B.C. Council of Construction Associations Provincial association focuses on health and safety issues and relationships with WorkSafeBC Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer Sometimes the same acronym can have different meanings. In the case of COCA, the British Columbia Council of Construction Associations has a significantly different mandate than the Council of Ontario Construction Associations, even though both organizations represent a wide and unifying spectrum within their provincial construction industries. COCA BC's primary focus relates to work- place health and safety and policies related to WorkSafeBC. COCA Ontario, meanwhile, has a much wider lobbying mandate. Its represen- tatives will speak on health and safety issues, but they also touch on the myriad of other po- litical and economic challenges affecting the province's construction industry. However, while COCA BC's mandate is quite clear and specific, recently appointed president Dave Baspaly says he thinks the western province's organization may extend its scope and chal- lenges. “We're looking at the Ontario website and focus and brand out there,” he said. “It's a de-facto institution –we are going to move in that direction.” However, he said COCA BC will “stay predominately focused on the relationship with WorkSafeBC.” Baspaly recently assumed the association's leader- ship role from Grant McMillan, who had held the role for many years. “For more than 20 years, it has been a well- oiled machine,” he said. “Grant McMillan was able to work with impunity with the industry and WorkSafe, and work through the issues.” McMillan continues to work with COCA BC on mem- bership services, supporting individual companies with their WorkSafe issues on a case-by-case basis. As it is, the B.C. organization has an approximately $200,000 annual budget, raised from the contributions of 16 associations serving different aspects of the province's construction community, and Baspaly works under a part-time contract. Major issues relating to WorkSafeBC include the is- sues about claims duration. A number of claims “go on and on and on,” Baspaly said. The primary focus is immediacy – that the person that is injured is dealt with in the most effective way in the assessment phase and getting the treatment they need,” he said. “There is a relationship established with the em- ployer, so that the worker can be accommodated, per- haps with a change of duties or lighter duties. But people are awaiting what hap- pens next. If the process would be smoother and more immediate, everyone gets a better service.” Another touchy issue relates to silica, where the relationship with lung disease (silicosis), characterized by scarring and thickening of the lung, has resulted in con- cerns about work practice changes and possibly onerous long-term claims. The WorkSafeBC website reports that “silica is a common substance found in sand, rock, and building materials such as Dave Baspaly concrete and brick.” “Cutting, grinding or drilling these materials releases dangerous crystalline silica dust into the air,” the site re- ports. “The cutting of fibrous cement board without proper dust controls can generate high levels of silica- containing dust.” Baspaly says COCA BC wants the policies and claims relating to silica dust to be “evidence based.” “It is so prevalent in the industry,” he said. “We want to find a happy medium . . . protecting the workers, but not inhibiting business.” Funding COCA BC members include: BC Construc- tion Association, BC Floor Covering Association, BC In- sulation Contractors Association, BC Sheet Metal Association, BC Structural Movers Association, BC Wall and Ceiling Association, Canadian Masonry Contractors Association of BC/Yukon Chapter, Construction Labour Relations Association of BC, Electrical Contractors As- sociation of BC, Line Contractors' Association, Master Painters and Decorators Association of BC, Mechanical Contractors Association of BC, Mobile Crane Operators Association, and Roofing Contractors Association of BC. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Spring 2014 – 17