LANGELY, B.C. — In response to the human and financial costs of trucking incidents, the B.C. Trucking Association recently established the B.C. Trucking Safety Council.

The council was established with support from WorkSafeBC and the safety council will be dedicated to strengthening the safety performance of the B.C. trucking industry.

According to WorkSafeBC, between 2001 and 2005 in the B.C. trucking industry there were 105 fatalities, 516 serious injuries and 22,300 time-loss claims, 1.2 million workdays lost, and $314 million in lost claims.

“Our vision is for the council to serve as a health and safety center of excellence for B.C.’s trucking industry,” says Paul Landry, president and CEO of the BCTA. “The council’s mandate includes consulting with industry, evaluating the root causes of trucking incidents, developing prevention interventions and implementing a Certificate of Recognition (COR) program.”

The COR program is similar to the program being offered in Alberta through the Alberta Motor Transport Association and partnering safety organizations.

The business activities of the council are overseen by managing director Bill Hubbard, who has spent numerous years working and consulting with a number of transportation initiatives in the province.