnership announcements from AuditSoft, which continues to grow and disrupt the COR auditing industry with user-friendly solutions that standardize auditing and drive business intelligence.

“Demand for COR continues to grow, and forward-thinking associations are searching for ways to make the COR auditing process more efficient and effective,” said Ben Snyman, Cofounder and CEO of AuditSoft. “AuditSoft is proven to reduce COR auditing time by up to 50% whilst unlocking a wealth of OHS information. SafetyDriven will be deploying the AuditSoft suite of software to streamline their auditing and quality assurance process, and we’re thrilled to be supporting their COR program.”

As the administrator of WorkSafeBC’s COR program for the transportation and warehousing sectors, SafetyDriven provides guidance to employers and owner/operators on how to obtain their Certificate of Recognition by creating an efficient operation that is committed to workplace safety and effective injury management. Companies who achieve COR are eligible for a 10 percent rebate on the previous year’s WorkSafeBC premiums.

“SafetyDriven is committed to the elimination of workplace injuries and fatalities across BC’s trucking and supply chain industries through the delivery of COR. AuditSoft will add value to the COR auditing process, and our clients will benefit greatly from its auditing and data analytics solutions,” said Earl Galavan, COR Manager at SafetyDriven.

Learn more about AuditSoft for COR.

About AuditSoft

AuditSoft is the leading OHS auditing software. Associations and Certifying Bodies partner with AuditSoft to supply their members with cutting-edge auditing tools and unlock valuable audit insights. Each year, AuditSoft is used to conduct thousands of audits in high-risk industries across Canada. Find more information on AuditSoft at www.auditsoft.co

Safety is vital in an environment that involves huge vehicles and large-scale operations. At Copper Mountain Mining Corporation, the safety value says it all: “Every day, every shift, everyone goes home safe.”

Mining has been important to BC’s economy since the Oregon Treaty of 1846. Mining at Copper Mountain (formerly Allenby Mountain) began soon after, with underground mining from 1923 until 1957. After intermittent operations under different companies, the mine closed in 1996.

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation acquired the mine in 2006 and after developing new infrastructure, began production in 2011. The Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton in southern BC is the company’s flagship. The company recently announced, based on current mineral reserves, that the mine’s life has been extended by 32 years.

The company puts safety at the forefront. Health and Safety Manager Jeff  Zmurchyk led the company’s safety program to COR accreditation in 2021. He became passionate and learned about occupational health and safety in an indirect but relevant way. He learned about injuries playing and coaching Junior hockey, about emergency response as a firefighter, and about preventing injuries through nine years in health and safety in the mining industry.

Zmurchyk joined Copper Mountain in 2020. The company was adopting fresh perspectives and implementing new processes fundamental to improving safety, including the visible felt leadership approach that sees management commit to being in the field with workers. There is no “us and them”; managers spend time with their teams, learning what they do, how they stay safe, and ensuring they have the right tools.

Big Trucks and Other Stuff

About 500 personnel work at the Copper Mountain site. Equipment includes: a mechanical loader that was once the largest in the world, 4 hydraulic shovels, 5 rotary drills, 28 220-tonne haulage trucks that weigh 1 million pounds (454 tons) fully loaded, and a fleet of support equipment—bulldozers, front-end loaders, trucks, cranes. It’s easy to imagine the safety hazards involved. An operation that uses huge machines and blasts rock needs to focus on safety without making any compromises, and Copper Mountain does that.

Safety First

The company’s health and safety practice includes a culture of empowerment. From the top down, everyone sees safety as part of the workday. Open two-way communication is among Copper Mountain’s values. The communication strategy includes messages sent out with payroll or to cell phones and e-blasts with health and safety advisories. It also includes safety bulletins, toolbox talks, and monthly safety meetings for each of the 20 crews. Zmurchyk attends every meeting to hear from workers.

The company gives each individual incentives and targets for quarters with no lost time injuries (LTI). Although their safety record is stellar, Copper Mountain is always looking for more ways to improve and incentivize safety. The company uses the total injury frequency (TIF) rate to measure their safety success. A TIF rate is the number of LTI, recordable and non-recordable medical aids, and first aids per 200,000 hours worked. The TIF rate at the Copper Mountain Mine in 2021 was 17.

A particularly important part of the company’s safety protocol is emergency preparedness. Emergency response is handled on-site on the sprawling 6,200-hectare mine. Mine rescue team members are part of each crew so they are able to launch a coordinated response anywhere on the mine site. Rescue teams are responsible for all types of rescues—fire, rope, water—and regularly take part in mine rescue and first aid competitions. Zmurchyk notes that the team embraces safety and the mine “has people lined up to participate” in the competitions.

Toward Sustainable Mining

Copper Mountain is justifiably proud of its safety practice as well as its sustainable mining efforts, which are on track to become net zero by 2035. In 2021, it earned an AA rating under the Mining Association of Canada’s Toward Sustainable Mining standards, exceeding its goal of an A rating. Another sustainability priority is the company’s commitment to land reclamation, with a target to restore 25 hectares per year for the next 10 years. In 2021, the company planted 4,800 trees and 11,700 shrubs in the Wolf Creek Realignment area. One year after reclamation began, wildlife is returning to the area.

Of particular interest in mining sustainability is Copper Mountain’s innovative Trolly Assist system, which helps haulage trucks up a 1-km ramp using BC Hydro electricity. The trucks have pantographs—framework much like the equipment that provides current to streetcars from overhead wires. Hydro-electricity is a cleaner source of power than diesel and reduces the amount of diesel used to ascend the ramp from 35 litres to 1. And the trolley trucks make the climb twice as fast as diesel-only trucks.

Copper Mountain’s attention to safety and commitment to sustainability are as big as their giant trucks!

Safety is an organic process at Coastal Transportation & Storage Ltd., developed within a family environment through mutual respect and genuine caring for employees and clients.

Craig Skene, company president, comes from a family of business owners, so it’s in his DNA to start his own company. After several years in the transportation industry, he had the opportunity to buy the refrigerated side of Comox Moving & Storage and jumped in with both feet in 2008.

In 2012, Skene brought Cole Logan into the company as the operations manager; they had met as volunteer firefighters, so a safety culture was already a familiar part of their work ethic. It was Logan who devised the company’s motto: Getting there when others can’t. CTS goes to the smaller communities and along the difficult routes where many providers won’t deliver. They have developed a stellar reputation for safety, prompt service, and client satisfaction.

Coastal Transportation & Storage (CTS) is based in Comox Valley where they operate a 10,000 sq ft warehouse that includes a 3,000 sq ft freezer, 5,000 sq ft cooler, and a 2,500 sq ft ambient tempered section. It provides LTL (less than truckload) and TL (truckload) delivery service, as well as insulated container rentals, on Vancouver Island and the Northern Gulf Islands, including Powell River. They also serve some areas of the mainland, where they work with third-party distributors.

Skene began CTS with five employees; today there are 34. They operate 42 pieces of equipment including 24 power units and 18 trailers, among them HIAB trucks. Cross docking gives them flexibility in supporting clients, allowing them to deliver a large load to a central storage location where clients can access their goods for convenient transport to their business locations.

By 2019, the company had grown and qualified as a large employer. They hired full-time administration staff and began working toward COR certification, which they attained in 2021. Even before they began working toward COR, safety was at the forefront of CTS operations.

At CTS, safety is not a process or program; it is a value. Skene observes that it ensures everyone goes home to their families at the end of the day. And CTS has a reputation for being a family-oriented company where concern for team members is the order of the day. The safety manager and staff are always on the lookout for opportunities to improve safety, such as adding more lights to the yard or ensuring everyone is aware of slip/fall hazards in the freezer and cooler.

There is active safety management on the floor to ensure situations don’t become hazards. Skene maintains an open-door policy with the team—anyone can bring a safety concern or any matter to him. They communicate safety with the team through occupational health and safety (OHS) meetings and a regular company-wide email called the Blurb. Team members are reminded of the importance of safety and of OHS policies and procedures, especially the importance of reporting issues. The safety manager ensures every new hire gets an orientation that includes safety matters, such as using a safety jack properly. There may be new initiatives in the future to incentivize safety practice, but their current approach works well.

As Logan says, “actions speak louder than words.” The goal is always to keep each other safe; it pays off in a safe shop, a happy team, and a good reputation among clients. In fact, Logan notes that, when they commissioned an in-house survey of employee satisfaction, the examiner commented that he’d never seen such a high rating. Embracing the family model makes CTS a good place to work and ensures accident-free days.

The culture of caring pervades CTS from their safety practice to philanthropy. They support many local charities, including YANA (You are Not Alone), which helps families who need to travel to access medical treatment; youth groups; hospital charities; volunteer fire fighters; and a range of fund-raisers.

SafetyDriven Announces 2021 COR Industry Award Winners

SafetyDriven- Trucking Safety Council of BC (TSCBC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the Certificate of Recognition Achievement of Excellence award for 2021.

The Health and Safety Certificate of Recognition (COR) recognizes and rewards employers who implement and maintain an occupational health and safety management system that meets or exceeds the requirements for COR certification. By providing best practices for an efficient operation, COR enables companies to minimize risk to their operations and financial viability.

Companies who achieve COR- which involves standards for documentation, participation in training, an internal review process, and an on-site audit- are eligible for a 10 percent rebate on the previous year’s WorkSafeBC premiums.

SafetyDriven is a certifying partner for the transportation and warehousing sectors on behalf of WorkSafeBC, the body that issues the certification. The program is voluntary and all employers in BC are eligible to participate through their aligned certifying partner. Employers who are interested in the COR program are encouraged to enquire with WorkSafeBC or SafetyDriven regarding their eligibility.

“This year’s winners have achieved a significant level of excellence through their safety standards,” said Earl Galavan, SafetyDriven’s COR Manager. “They’ve not only met COR requirements but have also raised the bar even higher when it comes to implementing a safety program that keeps employees safe.

“These companies have embraced continuous improvement in their Safety Management System which requires much effort and dedication, and for that SafetyDriven is honoured to present them with this award.”

COR Achievement of Excellence recipients for 2021 are:

• AFD Petroleum
• Ball & Son Trucking Ltd.
• Coastal Transportation and Storage Ltd.
• ColdFront
• Copper Mountain Mining Corporation
• EV Logistics
• Hollywood Trucking Ltd.
• Transnet Carrier Ltd.

Coastal Transportation and Storage Ltd. is also presented with the Best Overall Large Employer COR Award for 2021.

Congratulations to all of the winners! Learn more about SafetyDriven’s COR Program here. For more information on each of the winners, continue reading below.

AFD Petroleum

Established in 1989, AFD Petroleum is an independent supplier of bulk fuel, lubricants, and on-site tank storage systems to companies across western Canada and Alaska. They offer efficient, state-of-the-art delivery systems, on-site fuel and oil tank storage systems, accurate online satellite tank level monitoring, a well-equipped project management team, and more. Their reputation for working with clients to understand and overcome the unique challenges they face is well earned and well deserved. Meeting the challenge of acquiring COR was a logical next step in their growth.

Ball & Son Trucking Ltd.

This local-family owned company has been in business for 5 years. They highly value the safety and wellness of their employees, and through hard work and diligence acquired COR.

Coastal Transportation and Storage Ltd.

Coastal Transportation & Storage provides LTL and TL delivery service on Vancouver Island. They pride themselves on customer service and ‘getting there when others can’t’.  Coastal Transportation and Storage specializes in serving not only the North Island but also their community through multiple sponsorships and charitable donations.  Developing a program to meet COR was a challenge they gladly accepted.

ColdFront

For over 50 years ColdFront has been British Columbia’s dealer providing temperature control equipment, parts and service to the transportation industry.  They have grown into sales, service, and repair of Carrier, Transicold, and Webasto equipment for trucks, trailers, and railcars.  Acquiring COR was just the next step in ColdFront’s quest for excellence.

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation

Copper Mountain Mine is located near Princeton produces over 100 million pounds of copper equivalent per year.  Copper Mountain Mining Corporation invests in the local communities with most of their workforce hired locally. They also offer several successful training and development programs, including 13 apprenticeship programs supporting various disciplines. Understanding the power of a knowledgeable and engaged workforce made acquiring COR an obvious choice.

EV Logistics

EV Logistics is one of the largest logistics employers in the Fraser Valley with over 650 employees.  Distributing fresh, frozen, and ambient temperature grocery products to retail stores across Western Canada from two distinct distribution centers is a challenge.  EV Logistics meets that challenge by being dedicated to delivering a safe and healthy work environment.  They are tremendously proud of their team’s commitment to safety excellence which resulted in achieving their COR.

Hollywood Trucking Ltd.

Hollywood Trucking Ltd. provides heavy haul and transportation services within BC. With two trucks, a pilot truck, a 60-ton lowbed and even a CAT excavator, they are prepared to be your go to service provider. Striving to provide safe and reliable service to their customers meant that getting COR was a natural for them.

Transnet Carrier Ltd.

Transnet Carrier provides freight, courier, flatbed, and Hiab crane services from Whistler to Hope, including Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.  With a focus on serving their customers to the best of their abilities, it is no wonder that getting COR was part of their growth.

$3.5 million in rebates available for approved fuel-saving devices

On August 12, 2022, the BC Trucking Association (BCTA) announced they will be accepting rebate applications for Year-four of the highly successful CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency (HDVE) Program.

For the fourth year in a row, BCTA has partnered with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to administer the CleanBC HDVE Program– an incentive program that provides carriers with fuel management strategies and rebates of up to $15,000 per vehicle and $100,000 per fleet for approved fuel-efficiency devices.

As part of the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, the CleanBC HDVE Program is a key element of the Government of B.C.’s work to accelerate climate action and get the province on track to a net-zero economy through low carbon industry and negative emissions technologies. Medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles are responsible for approximately half of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from B.C.’s road transportation sector. However, by providing carriers with fuel management strategies and incentives of up to 50% for approved fuel-efficiency devices, participation in the program can currently reduce fuel consumption and associated GHG emissions by up to 35%. As zero-emission commercial vehicles are in the emerging state of availability, encouraging the use of fuel-saving technology that is available today is vital to getting a jump on emission reduction. To demonstrate their commitment to the fight against climate change, the provincial government is providing $3.5 million to Year-four of the Program, more than double the rebates offered previously.

Since its inception in 2019, BCTA estimates the impact of the CleanBC HDVE Program to have removed 39.4 million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions each year– the equivalent of over 8,800 passenger vehicles across North America– and that number continues to climb.

Year-four of the CleanBC HDVE Program will run until August 31, 2023, or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.

CleanBC HDVE Program Key Features

• The newly revamped and condensed CleanBC HDVE Program Course teaches participants the importance on why truck and motor coach fleets of any size should have a fuel management program that focuses on driver training, benchmarking, adoption of fuel-saving equipment, and fleet turnover, including consideration of alternative fuel options. Course registration is free.
• Rebates of up to $15,000 per vehicle and up to $100,000 per fleet for purchase and installation of approved fuel-saving equipment and technology are available.  See the full list of approved equipment and rebates here.
• Funding is allocated equitably among successful applicants by region and carrier type and size.

Priority funding allocation for Year-four will be given to new applicants. Applications will be accepted from new applicants beginning August 12, 2022, and from all applicants beginning September 15, 2022.

BCTA is working in collaboration with Indigenous businesses and communities to encourage program participation and achieve stronger representation of Indigenous talent in the commercial vehicle sector.

For more details about the program, please see the CleanBC HDVE Program Guide.

Eligibility

To be eligible for program rebates, BCTA membership is not required. Companies must meet the eligibility criteria that are available in the CleanBC HDVE Program Guide, including:

• Must have one or more heavy-duty commercial vehicles in their fleet with a gross vehicle weight greater than 11,794 kilograms.
• Vehicle must be licensed and insured to operate in B.C.
• Must conduct business in the province with a terminal located in B.C.

All applicants must first successfully complete the free pre-requisite Year-four CleanBC HDVE Program Course before submitting their application. The newly revamped and condensed course, which is offered by webinar and in-person, teaches participants the benefits of having a fuel management program, and how to incorporate measures to improve fuel economy with an emphasis on B.C. specific data. The course also demonstrates how to develop a baseline of fuel consumption and track progress as part of the company’s program. Registration for the CleanBC HDVE Program Course is now open.

How to Apply

The application process for the HDVE Program is broken down into three stages:

• Stage 1: August 12, 2022- Registration is now open for the pre-requisite CleanBC HDVE Program Course. Applications open for new applicants.
• Stage 2: September 15, 2022- Applications open for all applicants based on provincial region.
• Stage 3: November 1, 2022- Unallocated funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis regardless of region.

Program Course registration information and application details can be found on the BCTA website.

More information

To learn more about CleanBC, please visit cleanbc.gov.bc.ca.

For more information on the CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency Program, visit BCTrucking.com.