Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC
12
Months
of Safety
December 2024
Fire Safety

Fire safety is a very broad topic. Multiple factors and potential outcomes—from smoke and heat to explosion and structural damage—pose a risk to everyone in the workplace. Census Canada data reveals that there were 39,047 fire incidents in Canada in 2021; about 5,000 of those were workplace related. In addition, work vehicles were the victims of a percentage of the more than 5,000 vehicle fires recorded that year.

A set of practices and policies to keep workers safe from physical harm or death starts with risk assessment and appropriate control measures. Pay close attention to fire hazards where the likelihood of a fire is high, but also in situations that may be less obvious.

Some key prevention measures include:

  • Strong workplace safety policies on fire prevention, including regular inspections
  • Regular risk assessments
  • An established safety plan, fire drill procedures, and muster points
  • Fire plan visuals conspicuously placed around the worksite
  • Fire suppression in all high-risk areas
Basic Training
Course
Available by e-Learning
Explore response to emergency situations that can be encountered in manufacturing. Gain a basic understanding of what to anticipate and expect when responding to an emergency. Available in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Course
Available by e-LearningAvailable Virtually by Video ConferenceInstructor-Led Classroom Training
Emergency response planning is one of the key elements to include in your occupational health and safety program. This program allows you to plan out how you would respond to an emergency in the event of, which can result in saving lives, property, revenue, etc. 
Course
Available by e-LearningAvailable Virtually by Video ConferenceInstructor-Led Classroom Training
A hazard identification and control program is a systematic approach to identifying and analyzing workplace hazards in an effort to mitigate risk of injuries and occupational disease. This course will provide employees, managers, supervisors and JHSCs working in BC’s manufacturing industry with tools and a basic understanding of hazard recognition, risk assessments, and control methods.
Course
Available by e-LearningInstructor-Led Classroom Training
An effective and systematic incident investigation program is a key driver to the continuous improvement of your health and safety program, policies. This course will examine the purpose and outcomes of an incident investigation. JHSC members, managers, supervisors or employees will learn how to determine the cause or causes of incidents, to identify any related unsafe conditions or acts, and to recommend corrective actions to prevent similar incidents.
Course
Available by e-LearningAvailable Virtually by Video ConferenceInstructor-Led Classroom Training
Effective inspections are one of the most important incident/ accident prevention tools in a company’s safety and health program. Properly trained inspectors in a systematic inspection program will help reduce incidents and property damage. This course will guide JHSC members, Worker Health and Safety Reps, managers, or supervisors responsible for workplace inspection in the creation of an effective safety inspection program.
Videos & Webinars
Fire Safety Resources and Tools
The BC FireSmart Committee is a group comprised of various agencies working together collaboratively to maintain and improve the delivery of the FireSmart BC program to better support wildfire preparedness, prevention and mitigation in BC. The FireSmart program is backed by a vast amount of field, laboratory and wildfire modelling research. Its methods help reduce […]
In the workplace, fire extinguishers are tools, and it is essential to train any worker who might need to use one in their safe operation. Fire extinguishers are also good safety equipment for the home and car.
Inspecting and maintaining your fire extinguishers is critical so that they are read and available for use when they are needed.
Fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and power outages — whatever the emergency is — it can happen without warning. Emergency preparedness ensures that when an emergency strikes, you have a plan ready to go, and are not scrambling last minute to get all your resources in order. An emergency preparedness and response plan is a document […]
Do you have an emergency response plan to evacuate due to the risk of a wildfire or flood? Use this checklist to build your plan.
In this recap, see the award-winning submissions in the 2024 Make It Safe NGen Youth Challenge. Part competition, part showcase, the Make It Safe Vancouver Youth Challenge inspired students from British Columbia universities to explore the dynamic field of health and safety in the manufacturing and food processing industries. Part competition, part showcase, the Youth […]
Watch on Demand
After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the DFA program may compensate applicants for essential uninsurable losses.
Planning and preparing for emergencies and natural disasters can be hard. A support network lets two or more people help each other in an emergency.
Supports for businesses impacted by disasters are available from the federal and provincial governments, community organizations and the private sector.
High-performing teams and safety committees don’t just happen. In this workshop for JHSC members, team leaders, and anyone who works with others: Discover proven strategies to foster collaboration, communication, and synergy within your team. Learn how to establish accountability, build trust, and promote continuous improvement in a cohesive team environment. Equip your team with the […]
Having to flee your home, leave animals or possessions behind and relocating can cause distress, fear and anxiety for you and your loved ones.
Following an emergency or disaster, a person may experience a range of thoughts, feelings and behaviour that can be intense, confusing and frightening.
Smoke, evacuations, loss, worry—BC’s floods and wildfires affect us all. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone.
This study provides a review of academic and technical literature about the effectiveness of do-it-yourself (DIY) air purifiers. Results from these sources indicate that DIY air cleaners/purifiers performed similarly to commercial portable air cleaners in terms of clean air delivery rate (CADR) and energy efficiency under controlled conditions. However, DIY devices were much more cost […]
Website
Up-to-date information on driving conditions, road closures, and other road conditions in British Columbia.
应急响应意识 Emergency Response Awareness (Chinese- Simplified) 紧急情况可随时随地发生,可大可小,发生原因可能是自然灾害、气候变化或人为失误。在本入门课程中,了解在制造业和食品加工业中可能发生什么类型的紧急情况,更好地理解应急预案的重要性。本课程将帮助参与者明白紧急情况中他们需要做什么。 本课程将只讨论广义上的紧急情况,以及典型的应对措施。如果你需要帮助制定一个更有针对性的应对措施,请与我们联系以获得建议。 目标和目的 在本课程结束时,参与者应该: 了解紧急情况的定义 认识为什么他们需要做好准备 调查如果他们没有为工作中的紧急情况做好准备会发生什么 了解制造业中可能发生的不同类型的紧急情况 了解应对紧急情况的基础知识 了解应急响应计划的目的 主题 紧急情况的定义 紧急情况的不同类型 紧急情况的典型应对措施 应急预案/li> 对象 新员工和希望在工作场所入职培训的OHS部分得到支持的人力资源经理 工人 主管 经理 人力资源专业人士 健康与安全联合委员会成员 课程长度和形式 该培训采用电子学习课程的形式,使用自定进度的在线组件,包括每个模块中的各种实践学习活动。 模块由各种资源和示例支持。 预计需要1.5小时才能完成培训。 参与者必须能够使用笔记本电脑/台式电脑或 iPad/平板电脑才能参加培训课程。 良好的互联网或 WIFI 连接至关重要。 先决条件 以前的健康和安全教育和/或经验是一项资产,但不是必需的。 课程评估 本课程有 15 个问题的测验。 成功完成所有课程模块和书面评估后,参与者将获得结业证书。 附加信息 本课程有西班牙语版!/ ¡Este curso está disponible en español! 本课程有旁遮普语版!/ ਇਹ ਕੋਰਸ […]
緊急應變意識 Emergency Response Awareness (Chinese-Traditional) 緊急情況可能隨時隨地發生。它們可大可小,由於自然災害、氣候變化或人為錯誤而發生。在本入門課程中,大家會學到製造和食品加工中可能發生的各種緊急情況,並更好地瞭解應急計劃的重要性。本課程將幫助參與者瞭解他們在緊急情況下需要做什麼。 本課程將只會討論廣義上的緊急情況以及典型的回應措施。如果您需要幫助制定更有針對性的回應,請聯繫我們以獲取建議。 課程目標和目的 在本課程結束時,參與者應該: 了解緊急情況的定義 認識為什麼他們需要做好準備 調查如果他們沒有為工作中的緊急情況做好準備會發生什麼 了解製造業可能發生的不同類型的緊急情況 了解應對緊急情況的基礎知識 了解緊急應變計畫的目的 主題 緊急情況的定義 不同類型的緊急情況 對緊急情況的典型回應措施 應急計劃 課程對象 新員工以及人力資源經理,他們想在入職培訓計劃中職業健康與安全(OHS)這個部分獲得一些支援。 員工 主管 經理 人力資源專業人員 聯合健康和安全委員會的成員 課程長度和形式 此培訓採用電子學習課程的形式,使用自定進度的線上組件,包括每個模組中的各種實踐學習活動。 模組由各種資源和範例支援。 預計需要1.5小時才能完成培訓。 參與者必須能夠使用筆記型電腦/桌上型電腦或 iPad/平板電腦才能參加培訓課程。 良好的互聯網或 WIFI 連線至關重要。 先決條件 先前的健康和安全教育和/或經驗是一項資產,但不是必需的。 課程評估 本課程有 15 題的測驗。 成功完成所有課程模組和書面評估後,參與者將獲得結業證書。 附加資訊 本課程設有西班牙語版!/ ¡Este curso está disponible en español! 本課程設有旁遮普語版!/ ਇਹ ਕੋਰਸ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ […]
ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਕਿਰਿਆ ਜਾਗਰੂਕਤਾ Emergency Response Awareness (Punjabi) ਐਮਰਜੰਸੀਆਂ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਵੀ ਆ ਸਕਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਉਹ ਵੱਡੀਆਂ ਜਾਂ ਛੋਟੀਆਂ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਆਫ਼ਤਾਂ, ਜਲਵਾਯੂ ਵਿਚ ਤਬਦੀਲੀ, ਜਾਂ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਗਲਤੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਵਾਪਰਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਮੁਢਲੇ ਕੋਰਸ ਵਿਚ, ਐਮਰਜੰਸੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵੱਖ ਵੱਖ ਕਿਸਮਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਸਿੱਖੋ ਜਿਹੜੀਆਂ ਮੈਨੂਫੈਕਚਰਿੰਗ ਅਤੇ ਫੂਡ ਪ੍ਰੋਸੈਸਿੰਗ ਵਿਚ ਆ […]
Concientización sobre la respuesta a emergencias Emergency Response Awareness (Spanish) Las emergencias pueden ocurrir en cualquier momento y lugar. Pueden ser grandes o pequeñas, y ocurrir como consecuencia de desastres naturales, el cambio climático o errores humanos. En este curso introductorio, conocerás los distintos tipos de emergencias que pueden presentarse en la industria de la […]
How would you rate your organization’s resilience today to be able to operate through disruption? Join this important, future-focused session to: Discuss emerging risks to business continuity and the new Emergency Program Act. Learn keys to consider in planning for emergency response and recovery—from reputation and financial to legal and health and safety. Understand decision-making […]
EmergencyInfoBC is active during partial and full-scale provincial emergencies. They share official response and recovery sources, as well as verified event information from trusted partners.
This map is overseen by EmergencyInfoBC and serves as a general reference for current public safety conditions during emergencies.
After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the DFA program may compensate applicants for essential uninsurable losses.
Explore emerging trends in ESG and health and safety based on the results of a three-year National Safety Council study on The New Value of Safety, in partnership with the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Companies that effectively integrate ESG strategies into their health and safety programs are positioned to attract and retain talent, improve productivity, and appeal […]
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Learn about B.C. wildfires, preparing for an emergency, air quality, food and water safety, evacuation information, and more.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation — specifically sections 4.13 through 4.16 and Part 32 on emergency preparedness, response, evacuation, and rescue — all employers are expected to plan, prepare, and train their employees for all emergencies.
In this panel discussion with Okanagan industry leaders and experts, explore valuable insights gleaned from the 2023 wildfire season for effective emergency planning, response strategies, and business continuity. Discover practical lessons learned, innovative approaches, and essential practices to safeguard your business against future crises. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry peers and experts […]
Your safety committee may be a well-oiled machine, but unless both your company leadership and your colleagues are on board, it’s impossible to make change happen at work. Getting positive action on your committee’s recommendations requires influence at the leadership level, and often with your co-workers as well.In this session: Learn effective strategies to gain […]
Watch on Demand
In this highly anticipated panel discussion, learn from highly effective joint health and safety committees. Get ready for an engaging session as our experienced panelists share their experiences in team building, procedures, and building influence with management to make change happen in their workplaces. Bring your questions for the panel and come away with insightful […]
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A JHSC is a primary component of any employer’s Occupational Health and Safety Management system. It helps to address one of the basic rights of workers, the right to participate in workplace health and safety. A JHSC has been a legal requirement for all BC workplaces with 20 or more workers since 1977.
A joint health and safety committee (JHSC) is a team  of worker and employer representatives working together to identify and help resolve occupational health and safety issues at their workplace.
Conference Session
Chances are, you may already be using Lean practices to streamline operations and productivity. Inexpensive and proven, Lean 5S principles have been adopted widely in the manufacturing sector. If you are using 5S operationally, you are likely already reaping health and safety benefits in a cleaner, more efficient, and organized work environment. But applied intentionally […]
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Safety champions are at the heart of your health and safety culture. Without their infectious enthusiasm, belief, and influence, your safety initiatives will lose momentum, and the culture you want will struggle to take hold. In this session, learn to identify and mentor the safety champions in your business. Identify the characteristics that make an […]
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Flood workers should be warned that when the seemingly endless rain tapers off and the flood waters recede, they will continue to face a number of hazards associated with cleanup activities.
Heat-related illnesses happen when a person heats up faster than they can cool down. Heat-related illness can affect everyone – even those accustomed to working in the heat. If heat stress progresses to heat stroke, it is a medical emergency that, untreated, can lead to death.
This resource provides a daily update on the Air Quality Health Index for locations across B.C.
A map to identify the status of the various wildfires currently in B.C.
BC Wildfire Service provides an up-to-date information on the current wildfire situation in B.C.—including evacuation orders and alerts and road closures. It also offers resources to help prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from a wildfire.
With the opioid crisis unchecked in Canada and drug and alcohol use on the rise, few employers are entirely immune from the impact. From pre-shift cannabis use to a drink over lunch to a debilitating addiction, the level of impairment can vary—but long term, employers feel the effects through lost productivity and poor service, accidents […]
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Conference Session
In this engaging session, learn how a Joint Health and Safety Committee can help build and maintain a strong safety culture. A Joint Health and Safety Committee can play a key role in promoting safety and preventing workplace accidents—with effective JHSC participation and leadership. Through this session, gain new skills and practical strategies that can […]
Conference Session
Everyone knows we have an IQ. Some people know we have an EQ, which measures emotional intelligence. But did you know we all have a built-in intelligence around Risk? This presentation focuses on the link between personality and risk tolerance due to each person’s innate safety intelligence (SQ™). These are our natural “default settings” of […]
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation and the OHS provisions of the Workers Compensation Act contain legal requirements for workplace health and safety that must be met by all workplaces under the inspection jurisdiction of WorkSafeBC.
During this difficult time, there are several resources available to business owners to help with managing the day-to-day situation.
It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster.
It’s the employer responsibility to inspect the workplace.  It’s the Joint Health and Safety Committee’s responsibility to participate in the inspection.  How else does the JHSC assist the employer with inspections and the inspection program? In this presentation we will look at the role of the JHSC as outlined by the requirements of the Workers […]
Website
Current travel and road advisories and information for British Columbia.
Vehicles and drivers need to be prepared to deal with emergencies. A vehicle emergency kit with the supplies, tools, clothing and other contents that match the weather and driving conditions that vehicle will encounter is a great way to be prepared.
Quick Reference Card
Wildfire smoke contains pollutants including fine particulates (PM), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that travel deep into your lungs when you inhale. These particles can cause adverse health effects until the air quality improves. Symptoms​ Most symptoms from smoke exposure can be managed without medical attention including: Sore throat Eye irritation Runny […]
A Q&A with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces Division Outdoor Air Quality Concerns
This resource from WorkSafeBC lists items that employers who operate in remote locations should consider as part of an Emergency Evacuation Plan.
This WorkSafeBC publication outlines responses to frequently asked questions from employers during the wildfire season. This information is provided to help you understand the hazards associated with exposure to smoke, and to outline some measures you can implement to minimize worker exposures.
This WorkSafeBC document on wildfires provides an overview of employer obligations related to emergency response planning, as well as ways to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke for indoor and outdoor workers. The document also contains links to several key WorkSafeBC resources related to wildfires.
Get your safety committee members on board, on side, and excited to be involved in important work together. In this practical workshop, learn practical tips and participate in role-playing scenarios to build your skills in handling common challenges, improving teamwork, and increasing engagement. Take away with a renewed sense of purpose and actionable strategies to […]
Apply your hazard assessment skills to develop an emergency response risk assessment in this hands-on workshop.
Inspection is one key task that the Joint Health and Safety Committee does to identify hazards in the workplace, recommend corrective action, and ensure completion.  In this practical workshop, learn the keys to committee involvement in effective workplace inspections  for safety committee members. More than that, learn new ways to follow up on completed inspections to […]
Inspection is one key task that the Joint Health and Safety Committee does to identify hazards in the workplace, recommend corrective action, and ensure completion.  In this practical workshop, learn the keys to committee involvement in effective workplace inspections  for safety committee members. More than that, learn new ways to follow up on completed inspections to […]
News & Blog Articles
Why planning for a “someday situation” better equips you to tackle challenges today by  Lisa Thibault  Earthquakes, forest fires, flooding, and viral outbreaks are just a few of the potential emergency scenarios we face in British Columbia. While some companies have crafted and rehearsed plans to address emergencies such as these, many in the past two years were forced to build a response plan on...
With wildfires impacting some of our British Columbia members once again, it is important to be able to support employees with information and advice. That is particularly critical when our businesses or employees are facing evacuation. Please do not hesitate...
Brendan Talbot from Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC shares top tips for emergency planning that is tailored to your business needs. As a business owner, you’re probably prepared for most things business-related: taking on new work, labour challenges, market fluctuations,...