Planned Inspections for Manufacturers and Food Processors in 2024

Who does this impact?

WorkSafeBC has announced that in 2024, as part of their Planned Inspections Initiative, they will be focusing inspections on the following manufacturing classification units (CUs). Historically, workers in these CUs are at higher risk for serious injury.

711005—Butter, Cheese, or Ice Cream Manufacture
711010—Fish Processing, Reduction, Canning
711012—Food Product Manufacture
711019—Poultry Processing
712006—Concrete Product Manufacture
712016—Heavy Equipment, Machinery, or Parts Manufacture or Installation (greater than 500 lb.)
712025—Commercial Marine Vessel Manufacture, Service and Repair
712027—Manufacture, or Manufacture and Installation of Structural Metal Products
712028—Metal Product Manufacture
712033—Ready Mix Concrete Manufacture and Delivery
712034—Sheet Metal Fabrication
712035—Smelter
712037—Stone or Marble Cutting, Dressing, Shaping, or Lettering, or Stone or Marble Product Manufacture

712038—Manufacture, or Manufacture and Installation of Structural Concrete Products
713008—Drug, Vitamin, or Pharmaceutical Manufacture
713024—Plastic or Rubber Recycling
714015—Planing Mill
714019—Pellet or Pressed Wood Product Manufacture
714022—Sawmill
714023—Shake or Shingle Mill
714027—Veneer or Plywood Manufacture
714031—Wooden Box, Crate, Pallet, or Lath Manufacture
714032—Wooden Component Manufacture (not elsewhere specified)
714040—Manufacture, or Manufacture and Installation of Wooden Trusses
714042—Woodworking or Carpentry Shop
714044—Pulp and Paper Mill
715020—Glass Shop or Glass Product Manufacture (not elsewhere specified)

Top workplace risks and hazards

The primary workplace risks and hazards that prevention officers will be looking for in 2024:

Musculoskeletal injury (MSI) risks and worker awareness of ergonomics
Machine hazards and missing, broken, or inappropriate safeguarding
De-energization and lockout
Psychological safety awareness (including working alone, bullying and harassment, violence, new and young worker training, first aid, and monthly meetings)
Occupational disease, with a highlight on asbestos; (see Initiative details for other disease hazard focus areas)

Prevention officers will evaluate an employer’s ability and efforts towards identifying hazards, implementing controls, and effective review and improvement of processes.

For more details on specific focus areas, learn more about WorkSafeBC’s:

Are you ready?

The Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC has resources and support to help you strengthen your health and safety strategies in these key focus areas.

Training—Consider having your JHSC complete training in Hazard Identification, Incident Investigation, and Workplace Inspections. This will help your health and safety committee identify and recommend controls for the hazards above. MSABC also has a wealth of introductory and awareness courses that provide some basic training and information for all staff.

Specialized Services—Our experienced Safety Advisors can work with your teams to identify the gaps in existing health and safety programs. They can help you build a step-by-step action plan to ensure that your business’ health and safety responses meet the mark.

Safety Topics and Resources—Download posters and toolbox talks to help keep these workplace hazards top of mind. These resources are available free of charge and can be used in regular staff safety training or shared on-site to increase awareness.

To help you find all the associated resources, our safety topics compile resources and training related to a specific workplace hazard into one place. If you need to help figuring out where and how to start, email at ma[email protected] or call 1.604.795.9595.