Historic Drop in All Construction Rates

  For the first time ever, all BC construction Industry employers are slated to have their base assessment rate go down.  The preliminary assessment rates for 2007 were announced this week by WorkSafeBC and the news is all good.  (The rates are described as preliminary because they have not yet been formally approved by the WorkSafeBC Board of Directors.  This approval is expected at their next meeting.)

 The major, across the industry, decreases coincide with the creation of the Construction Safety Association of BC and its safety training and Certificate of Recognition (COR) program.

 Examples of significant preliminary rate decreases are:

• The Industrial Commercial and Institutional CU rate will drop by 19.8% -- great news during the expanding activity in this area. The new rate is $4.74.

• Home Building also has a large drop – 19.9%%, to $4.58 per $100 payroll.

• Low Slope Roofing will decrease by 20.1% -- to $8.68.

• Steep Slope Roofing will decrease by 12.4% - to $13.80

• Highway or Road Paving decreases by 8.7% - to $4.01

• Electrical Work decreases by 18.8% - to $1.77

• Masonry decreases by 20% -- to $6.78

 For a complete list of WorkSafeBC preliminary rates for 2007 please contact the CAV office.

 To keep the rates going down, contact the CSABC and start to earn your own company COR and your rebate of 5% of the base rate. 

 Further information may be found at CSABC's website:  www.csabc.bc

GOLD SEAL

WHY DO I NEED GOLD SEAL??

 As more and more construction firms look for Gold Seal-certified managers, we get a lot of questions about why Gold Seal requires course work and what courses qualify. Following are the top 5 questions (and answers)

1. Why do I need courses?

A: Everyone on a construction team, from the general labourer to the tradesperson to the architect and engineer, needs experience and knowledge to do a professional job. Your Gold Seal certificate guarantees that you have the higher-level knowledge that comes from nationally recognized courses.

2. How many courses do I need?

A: Applicants with less than fifteen years’ experience need 150 hours of industry-related courses. Within these you have to have at least three 30-hour courses, plus up to 60 hours of seminars, short courses and educational sessions as long as each is at least 6 hours in length. If you have over fifteen years experience you can use courses to gain the required combination of experience and knowledge.

3. Will any course count towards my certificate?

A: Courses must be similar to the Gold Seal National Curriculum, which covers the following subjects:

• Overview of the Construction Industry Construction Safety

• Law and Contracts for the Construction Industry Communication

• Construction Estimating

• Management of Human Resources in the Construction Industry

• Construction Job site Controls Construction Planning - Scheduling

• Project Costing Control and Accounting Project Management

• Construction and the Environment

Details on these courses can be found at Gold Seal Information

4. I’m applying for my Gold Seal Certificate as a (for example) Supervisor, Road Builder.  Do I need courses that relate to that area specifically?

A: No. Gold Seal courses are tied to the construction industry as a whole – not to specific occupations and disciplines.

5. Where can I find the right courses?

A: Gold Seal courses are available through two main sources:

• Distance education and e-learning courses are available across Canada regardless of location. For example The Construction Sector Council offers Communications and Construction Sector Law by e-learning.

• There are nearly 300 accredited courses listed on the Gold Seal web site at Gold Seal Information..  Thousands of equivalent courses from universities, colleges’ private companies, unions, construction associations, etc., can qualify as Gold Seal courses as long as they essentially match the Gold Seal National Curriculum mentioned above.  For more information see Gold Seal Information or contact your local construction association.

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