Co-op Student, Wireless Communication

WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health & Safety Engineering department plays an important role in keeping B.C.’s workplaces safe. Our multidisciplinary team provides technical perspectives and expertise to WorkSafeBC staff who investigate workplace incidents, inspect workplaces, enforce our regulations, and develop new regulations. We also have an important role in “radio frequency coordination” – assigning the radio frequencies and wattages used in tower crane operations and forestry yarding operations. Radio frequency coordination helps prevent radio interference, allowing workers to have clearer, more-reliable communication while performing high-risk work.

We are looking for a student with a passion for wireless communication technology. The main project for this co-op term comprises identifying different forms of wireless communication, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, and recommending whether new forms of wireless communication should be used in B.C. workplaces.

This is a four-month full-time position starting in January 2027.

Working at WorkSafeBC

We serve the workers and employers across B.C., and we do that best when we're together. It's how we collaborate, learn from one another, and develop our people.

This role is currently designated as having a hybrid work arrangement and is based in our Richmond, BC office.

This is a unionized role and is subject to the provisions of the Collective Agreement between the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC and the Compensation Employees’ Union.

How You’ll Make a Difference

In this role, you will engage in a real-life project that directly supports our mission to prevent workplace injury, illness, and death in British Columbia. You will partner with a senior engineer to exercise fundamental skills project management, technical research and evaluation, and communication. If time and opportunity permit, additional tasks and projects may be assigned.

In this role, you will evaluate newer wireless communication technology to determine how it may contribute to worker safety in tower crane and yarding operations. Newer technologies could help prevent communication interference in ways as good as or better than what WorkSafeBC currently requires.

This Evaluation May Include

• Developing assessment criteria (e.g., the technology’s ability to be used in remote locations, system cost, ability to prevent interference, reliability, anticipated effect on worker safety)
• Identifying the general types of applicable technology (e.g., radio, cellular, satellite) and the specific systems available.
• Providing an evaluation of the different systems available for use in the workplace
• Determining what role WorkSafeBC would have in coordinating the use of the recommended systems
  
  

We're Looking For Someone Who Can

• Work independently with minimal supervision while also understanding their role within the team
• Independently learn about new topics and explain technical concepts to a nontechnical audience.
• Self-organize and schedule own work
• Adapt as project deliverables are added, removed, and changed
• Work within a diverse team
• Communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally
  
  

Learn more: Hear from past co-op students on what it’s like to work here.

Your Background And Experience

• This position is best suited for a 3rd or 4th year student, enrolled in an undergrad or graduate level program in wireless communication or electrical engineering. However, 1st and 2nd year students with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
• Previous internship/coop/academic experience or specialization in any of the following would be an asset: radio technology, cellular technology, satellite technology
• Strong experience utilizing Microsoft Office Suite
  
  

Important to know

Before we can finalize any offer of employment, you must:

• Confirm you’re legally entitled to work in Canada
• Confirm you’re a registered student at a post-secondary institution and is participating in a work integrated learning program
• Consent to a criminal record check and successfully meet the criminal record check clearance
  
  

Who are we?

At WorkSafeBC, we promote safe and healthy workplaces across British Columbia. We partner with workers and employers to save lives and prevent injury, disease, and disability. When work-related injuries and diseases occur, we provide compensation and support injured workers in their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work. We’re honoured to serve the 2.49 million workers and 263,000 registered employers in our province.

What’s it like to work at WorkSafeBC?

It’s challenging, stimulating, and rewarding. Our positions offer diversity and opportunities for professional growth. Every day, the work we do impacts people and changes lives. What we do is important, and so are the people we do it for.

Our ability to make a difference relies on building a team with a rich variety of skills, knowledge, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences that reflects the diversity of the people we serve. We are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive work culture where everyone can contribute as their best, authentic self.

Our Benefits

As a member of our team, you'll have access to services and benefits that help you get the most out of work - and life. Along with a competitive salary, your total compensation package includes:

• 4% in lieu of benefits
• 4% in lieu of vacation
  
  

Salary

• Undergrad level: $24.45/hour
• Graduate level: $30.79/hour
  
  

Learn more: Discover who we are.

Want to apply?

• Applications are welcomed immediately, however must be received no later than 4:30 pm PST on the closing date.
• A cover letter, resume and transcript are required
• In your cover letter, state why you would like this role and how you have the qualifications.
• Submit all documents in one file (either Word or PDF files).
  
  

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. If you require an accommodation in the assessment process, please email Recruitment Testing Accommodation (SM) when you submit your application.