Northside Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) was inspected by WorkSafeBC and there were no orders or non-compliance noted in the inspection report.
According to a staff report received by the qathet Regional District committee of the whole, on March 10, two officers from WorkSafeBC performed a planned inspection of both NVFD fire halls.
At the April 15 committee of the whole meeting, Electoral Area A director and board chair Patrick Brabazon recommended sending a letter of appreciation to the fire department.
According to the staff report, WorkSafeBC inspections can be useful tools for an organization to confirm health and safety compliance and identify areas that require attention. Workplace inspections help to identify existing hazards so appropriate corrective action can be taken before an incident or injury occurs as a result of the hazard.
“During the inspection, the WorkSafeBC officers were impressed by the NVFD’s health and safety performance,” the report stated. “They commented on the cleanliness and organization of the main fire hall and stated that it was very apparent that NVFD management and its members held themselves to a high health and safety standard.
“Small, rural volunteer fire departments are held to the same safety regulatory requirements as any large city career fire department, and meeting these requirements requires a considerable amount of time and effort. NVFD’s superior safety performance is a reflection of a significant amount of time and dedication on the part of the NVFD fire chief, officers and the NVFD safety committee. Oversight and expertise provided by the qRD safety program, as well as the commitment of all NVFD members to embrace a safe culture, also contributed to the success of this inspection.”
