Prime Contractor Responsibilities with WorkSafeBC: COVID-19 and Fall Protection (August 2021 BBS)

This month’s Builders’ Breakfast Series (BBS) webinar will be an important session with WorkSafeBC on the responsibilities of the Prime Contractor, including COVID-19 safety requirements.  There will be three modules covered during this extended BBS:

PC Responsibilities (includes COVID responsibilities)

• ‘Prime contractor” means the directing contractor, employer or other person who enters into a written agreement with the owner of that workplace to be the prime contractor of the site
• Only one “prime contractor” at a workplace at any point in time
• Prime Contractor Responsibilities include ensuring that the > activities of employers, workers and other persons at the workplace relating to occupational H & S are coordinated.
• Do everything that is reasonably practicable to maintain a system that will ensure compliance -We would be covering the following topics as well:
  • What do PCs need to consider to ensure their COVID-19 Safety Plan is effective?
  • Inspections and consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic WorkSafeBC officers may visit unannounced to evaluate how you are protecting your workers and properly managing the overall risk of COVID-19 exposures.
  • Who is considered the prime contractor on construction sites with multiple employers?
  • What are the PCs responsibilities at a multi employer workplace?
  • What are the PC’s responsibilities to prevent transmission?
  • They will also address other hazards that may be present.

Residential Construction with an emphasis on COVID

• Build upon the work that has been done over the last decade by applying a simple, consistent strategy we can continue to:
  • Focus on the responsibilities to promote safety in the work place
  • Raise awareness of the hazards associated with this industry See a decline in serious injuries
• A publication called ‘Safe Work Practices in Residential Construction’ and an updated post card titled ‘Building Safer Workplaces’ have been developed to support those involved in the residential building industry.
  • Publication (available in English and Punjabi) There are three main phases of residential construction: planning, site preparation, and construction.
    • Planning includes work activities that take place before site preparation and construction can begin, including design, tendering, and scheduling.
    • Site preparation includes work activities related to demolition and excavation.
    • Construction includes all the work activities related to building. The construction phase includes pre-lockup and post-lockup:
      • Pre-lockup includes work activities that happen after demolition and excavation but up to and including the installation of windows and exterior doors.
      • Post-lockup refers to work activities that happen after windows and exterior doors have been installed and you’re able to lock up the building -We will talk about submitting notice of project (NOP) at least 24 hours before the start of a project.

Fall Prevention

• Why are we concerned about fall protection?
• Do you work at elevation?
• Fall protection hierarchy
  • Guardrails
  • Restraint
  • Arrest
  • Other
• Training/Supervision
• The facts about written fall protection plans – template and guide
• The importance of anchors and anchorage 5. Questions
• Framer, Roofers, Siders,Gutter Installer & Painters are the five trades most commonly found to be working at heights of ten feet or greater on a residential worksite.
• Discuss the effect of forces on the body when a worker, using a fall arrest system, stops suddenly and is suspended for a period of time.
• Written fall protection plan

This is intended to be an interactive webinar and attendees are strongly encouraged to ask questions during the webinar.