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Topic: WCB -we collect bodies?

redshift
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1675

posted 03 March 2004 03:03 PM

two days ago in the course of touring construction work-sites, which is part of my job , i noticed a couple of serious safety infractions on non-union sites.
as a union rep, there is no way I could access the sites to correct those situations, so i went to my local workmen's comp. office to talk to the prevention officer.
surprise, its been closed. I then went to the phone book. all the listings are employer friendly listings on how to fill out forms. the web-site is even worse, basically what to do to minimize problems when an accident occurs.
it took three hours of phone tag to reach someone in prevention and two days for someone to call me back.when I discussed the problem with them , which was not using fall protection, which is very basic, I was told the contractor was already under investigation and penalty for the same problem.
the role of prevention has somehow evolved into reducing the monetary damage involved for the contractor when the acceptable number of accidents occurs. check it out.
http://www.healthandsafetycentre.org/s/Home.asp

From: cranbrook,bc | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Loony Bin
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4996

posted 03 March 2004 03:08 PM

quote:
the role of prevention has somehow evolved into reducing the monetary damage involved

Go!! profit motive Go!!

(I really wish it would.)

From: solitary confinement | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

Nam
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3472

posted 03 March 2004 03:35 PM

Don't know how far BC has fallen into the crap that has happened in Alberta but...would a phone call made to Occupational Health and Safety result in any action? In Alberta now, OH&S only respond to complaints-make no preventative visits.

From: Calgary-Land of corporate towers | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

Lard Tunderin' Jeezus
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1275

posted 03 March 2004 05:22 PM

Actually, to give credit where credit is due, the sluggish and ineffectual WSIB in Ontario has come to life under Dalton's Liberals - and the Ministry of Labour is back in the enforcement business as well.

From: ... | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

MacD
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2511

posted 07 March 2004 01:52 PM

quote:
In Alberta now, OH&S only respond to complaints-make no preventative visits.

But we DO have those radio ads to ensure workplace safety!

From: Redmonton, Alberta | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Sara Mayo
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3714

posted 07 March 2004 02:03 PM

What I don't get about Workers' Compensation agencies cutting back on prevention campaigns and safety inspections is that without them the rates of injuries will increase and the WCB will have to pay more in benefits. How can anybody be that short-sighted? Seriously, what is the incentive for them to make these cuts?

From: "Highways are monuments to inequality" - Enrique Penalosa | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Rufus Polson
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3308

posted 07 March 2004 03:50 PM

Well, from what I've heard the benefits have been getting cut way back too, and it's harder and harder to qualify and takes a mind-numbing trip through the bureaucracy to get any cash.
Plus, I think a lot of the people making the decisions about this stuff have an industry background, so they're just doing the usual privatize profit, socialize cost thing. That is, if there's no safety measures the private sector saves money; if there's lots of accidents the public sector pays out. To the extent it actually does, any more. So for the companies, there's no downside. It's terrible and tragic for real people, and it's bad for the economy too. But for the interests being served, it's great.

From: Caithnard College | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

redshift
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1675

posted 07 March 2004 04:02 PM

the greatest impact , from observation, is occuring within the non-union sector, where in conjunction with the changes to wcb, the new Labour Code changes have resulted in a completely disenfranchised captive labour force. most of them are young, under-trained and unaware of what rights they do have.
the recipe for a continuing tragedy.

From: cranbrook,bc | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

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