Letter to the Editor

A critical, yet often overlooked, shift is underway across Canada that directly impacts the competitiveness and growth of businesses, including those vital to Indigenous communities. It centres on health and safety regulations, and British Columbia’s current approach risks leaving our most valuable assets – our people, our communities, and our economy – vulnerable because the true extent of these risks is not widely understood.

For too long, provinces have maintained distinct approaches to workplace safety. In B.C., our Certificate of Recognition (COR) program has been the cornerstone. While other provinces have similar, often reciprocal, programs aiming for harmonized accountability, this landscape is rapidly evolving.

Ontario has taken a significant leap by adopting the international safety standard, ISO 45001, as the benchmark for its COR program. This is more than a procedural change; it’s a recognition of a global standard that facilitates seamless operation across borders. Just as a B.C. driver’s license is accepted in Alberta, ISO 45001 aims to create a universal safety credential. With new interprovincial trade agreements emerging, B.C. must recognize that other provinces are raising the bar to meet these international benchmarks. Our current lack of alignment creates dangerous blind spots.

Why This Matters for B.C.: The Unseen Costs of Outdated, unmanaged, Safety Systems

Imagine a local B.C. business vying for a major project in Alberta. If Alberta recognizes ISO 45001, but B.C. does not, our local business may face the prohibitive cost and delay of obtaining a second safety certification to even bid on the job. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a significant barrier to competition and growth, akin to requiring a new driver’s license for every provincial border crossing.

This additional burden on businesses translates directly into higher costs for customers and reduced profitability, ultimately affecting the bottom line.

This disparity is particularly impactful for Indigenous businesses and communities. Many First Nations are actively building their economies, creating jobs, and enhancing the well-being of their people. They aspire to be strong partners in major projects and even operate on an international scale. However, B.C.’s failure to update its safety standards puts them at a distinct disadvantage, forcing them to navigate unnecessary hurdles. This can slow down or escalate the costs of vital projects such as new homes, health centers, and schools within Indigenous communities, delaying essential services and opportunities for self-determination.

The consequences of overlooked safety gaps are not abstract; they have tangible, severe impacts on employees, communities, customers, and financial stability, often because the risks are not fully understood or properly managed.

Recent incidents across British Columbia serve as stark reminders

 City of Cranbrook: Faced a $175,783 fine in July 2025 for serious safety violations during a monster truck rally. These included using contaminated dirt from a wastewater treatment plant for a track and allowing dangerously high levels of exhaust gases (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide) in an enclosed space. The city failed to assess and remedy hazardous conditions, conduct proper walkthrough surveys, or implement an effective exposure control plan. This not only endangered workers and event attendees but also highlights a profound failure in public safety oversight.
* Sources: “B.C. monster truck event yields $175K fine against city for contamination” (CTV News, July 7, 2025), “Monster truck exhaust, arena dirt spark $175K WorksfeBC fine, Cranbrook appealing” (Creston Valley Advance, July 7, 2025), “City appealing $175K fine involving monster truck event” (Cranbrook Daily Townsman, July 5, 2025).

GFL Environmental (Kimberley operations): Received penalties exceeding $700,000 (specifically $710,488.79 in 2022 and $719,488.79) for high-risk asbestos violations. The company failed to provide critical personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers dealing with asbestos-containing materials and neglected to provide adequate instruction, training, and supervision. Such lapses expose workers to grave, long-term health risks, creating a direct impact on their well-being and placing a heavy burden on healthcare systems and the community.
* Sources: “Waste management company faces largest ever WorkSafeBC penalty for asbestos violations” (CTV News, September 16, 2022), “WorkSafeBC imposes more than $719,000 fine for asbestos violations” (Council of Construction Associations, September 26, 2022).

Interior Health Authority: In July 2025, Interior Health was fined $783,068 after workers at a Kamloops long-term care facility were exposed to asbestos due to drilling into contaminated walls. They were cited for failing to investigate unsafe conditions, conduct proper risk assessments, and implement adequate exposure control plans. Additionally, in November 2024, Interior Health received a $274,073.89 fine after workers at Penticton General Hospital were exposed to an unknown substance (illicit drugs), with findings indicating a failure to adequately communicate response procedures and implement written controls. These significant penalties underscore systemic safety failures that directly jeopardize the health and safety of frontline healthcare workers and patients, eroding public trust in essential services.
* Sources: “Interior Health fined $800K over asbestos at Kamloops care facility” (iNFOnews, July 7, 2025), “WorkSafeBC fines Interior Health $275K after workers exposed to unknown substance” (CBC News, November 1, 2024, and November 2, 2024).

These examples vividly illustrate that profit cannot come at the expense of people’s safety and well-being. Companies, especially those with significant operations, bear a profound responsibility for ethical practices, which inherently includes safeguarding employees from harm.

This is precisely where adopting ISO 45001 can be transformative. It’s more than just a set of rules; it’s a comprehensive framework for continuous safety improvement – a “plan, do, check, act” cycle that empowers organizations to proactively prevent accidents and injuries. By fostering a robust safety culture, businesses can actually realize long-term financial benefits through reduced incidents, lower insurance premiums, and enhanced productivity. It shifts the paradigm to truly put people over profit, benefiting everyone.

An Opportunity for Growth and Trust

By embracing ISO 45001 as a standard for its COR program, B.C. has an unparalleled opportunity to:

* Create More Opportunities: Enable our businesses, including First Nations enterprises and small and medium-sized companies, to compete and collaborate seamlessly on projects across Canada and globally.
* Reduce Red Tape: Alleviate the administrative and financial burden on companies currently navigating disparate provincial safety certifications.
* Strengthen Safety Standards: Align with an internationally recognized benchmark, ensuring that B.C. workplaces are as safe as any in the world, mitigating risks that impact employees, communities, and the bottom line.

Many First Nations communities are committed to being leaders in safety and environmental stewardship. International recognition of their safety management systems can significantly advance their goals of self-determination and building strong, healthy communities.

B.C. stands at a crossroads. By modernizing our approach to health and safety, we can dismantle unnecessary barriers, empower all businesses to compete fairly and successfully, and, most importantly, cultivate a culture where the profound risks of safety gaps are understood, addressed, and ultimately, prevented. This is an investment in our collective future.

Michael Holdsworth,

Cranbrook

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