Registration Open for Second Round of CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency Program that Helps Reduce Operating Costs

Langley, British Columbia— The BC Trucking Association (BCTA), in partnership with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, announces the second offering of the CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency (HDVE) Program.

The Province of British Columbia has committed $1.4 million to a second year of the program that features a course for fleets on fuel management and incentives for the purchase and installation of approved fuel-efficiency devices. For 2020, BCTA will be delivering the CleanBC HDVE Program Course in selected communities and via webinar for trucking companies across British Columbia, with an expanded list of approved devices.

“Our government is pleased to continue supporting the CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency Program in partnership with the BC Trucking Association,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “This program is designed to teach participants how to develop a fuel management program that will reduce operating costs associated with fuel. I encourage people in this sector to sign up for this opportunity that will help save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We’re grateful for continued support and commitment from the Province for the CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency Program, which provides vital funding to assist BC companies in greening their fleets,” says Dave Earle, BCTA president and CEO. “Through the CleanBC HDVE Program, we can collectively do our part in the fight against climate change and, at the same time, implement improvements that put us among the greenest fleets in North America.”

The goal of the CleanBC HDVE Program is to assist BC-based fleets to invest in equipment and best practices for reducing fuel usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Companies that successfully complete the pre-requisite course and meet all eligibility requirements may apply for rebates of 30 to 50 percent on verified devices and equipment.

BCTA launched the first CleanBC HDVE Program in October 2019, scheduling courses in Langley, Kamloops, and Prince George. This offering saw participants from 117 companies across BC, operating 15,839 heavy-duty vehicles in total. Thirty-seven companies out of 42 applicants successfully obtained funding for fuel-saving equipment such as wide-based tires, aerodynamic devices and auxiliary power units (APUs, for in-cab power services) as well as fuel-efficiency training for drivers. Altogether, BCTA estimates these companies have reduced their emissions by approximately 13.9 million kilograms of CO2, equivalent to removing about 2,934 passenger cars from BC roads.

“Thanks to the CleanBC HDVE Program, we were able to outfit our tractors with clean, electric APUs that have cut idling emissions from our trucks in half,” says Pardeep Arora, director, Triple Eight Transportation Inc. “We’re pleased we’ve reduced our fuel usage and costs while still keeping our drivers comfortable in their vehicles.”

To be eligible to participate, companies must have one or more heavy-duty commercial vehicles in their fleet (a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 11,794 kg) that is licensed and insured to operate in British Columbia, conducts business in British Columbia, and has a terminal located in British Columbia.

The free, pre-requisite CleanBC HDVE Program Course teaches participants how to develop a Fuel Management Program for any size fleet, incorporating measures to improve fuel economy based on what will work best for each operation. It will also show how to develop a baseline of fuel consumption and track progress as part of the company’s program.

Locations for the CleanBC HDVE Program Course include the Kootenays, Vancouver Island and Langley, as well as through on-line webinars. In response to input from previous participants, we’ve condensed the content for delivery over four hours and will offer sessions on Saturdays, so that operations with fewer staff can attend without affecting their work week.

Registration opens September 17, 2020, for sessions scheduled on October 1 in Langley (BCTA training room) and on September 29, October 13 and October 29 by webinar, with dates for other locations to come. Sessions take place from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, except for the October 13 webinar, which is offered in the afternoon, 12:30 to 4:30 pm. Full details and registration forms will be available on the BCTA training calendar on bctrucking.com.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants are eligible to apply for CleanBC HDVE Program Incentives, featuring rebates on the purchase and installation of qualifying fuel-saving equipment. For the second round of the program, we’ve increased the Incentive amount to $15,000 per vehicle, up from $10,000, leaving the maximum amount per fleet at $100,000. As well, the HDVE Program now allows additional time for successful participants to meet installation requirements: 65 days for retrofits (from 45 days) and 120 days for new equipment (from 90 days).

Applications for Incentives open January 25, 2021, and close February 5, 2021.

Interested fleets are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. As with the first round, BCTA will be ensuring that funding is allocated equitably among successful applicants by region. Although BCTA is a member-based organization, there is no requirement to belong to the association to participate in the CleanBC HDVE Program.

This is the second of three potential program offerings for which the Province of British Columbia has committed $1.4 million annually.

For more information on CleanBC, please visit https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/.

For the expanded list of qualifying equipment eligible for HDVE Program Incentives and the rebates available for each in the second program offering, see:

CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency Program Year 2 BACKGROUNDER

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And the winner is…!

Driver Appreciation Week

General trucking and moving and storage companies have a powerful partner in safety with SafetyDriven.

SafetyDriven’s Driver Appreciation Week 2020 was a big success! We were overwhelmed by the response to our call for nominations of drivers who go the extra mile to operate safely. Besides being good at what they do, drivers had to operate in BC and be in good standing with WorkSafeBC to be nominated. We received nominations from drivers’ managers, supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family. Seven winners were chosen at random. Get to know them on our feature page!

SafetyDriven – TSCBC initiated Driver Appreciation Week to celebrate and recognize the important contributions made by the men and women of the trucking industry, the unsung heroes of our business. With COVID precluding the planned carnivals and barbecues events, this year we chose to celebrate online!

We’re celebrating the trucking industry all year long—we want everyone to know about companies and individual drivers who demonstrate safe practices, show continual improvement, and make safety fun. If you missed the submission deadline this year, don’t worry— Driver Appreciation Week is an annual event and you can nominate a driver at any time, all year, right here.

We send a big thank you to everyone who participated! Thank you also to all the drivers who were nominated for their excellence in safety and the people who nominated them. We look forward to continuing to celebrate safety and recognize those who take their safety practice above and beyond. Although we could only choose seven nominees, in our books everyone with good safety practices is a winner!

Remember to check out our safety topics and resources to help you operate safely.

You can depend on SafetyDriven for all your safety needs.


NOMINEES AND WINNERS

Quality Move Management

Winner Steve Maidment. Nominated by Christina Welsh.

Steve joined QMM in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was able to get “moving” right away and very soon become one of QMM’s most dependable drivers. QMM notes that they have received numerous positive remarks from their customers; they appreciate the hard work, dedication and safety consciousness he brings to the job on behalf of QMM.

WinnerGord Burnett. Nominated by Christina Welsh.

Gord Burnett is as hardworking as they come, and he is committed to providing nothing but an outstanding experience to QMM’s customers. He has been with QMM for 10 years and is one of their most reliable and dedicated drivers. Gord has continued working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, assisting customers in both Canada and the US with careful attention to safety protocols. Despite the difficulty of this unusual time, he has also taken on personal challenges in learning a new technology platform to minimize the amount of paperwork and waste within the shipping industry.

WinnerCurtis Rennie. Nominated by Christina Welsh.

Curtis Rennie has been with QMM for 24 years, and he is the only Owner Operator who also owns his trailer. As kind and hardworking as they come, Curtis has been known to pack shipments entirely on his own, and was voted QMM’s 2014 Owner Operator of the Year. He has continued to work tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, assisting customers in Canada and the US and paying careful attention to all safety protocols while ensuring the best customer service in all his shipments.

Murray Turpin. Nominated by Christina Welsh.

Jeff Campbell. Nominated by Christina Welsh.

Clayton Burnett. Nominated by Christina Welsh.

Doug Nelson. Nominated by Christina Welsh.

Phoenix Truck & Crane

Chandanpreet WinnerChandanpreet (Chandan) Bhambi. Nominated by Blake.

Chandan has been with Phoenix Truck & Crane for only a little over a year, but his hard work, professionalism and dedication to the company and their safety standards are making him one of their most reliable drivers!

Rodney Dylan.  Nominated by Teresa.

Curtis (Curt) Hellyer. Nominated by Randi Bodnar.

Bogdan Tarekanov. Nominated by Rob Farrell.

Glen Transport

Kurkel CameronWinnerKurkel Cameron. Nominated by Jay Howard.

Kurkel Cameron has been with Glen Transport since December 2013. He is originally from Kingston, Jamaica, and came to Canada to build a better life for his family, whom he relocated to Canada after becoming a permanent resident. Kurkel is dedicated and proud to be a commercial driver and always follows the company’s safety protocols. He is always positive and an incredible example to his peers. The team at Glent is extremely proud of his accomplishments and proud to call him friend.

Colton Stishenko. Nominated by Tara.

Euroasia

WinnerRaghbir Singh. Nominated by Garry Ugra.

Raghbir has all the qualities of a good driver who follows all safe driving procedures. He is conscientious in dealing with customers and colleagues. He makes sure incidents are reported within the approved timeframe and is always eager to learn new things, to know how he can be a better driver, to understand practices that will prevent accidents or collisions. Raghbir maintains all his paperwork properly and submits it on time.

Supreme Trucking

Ladher Nonihal.  Nominated by Guninder Sarao.

KTL Transport

Baghwant Sangha. Nominated by Suraj Suman.

F&G Delivery

Peter KandolaWinnerPeter Kandola. Nominated by John Kandola, David Law, Robert Lowey, and Randy.

Peter has worked for F&G for the past 32 years. His dedication, commitment to the industry professionalism and safety consciousness are exemplary. The Safety and Compliance Manager at F&G, who has have served with Peter on the F&G Safety Committee (FGSC) for the past two years, notes that Peter’s experience, insight, and example have been priceless in helping shape F&G’s safety culture. All of their efforts paid off last year when F&G received their COR certification. Peter continues to be a great help in creating, communicating, and promoting safety policies and procedures, and will continue to be a help for many years to come. One of Peter’s nominators commented that he can back a 53-foot trailer around a corner in one shot. They don’t make truckers like him anymore! From F&G—thank you, Peter!

Cascades Recovery

Stephen Payne. Nominated by Trish Rossum.

Kool Pak Canada ULC

Kulwinder Sekhon. Nominated by Kavita Kohli.

Nortrans

Neville Morrissette. Nominated by Mike Bissell.

 

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Speeding tops violations during Safe Driver Week

GREENBELT, Md. – Speeding accounted for about half of the infractions recorded during Operation Safe Driver Week from July 12-18, as enforcement teams across North America applied a special focus on unsafe driving behaviors.

About 66,400 drivers were found engaging in unsafe behaviors overall, leading to just over 71,300 warnings and citations.

The event marked the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) first enforcement initiative of the year, as other campaigns were postponed or canceled. Brake Safety Week initiatives ran from Aug. 23-29, while the annual Roadcheck blitz moved to Sept. 9-11.

Operation Safe Driver Week itself involved 3,681 enforcement officers from 55 Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions, interacting with 29,921 commercial motor vehicle drivers and 36,500 passenger vehicle drivers.

The commercial drivers were issued 4,659 citations and 6,077 warnings. Among those, speed accounted for 2,339 citations and 3,432 warnings. Passenger vehicle drivers received 17,329 citations and 14,792 warnings, with 14,378 of the citations and 11,456 warnings associated with speed.

The top five citations issued to commercial drivers included:

    1. 1. Speeding/violation of basic speed law/driving too fast for conditions – 2,339

2. Failure to use seat belt while operating commercial motor vehicle – 1,003

3. Failure to obey traffic control device – 617

4. Using a handheld phone/texting – 269

5. Improper lane change – 122

During Operation Safe Driver Week in 2019, the top five citations issued to commercial drivers included:

    1. 1. Speeding/violation of basic speed law/driving too fast for conditions – 1,454

2. Failure to use seat belt while operating commercial motor vehicle – 954

3. Failure to obey traffic control device – 426

4. Using a handheld phone/texting – 249

5. Improper lane change – 92

While failing to use seat belts is one of the top cited issues, the situation is improving. The overall use of seat belts for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses is at a record high of 86%, CVSA reports. But in 2017, 13% of large truck occupants involved in fatal crashes were not wearing a safety belt. Forty-five percent of them were killed in the crash.

The number of people using a hand-held mobile device is still troubling, though. U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) research finds that commercial drivers are six times more likely to be involved in a safety-critical event like a crash, near crash, or unintentional lane deviation when dialing a mobile phone.

“Although CVSA is a commercial motor vehicle safety organization, it was important that passenger vehicle drivers were also involved in this annual week-long driver safety enforcement initiative,” said CVSA president John Samis, a sergeant with Delaware State Police. “When commercial motor vehicles and passenger vehicles collide, no matter who was at fault, the results can be catastrophic, especially for the smaller and lighter passenger vehicle. Preventing crashes from happening requires every driver – commercial and personal – to be aware of how to safely share the road with other types of vehicles.”

Source: Trucknews

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​ICBC Urges Caution Over Last Long Weekend of Summer

If you’ll be travelling over Labour Day long weekend, ICBC is asking you to share the road and do your part to drive safely.

September Long weekend

Every Labour Day long weekend, approximately four people die and 600 people are injured in 2,100 crashes throughout the province.*

The key to sharing the road safely is staying focused on driving and looking out for road users around you. Avoid distractions which will take your eyes off the road and your mind off driving. Police across B.C. are cracking down on distracted drivers as part of this month’s enforcement and education campaign.

Top 4 tips:
1. If you find it difficult to take a break from your phone while driving, turn it to silent and keep it out of reach and out of sight. You can help keep your family and friends safe by not texting, calling or answering if you know they’re behind the wheel.

2. Allow at least two seconds of following distance between vehicles in good road conditions, and at least three seconds on high-speed roads. Increase your distance when you’re following a large vehicle such as an RV (it can block your vision) or a motorcycle (it can stop quicker than a car).

3. With trucks and RVs, keep clear of their blind spots. When following, you should be able to see both mirrors of the RV or truck in front of you. If you’re behind a slow moving RV or truck climbing up a hill, leave extra space and be patient as they’re probably trying their best to keep up with the flow of traffic.

4. Check road conditions at DriveBC.ca before you leave. Be realistic about travel times and accept delays that may arise. Don’t rush to make up time – slow down to reduce your risk of crashing and arrive at your destination safely. You also save fuel by driving at a steady speed.

Regional statistics over Labour Day weekend:

  • On Vancouver Island, on average, 72 people are injured in 310 crashes every year.

  • In the Southern Interior, on average, 70 people are injured in 320 crashes every year.

  • In the North Central region, on average, 20 people are injured in 110 crashes every year.

  • In the Lower Mainland, on average, 440 people are injured in 1,300 crashes every year.

Source: ICBC


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National Trucking Week 2020: Considering the Essentials

 

Dave-Earle

By Dave Earle, President & CEO of BC Trucking Association

As we approach six months into a global pandemic, “essential” has taken on a different meaning. While economies shut down in an attempt to keep the coronavirus at bay and our healthcare systems functioning, we all had to grapple with two questions. Could we operate virtually?  And if not, was our service essential to daily life?

The British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA) was lucky to be able to answer “Yes” to the first question. More importantly, our members could answer “Yes” to the second. Throughout the pandemic, trucking companies and professional truck drivers in particular have reliably provided an essential service that helped the rest of us survive. But they didn’t do this in a vacuum. Many players helped out. For National Trucking Week this year, September 6 to 12, it seems right to acknowledge the community of effort that went into supporting our industry and its work.

We all had to pivot. We worked with federal and provincial governments and health authorities to establish protocols and exemptions to allow food and supplies to flow safely across the country and the border. Trucking companies learned to follow new health protocols, source and distribute masks, gloves and sanitizer to their drivers and staff, and figure out how to keep trucks on the road given changing demand and types of cargo for transport. They couldn’t just shut down.

Professional drivers felt the profound impact of these changes and uncertainty. Though truck drivers are already isolated in their vehicles while on the road, like other front-

line workers they could not maintain an immediate-family-only bubble. They not only had to think about their own exposure, but also the possibility of carrying the virus back to their loved ones. They couldn’t stay in controlled workplaces. They relied on protocols to work in unfamiliar, uncertain environments.

And, all of us—worrying about potential quarantines, stocking our shelves, embracing online shopping— became hyperaware that we couldn’t function without truck drivers.

As other businesses struggled with the shutdown, truck drivers lost access to many of the services that would have helped them: restaurants, card lock stores, washrooms and some rest areas became off limits or, like drive-thru-only food services, impossible to use.

No one anticipated the breadth of these challenges, and they inspired an unprecedented response. Restaurants, including small businesses in BC communities like Greenwood, Christina Lake and Midway, figured out how to serve truck drivers. A group of concerned business owners in Kamloops created a meal solution for drivers. Deploying food trucks at card lock locations throughout BC, with alerts for drivers via Facebook and a dedicated website, Meals for Truckers. From April to August, food trucks in Kamloops, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Chilliwack and, initially, Prince George served up meals and snacks. BCTA members, individuals, organizations and businesses voluntarily sponsored $70,000 in free meals for truck drivers at these locations.

Our provincial government also reacted, arranging for mobile washrooms at inspection stations and food trucks at BC rest areas serving commercial vehicles. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority set up washrooms for drivers hauling marine containers. Hotels launched special “truck driver” rates, including for short stays, enough time for a nap and shower. Communities like Valemount and Revelstoke contacted BCTA to share lists of local services catering to truck drivers.

This was happening not just in BC but across Canada and North America, as people posted “Thank you” signs in their windows, handed out sandwiches and sanitizer, stood applauding passing rigs at roadsides and fences. Use of the #ThankATrucker hashtag on social media, promoted by both the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations, is one indicator of the level of appreciation and encouragement.

The response of individuals, businesses and communities was heartwarming, welcome and essential. Without this support, the often invisible supply chain we all rely on would have crumbled.

COVID-19 is far from beaten. But our industry and other essential service providers are still going strong. Happy National Trucking Week to the industry, and, on behalf of BCTA’s members, thank you to all the players in our widespread and generous community for your understanding and support.

– 30 –


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Alchemist Specialty Carriers: Communication is Key

Where safety builds success

Alchemist Specialty Carriers is a growing concern. It began as a roll-off bin company handling hazardous waste disposal; in 2014, the company changed ownership and direction to concentrate on transporting dangerous goods and hazardous materials throughout Canada and the US. Today, it has nearly 50 drivers and support staff and in April 2020, added 10 shiny new Kenworth T880s to its fleet, beefed up with the latest safety technology.

Justin-CheverieJustin Cheverie, General Manager of Alchemist and a member of SafetyDriven’s Board of Directors, was a long-haul trucker for 10 years. He notes that the re-invented company has a robust safety-focused mindset that embraces a culture of support, community, and openness and says “trust, respect, and integrity are what drive our business.” Cheverie and the company’s leaders have worked hard to create a team of safety champions. There was some hesitancy to overcome initially, but the corporate attitude overcame uncertainty and those who were unsure of the new way forward have realized its benefits.

Communication is integral to the company’s approach to safety; tech in the trucks allows dispatchers to stay in touch—each driver is spoken with every day—and gives drivers access to courses, bulletins, and newsletters. Support is paramount. New drivers are mentored and do not drive alone before they are ready. When a driver is going to an unfamiliar site, an advance team visits to check egress, orientation, and controls.

Hauling dangerous goods requires specific training and certification in addition to all the usual compliance. Product control is crucial, especially for caustic or toxic chemicals and materials harmful to the environment. The biggest risk for tankers is rollover—summer traffic hazards take on a whole new meaning. Alchemist Specialty Carriers ensures rigorous training, provides personal protective equipment, inspects daily, tests trailers yearly, applies rigid controls and best practices, and ensures drivers’ buy-in to safety. Practices and policies are reviewed at least annually and revised as required.

Close attention to safety has paid off. Alchemist Specialty Carriers is COR certified, won Top Fleet honours in 2019 and 2020, and one of their drivers has won the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) award twice.

It’s clear that Alchemist drivers are engaged—who wouldn’t be, knowing the company has their backs?! The company also offers a great rewards program! Drivers earn points for their safety practice that can be exchanged for cash. Team members commended by a colleague for their safe habits earn scratch cards worth bonus points. Points are stored in the Safety Portal and tallied annually, earning additional points and entries into draws for gifts. It’s a serious incentive; a safety incident could result in lost points if negligence is found to be involved. Rewards keep safety on everyone’s mind. Jenna Tracey, Safety and Compliance, sums up the program: “It’s all about awareness.”

Cheverie summarizes the Alchemist Specialty Carriers approach to safety and teamwork: “Implementing and supporting an active and positive safety program provides many benefits to the health, success, and growth of both the business and the individual.”


Thank you to everyone who participated in our Driver Appreciation Campaign, watch for the following companies to be featured in our upcoming newsletters:


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Industry to Mark Trucking Week Under Covid Cloud

TORONTO, Ont. — The industry will observe the National Trucking Week during Sept. 6-12, against the backdrop of Covid-19.

The aim of the annual event is to recognize the contributions made by drivers and others in the Canadian trucking industry, which employs some 400,000 people.

Driver appreciation week(Today’s Trucking Photo File)

“It goes without saying that truck drivers should be celebrated 365 days a year for the invaluable job they do as the backbone of the Canadian economy,” said Marco Beghetto, vice-president of communications at the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA).

“During National Trucking Week, let’s make it a point to at least lend a smile and say thank you to the incredible job these essential workers do every day.”

This year, truckers have won rare public praise for braving Covid-19 to keep the freight moving. The pandemic has, however, made it difficult to hold big events because of health concerns.

Still, many fleets and trucking associations are planning to celebrate drivers.

In Western Canada, the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) and SafetyDriven of British Columbia will hold driver appreciation days.

AMTA volunteers will go to five commercial vehicle inspection stations to hand out goodie bags.

“All Covid-19 protocols will be followed and we will be handing out 2,000 bags in total,” AMTA said.

In British Columbia, SafetyDriven is holding a contest, Share Your Safety, to mark the occasion.

The first National Trucking Week was held some 20 years ago.

In the U.S., the American Trucking Associations will hold a National Truck Driver Appreciation Week during Sept. 13-19.

Source: Trucknews.com


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Workers Exposed to Common Hazards More Likely to Report their Injuries: IWH Study

Study conducted in B.C., Alberta, Ontario found injury reporting linked to hazard exposure and OHS awareness

Published: August 6, 2020

When people are injured at work, whether they report it to a workers’ compensation board or not is linked to whether they are exposed to a common work hazard.

That’s according to a study conducted in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), which built upon previous findings about under-reporting of work injuries.

The study shines a light on lower reporting patterns among workers who were injured but who didn’t work in jobs that were typically recognized as hazardous, says IWH Senior Scientist Dr. Peter Smith, lead investigator of the study.

If you think about an office worker who hurts their back lifting a box of documents, this worker could be less likely to report the injury than someone who lifts and carries heavy things regularly as part of their job, he adds.

The study drew on survey results of 2,800 people who worked at least 15 hours a week in one of the three provinces. These workers were asked in November 2017 to June 2018 to complete the OHS Vulnerability Survey, a 27-item IWH tool developed by Smith.

The tool asks workers to indicate if they are exposed at least weekly to one or more of nine common work hazards. These range from heavy lifting and repetitive movements to working at heights and exposure to hazardous substances (see sidebar for the full list of hazards). The tool also asks workers about the adequacy of three dimensions of OHS protection in their workplace—namely, policies and practices, awareness and empowerment.

Of the 326 surveyed workers who said they had been injured in the previous 12 months, 64 per cent said they did not report their injury to a workers’ compensation board. This under-reporting was consistent in all three provinces; little difference in reporting levels was found among them.

Workers who were exposed weekly to one or more of the nine common work hazards were more likely to report their injuries. Among the 271 workers who indicated being exposed, 40 per cent reported their injuries. In comparison, among the 55 workers who did not indicate being exposed to these hazards, only 22 per cent reported their injuries.

While the finding about the degree of under-reporting is consistent with those from other studies, the finding about the role of hazards enriches our understanding of under-reporting, says Victoria Nadalin, an IWH research associate and lead author of the article on this study, published in January 2020 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (doi: 10.1002/ajim.23094).

Why are reporting patterns lower among workers who weren’t regularly exposed to common hazards? says Nadalin. That’s something we would need to explore in future studies, but it may have something to do with levels of awareness about the importance of injury reporting.

Indeed, when asked questions related to their awareness of OHS rights and responsibilities, the injured workers with inadequate awareness were less likely to report. Workers with inadequate workplace policies and practices also tended to under-report, but this was not statistically significant. Those with low levels of empowerment (i.e. those who felt they had limited ability to speak up about hazards) were neither more nor less likely to report their injuries than those who felt more empowered.

The research team also found other notable patterns of under-reporting. Although not statistically significant, these patterns included a higher likelihood of under-reporting among women, part-time workers, workers in the education, health and public administration sectors, workers who were not unionized, and workers with higher education (i.e. a post-graduate degree).

The research team noted a number of limitations in the study that should be considered when interpreting the findings. Information on the nature and severity of injury and the length of time off work was not obtained from workers participating in the survey. Previous studies have shown that belief that the injury is not serious is an important reason for workers not reporting injuries to workers’ compensation. Although self-employed workers were excluded from the study sample, other workers may not have been eligible for workers’ compensation coverage. Additionally, some workers may have reported injuries where the contribution of work exposures was minor compared to non-work exposures.

We started this study because we were interested in injury-reporting patterns among workers who were exposed to hazards with inadequate OHS protection—and therefore more likely to have a work-related injury or illness, say Smith. It’s encouraging to see that people most exposed to work hazards are more likely to report their injuries. But it’s also important to note that workers with inadequate OHS awareness were less likely to report injuries. This suggests that, when we are making workers aware of their OHS rights and responsibilities, we should also include information on the right to compensation if they get injured or ill at work.

What does the study consider a common hazard?

The Institute for Work & Health’s OHS Vulnerability Measure used in this study asks workers how often they perform work tasks that may expose them to hazards. Workers are considered exposed to hazards if they:

Experience one of the following every week:
– work involving lifting or carrying 20kg at least 10 times a day;
– work at heights
– greater than two metres;
– work with hazardous substances such as chemicals, flammable liquids, and gases;
– being bullied or harassed at work;

Experience two of the following every week:
– do repetitive movements with their hands or wrists (packing, sorting, assembling, cleaning, pulling, pushing, typing) for at least three hours a day;
– perform work tasks or use work methods they’re not familiar with;
– work in a bent, twisted or awkward work posture;
– work in noise levels that are so high that they have to raise their voice when talking to people less than one metre away;
– stand for more than two hours in a row.

Source: ihw.on.ca


Visit our website for more information about occupational health and safety, your right to refuse unsafe work and resources.

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ICBC: Some Temporary COVID-19 Support Measures to Expire

With Phase 3 of B.C.’s Restart Plan progressing and more British Columbians returning to B.C.’s roads and highways, three of the temporary measures ICBC had introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are now set to expire in the coming weeks.

The B.C. Utilities Commission had approved ICBC implementing the following measures starting April 23 and ending on August 20:

  • waiving of the $30 insurance cancellation charge

  • suspension of fleet vehicle insurance

  • allowance of unlimited deliveries by drivers in non-delivery rate classes

Private passenger vehicles continue to have up to six days per month for delivery use.

Customers are now reinsuring their vehicles at higher than historic levels. Since April 23, 2020, a total of 300,000 new plate policies have been issued for non-fleet customers compared with the approximately 120,000 non-fleet customers who cancelled their insurance policies for the same time period.

As these measures come to an end on August 20, customers are encouraged to talk to their broker to ensure they are properly insured, including those people who are using their vehicle for the delivery of food or medical products and services.

The following measures remain in place at this time, as outlined in regulation:

  • waiving of the $18 re-plating fee

  • waiving of the first knowledge test fee for learner driver’s licence holders whose licence expired during the pandemic

Customers can continue to renew their insurance by phone and email with the help of brokers, and those who are facing financial hardship and who pay for their insurance on a monthly basis still have the ability to defer their payments for up to 90 days with no penalty.

ICBC continues to review its operations to support the safety and well-being of its customers and employees as normal business resumes.

Source: ICBC.com

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CVSA Schedules International Roadcheck for Sept. 9-11, Focuses on Driver Requirements

Drivers and/or vehicles found in violation may be rendered out of service and any vehicles found in violation will be restricted from traveling until those violations are corrected.

On March 25, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) postponed its 2020 International Roadcheck due to the growing novel coronavirus pandemic. CVSA has now rescheduled the 72-hour event for Sept. 9-11. This year’s enforcement initiative will focus on the driver requirements component of a roadside inspection.

Last month, CVSA conduced Operation Safe Driver Week, focusing on dangerous behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving, failure to use a seatbelt, following too closely, reckless driving, drunk or drugged driving, and more. CVSA continues its focus on the driver with this year’s event.

According to CVSA, International Roadcheck is a three-day high-volume, high-visibility inspection when CVSA-certified inspectors in North America conduct commercial motor vehicle and driver inspections at weigh or inspection stations, at designated fixed locations or as part of roving mobile patrols. During that time, law enforcement officers will inspect commercial vehicles for compliance with federal regulations as well as use the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria to identify violations.

“Although the coronavirus pandemic, understandably, shifted priorities and personnel during the spring, the commercial motor vehicle law enforcement community has reasserted its focus on the roadside inspection program and enforcement duties,” said CVSA president John Samis.

During 2019’s International Roadcheck, 3.36 million inspections were conducted and 952,938 driver violations were discovered, of which 199,722 were out-of-service conditions, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

“Jurisdictions are nearly back to their pre-pandemic capacity with a strengthened concentration on identifying and removing unfit vehicles and drivers from our roadways using federal safety standards and the out-of-service criteria,” Samis added.

Driver inspection
For the driver portion of an inspection, the inspector will collect and verify the driver’s documents, identify the motor carrier, examine the driver’s license, check record of duty status and review periodic inspection reports, according to CVSA. If applicable, the inspector will check the Medical Examiner’s Certificate, Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate and the driver’s daily vehicle inspection report.

Inspectors will also check drivers for:

– Seat belt usage
– Illness
– Fatigue
– Apparent alcohol or drug possession or impairment

Drivers found to be operating without the proper driver credentials, in possession of or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, operating while ill, fatigued or showing other signs of impairment, or in violation of hours-of-service rules may be placed out of service.

Vehicle inspection
The vehicle portion of an inspection includes checking critical vehicle inspection items such as:

– Brake systems
– Cargo securement
– Coupling devices
– Driveline/driveshaft components
– Driver’s seat (missing)
– Exhaust systems,
– Frames
– Fuel systems
– Lighting devices
– Steering mechanisms
– Suspensions
– Tires
– Van and open-top trailer bodies
– Wheels, rims and hubs
– Windshield wipers

If an inspector discovers critical violations during an inspection, the vehicle will be rendered out of service, meaning that vehicle will be restricted from traveling until those violations are corrected.

Source: FleetOwner.com

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