Prince George, B.C. – Time is running out to comment on a proposed WorkSafeBC policy that would make resource roads a “workplace”.

 

WorkSafeBC notes there has been a high rate of serious injuries and fatalities resulting from incidents on resource roads. Between 1999 and 2009, there were 36 fatalities on resource roads in the forestry, and oil and gas industries.

 

WorkSafe BC says while public highways are regulated by legislation such as the Motor Vehicle Act; have traffic control devices, and are maintained at public expense. Police enforce compliance on these roads.

 

It’s a totally different story for resource roads which have minimal traffic control and other safety infrastructure, minimal police enforcement and are generally not publicly maintained.

 

As a result, employers, prime contractors and owners must address issues such as traffic control and road maintenance. WorkSafeBC continues to take steps to keep workers safe on resource roads and reduce the high rate of accidents, serious injuries and fatalities. The proposed new policy will assist WorkSafeBC to fulfill its legal mandate to address the safety of workers on resource roads.

 

As part of its strategy to address this problem, WorkSafeBC has increased its compliance and enforcement activities and assisted in setting up a Road Safety Management Committee (“RSMC”) for each forest district in BC. The members of the RSMCs are industrial permit holders, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (“MFLNRO”), and the Oil and Gas Commission, with participation by WorkSafeBC.

 

The draft policy can be accessed here,  

 

Comment on the proposed policy must be received by 4:30 Monday April 30^th. You can submit an online comment by clicking here.