Free for Members! The Rising Cost of Contractor Risk- Why Contractor Management Matters
BC Housing: 1 CPD Point
Description
Minimizing Risk with Effective Contractor Management
Jeff and Albert will share practical insights from their experience as Safety and Operational Consultants
and independent contractors. Their dual perspective bridges field realities with system-level governance.
This session will focus on:
• The roles and responsibilities of prime contractors, contractors, subcontractors, and independent
contractors
• How an integrated management system, combining safety and operations, reduce risk and
improve outcomes
• The connections between WorkSafeBC requirements, COR/SECOR certification, and insurance in
building effective contractor management strategies
By combining regulatory requirements, certification frameworks, and practical field experience, the
presenters will highlight how organizations can minimize risk while strengthening both safety and
operational performance.
Agenda
1. Understanding Today’s Risk Landscape
2. Regulatory Foundation: WorkSafeBC and Prime Contractor Duties
3. Industry Standards: COR/SECOR Certification Advantages
4. Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities (Prime, Contractors, Subcontractors, Independent
Contractors)
5. Managing Exposure: WorkSafeBC Clearances, Insurance and Contract Controls
6. Bridging Policy and Practice: Challenges and Best Practices
7. Integrating Safety and Operations Through Technology
8. Measuring What Matters: Turning Data into Prevention
9. Key Takeaways and Open Q&A
1. Understanding Today’s Risk Landscape
Risk is distributed across multiple parties, yet prime contractors remain accountable. Unmanaged sub-tiers
or unclear oversight drive incidents, delays, and costs. This section highlights how structured systems and
certification frameworks reduce claims, stabilize premiums, and create competitive advantage.
2. Regulatory Foundation: WorkSafeBC and Prime Contractor Duties
Outlines the key requirements under the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety
Regulation for multi-employer worksites. Emphasizes the need for clear prime contractor designation, due
diligence, orientations, coordination, and emergency planning as expected by regulators.
3. Industry Standards: COR/SECOR Certification Advantages
Explains how COR/SECOR demonstrates a strong safety management program, supports bid pre-qualification, and drives continuous improvement. Discusses mentorship pathways for small subcontractors
or independent operators to meet equivalent standards without compromising safety
4. Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities (Prime, Contractors, Subcontractors, Independent
Contractors)
Defines responsibilities across all tiers, identifying where accountability resides and how “trust but verify”
ensures competence, insurance, and alignment with site expectations. Reinforces the duties and rights of
workers to participate and refuse unsafe work.
5. Managing Exposure: WorkSafeBC Clearances, Insurance and Contract Controls
Covers verification of WCB status and clearances, commercial general liability requirements, additional
insured endorsements, and risk-transfer clauses. Demonstrates how these connect with COR/SECOR
practices and regulatory due diligence. Includes financial controls such as lien waivers, joint checks, and
performance bonds to round out exposure management.
6. Bridging Policy and Practice: Challenges and Best Practices
Addresses the gap between corporate policies and field execution. Focuses on supervisor enablement,
consistent orientations, permits, inspections, and leadership under schedule pressure. Encourages joint
inspections, stop-work empowerment, inclusive emergency readiness, post-project lessons learned, and fair
but firm pre-qualification.
7. Integrating Safety and Operations Through Technology
Shows how to unify onboarding, training records, job hazard assessments, inspections, permits, and
corrective actions so safety is embedded in daily operations. Highlights how digital tools such as mobile
reporting, QR or site access control, live dashboards, and automated reminders make the integrated
approach simple, consistent, and audit-ready, while supporting COR/SECOR and WorkSafeBC compliance.
8. Measuring What Matters: Turning Data into Prevention
Explains how leading indicators such as onboarding compliance, inspection results, and corrective-action
closeout can be linked to schedule reliability, rework, and insurance metrics. Shows how using data moves
safety from reactive response to proactive prevention.
9. Key Takeaways and Open Q&A
Summarizes clear accountability, integrated systems, verified compliance, and data-driven improvement as
the foundation for aligning WorkSafeBC requirements, COR/SECOR standards, and insurance practices
within one operational framework. Concludes with an open question and discussion period.
Presenters
Jeff Weaver - Co-Founder and CEO, bringing over 35 years of global experience in safety, maintenance,
and operations. His career spans leadership roles with TC Energy, Murphy Oil, and IMS Global, where he
developed practical systems that link safety, compliance, and performance. Jeff’s work focuses on helping
organizations reduce risk and strengthen operational excellence through integrated safety management.
Albert Landu - Senior Technical Project Manager at InUnison, with over 20 years of experience in health,
safety, and operational management. He works with prime contractors and organizations of all sizes to
digitize safety workflows, strengthen contractor oversight, and align operations with COR and WorkSafeBC
standards. Albert’s expertise bridges field execution with leadership strategy, helping teams build
practical, audit-ready safety systems that drive performance and compliance.
www.inunison.ca
Who Should Attend
This important webinar is a must attend for Primes, Contractor, Subcontractors and safety professionals.