The British Columbia Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) is the health and safety association (HSA) for forest harvesting, sawmills and pellet manufacturing in British Columbia.

The BCFSC works with forest sector employers, workers, unions, contractors and provincial government agencies to support industry in implementing changes necessary to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries in the forest sector.

History

The BCFSC was created in September 2004 as a not-for-profit society dedicated to the health and safety of forest workers.

The creation of the BCFSC, and its initial focus and tasks, were set out in the report (2004) of the Forest Safety Task Force, which created a comprehensive strategy to improve safety in the BC forest sector.

The values, beliefs and commitments that form the basis of the BCFSC and its work are set out in the Forest Safety Accord.

Constitution and Bylaws

Consitution

1. The name of the Society is “The British Columbia Forest Safety Council”.
2. The purposes of the Society are:
   
   1. To foster, encourage and promote the health and safety of workers and workplaces in the British Columbia forest sector for the benefit of the entire forest industry.
   2. To promote a culture where the health and safety of all forest workers in British Columbia becomes and remains an overriding priority of tenure holders, licensees, prime contractors, subcontractors and individual workers.
   3. To advocate and promote to applicable government ministries and agencies for changes in the legislative and regulatory framework in the British Columbia forest sector designed to enhance the health and safety of forest workers.
   4. To give effect to the recommendations of the British Columbia Forest Safety Task Force in its final report to the Minister of Skills Development and Labour dated January 19, 2004 and entitled “A Report and Action Plan to Eliminate Deaths and Serious Injuries in British Columbia’s Forests.”
   5. To do all other things that are incidental or conducive to the attainment of these purposes.

Bylaws

• BC Forest Safety Council Constitution and Bylaws (2017)

Governance, Funding and Departmental Overview

A highlevel backgrounder on the BCFSC governance, funding and departments can be viewed by clicking here