Crane & Rigging Conference Review

November 8, 2012

Click here for Industrial Lift & Hoist magazine’s coverage of the recent conference.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 1, 2012

Bridging the Gap
November 22 to 24, 2012
Richmond, BC – Executive Plaza Airport Hotel

Individuals employed on construction sites throughout BC are invited to “bridge the gap” in their knowledge about health and safety issues in the construction industry.

Pre-conference courses will be held on November 22 and 23.

New Phone Numbers for BCACS

February 24, 2012

Our phone and fax numbers have changed.

Phone: 604-336-4699
Fax: 604-336-4510

Please update your address books.

Important Notice About BC Equivalency Certification

May 1, 2011

TO:  ALL OUT‐OF‐PROVINCE CRANE OPERATORS WORKING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Do you have a government‐issued crane operator certificate from a Canadian province or territory
outside British Columbia? Do you plan to work as a crane operator in BC?

If you have a government‐issued crane operator certificate from a province or territory outside BC and
you want to work in BC, you are required to be registered with the BCACS and obtain a BC Equivalency
Certificate.

All operators must possess an acceptable credential, prior to entry into the province of BC.

HOW TO OBTAIN A BC EQUIVALENCY CERTIFICATE

Go to www.bcacs.ca and click on the button marked BC Equivalency Package.  You are required to
review sections of the WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation, sections of the Workers Compensation Act, and
other important information that will ensure you are familiar with health and safety regulations and
requirements in British Columbia.

Once you have reviewed the material, complete the application and send it to the BCACS along with
your payment and a legible copy of your government‐issued crane operator certificate. The BCACS will
verify your certificate with the issuing province or territory before processing your application. 

NOTE: Verification of your certificate is required and we have no control over how long that may take.
Accordingly, we must advise you that it may take up to 8 weeks to issue your certificate.  
You cannot arrive in BC and expect to obtain your credential immediately upon submission of your application.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 604‐525‐1227

Sincerely,

Fraser Cocks, Executive Director, BCACS
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the BCACS

Crane Jurisdiction and Railways in BC

January 26, 2011

Bill 20, Railway Safety Act

Bill 20, Railway Safety Act received Royal Assent on March 31, 2004. This bill included a consequential amendment to delete section 108(2)(b) in Part 3 of the Workers Compensation Act. This amendment results in the transfer of occupational health and safety jurisdiction for railways from the provincial government to the WCB. This transfer of occupational health and safety jurisdiction came into effect April 1, 2004.

As of April 1, 2004, the WCB has occupational health and safety jurisdiction for short-line railways, which represent lines that feed into the federally controlled railways, along with industrial and recreational railways. This includes two common carriers (Southern and E&N), approximately 45 industrial rail sites (e.g., Cominco in Trail), more than a dozen tourist railways, and SkyTrain.

The provincial government retains occupational health and safety jurisdiction for BC Rail, pending completion of the Investment Partnership with CN. Following which, the jurisdiction for occupational health and safety for BC Rail will lie with the federal government.

Important Notice to all Crane Operators in BC

November 22, 2010

As of February 28th, 2011, all crane operators must be certified.

Effective March 1st, 2011, the Level A crane operator practical assessment fee will increase to $750.

Existing crane operators were provided with a two-year phase in period to become certified. As the “incumbent operator” phase comes to a close, lower assessment volumes necessitate an increase in the Level A practical assessment fee to $750.

Assessment services will continue to be offered throughout the province and the application process will remain the same.

Note: There are a limited number of assessment opportunities available up to the deadline of February 28th, 2011. Once all of these spaces are filled, assessments will be scheduled after the deadline at the new fee of $750.

WorkSafeBC Bulletin - Certification Deadline for Crane Operators

October 21, 2010

Crane operators in British Columbia must have a valid operator’s certificate by February 28, 2011. Any operator not certified by February 28 cannot legally operate a crane in British Columbia.

Click here to read the full bulletin.

New Website Launched!

October 15, 2010

BCACS re-launched its website today. The new site sports our new logo and has numerous new features including member registration and an online logbook for operators in training.