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Proposed WorksafeBC “working alone” regulation best in North America
May 8, 2007
Vancouver - A proposed WorksafeBC regulation to address the health and safety of people "working alone" in late night retail occupations is the best in North America, says Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour.
The regulation reflects earlier calls from the Federation to ensure that late night retail operations such as convenience stores and gas stations take better measures to protect workers.
If adopted the regulation would ensure that at least two workers are on shift between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, or in the case of a lone worker, that the worker must be protected by locked doors or security barriers that prevent physical contact.
Sinclair welcomed the decision by WorksafeBC’s Board of Directors to bring forward the proposed regulation to public hearing. "This a positive step forward, and if accepted will go a long way to making work safer for those employed in the late night retail sector."
In response to the Federation’s campaign to improve health and safety for late night retail workers, last year Worksafe BC conducted an enforcement blitz of gas stations, that according to the agency "resulted in virtually every inspection documenting violations and issuing orders."
"Employer self-policing hasn’t worked, only fair laws and enforcement will make these workplaces safer," Sinclair said.
Public hearings on this regulation and others proposed by WorksafeBC begins June 12, 2007 in Vancouver BC and ends on June 26, 2007 in Prince George, BC.
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