Category: Safety gear & equipment

Photo of construction worker in hard hat wearing ear plugs

Young construction workers are less likely to wear hearing protection at work compared with other age groups — WorkSafeBC explores reasons why.  Twenty-four percent of young workers in construction do not use hearing protection. They’re also less likely to wear hearing protection compared to young workers in other industries. This information is based on data […]

“Baker’s asthma” — as it’s known in the business — is a serious health problem that can affect workers in bakery, flour manufacturing, and food processing settings. “Activities such as mixing, pouring, and weighing flour creates airborne flour dust, which workers may inhale,” reads Flour dust exposure, a risk advisory from WorkSafeBC. “Workers exposed to flour dust […]

Wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) can save your life. No doubt you’ve heard that before. WorkSafeBC requires workers to use a PFD when working on the deck of a fishing vessel where the work process exposes the crew to a risk of drowning. That said, many fishing industry workers still choose not to wear […]

“Whether it’s forestry, construction, mining, oil and gas or rope access work – we are all wearing men’s clothing and safety equipment,” says Catherine Brady, a local tradeswoman working for change.

Researchers found that more experienced planters tended to have better boots, unlike new planters, who were seen wearing “cheaper, light work boots more suitable for construction sites, even light cross-training style runners, and various thrift store bargains.”

Thirty-three percent showed signs of noise-induced hearing loss – which is more than double the 16 percent average for workers in noisy industries.

“Its important to take your own safety into account and not do it because somebody else is telling you to do it. Because obviously each driver wants to get home safely at the end of the day.”

A properly fitted respirator protects workers from exposure to dusts, viruses, and other airborne contaminants. That’s why ensuring a good fit is very important.

Advice from Ian Rood – owner of UBSafe Inc. a company that specializes in safeguarding and risk assessment. He’s been training WorkSafeBC officers to spot and address safeguarding violations. See Ian’s seminar at the Make it Safe Conference in Vancouver Sept. 21 & 22.