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A BC Construction Safety Alliance Initiative

Substance use and mental health challenges affect every construction site in British Columbia. The BC Construction Safety Alliance’s Peer Support Recovery Navigator (PSRN) Program helps employers and workers respond early and build safer, recovery-inclusive workplaces.

What PSRNs Do

PSRNs are trained peers, not counsellors. They are trusted co-workers who complete BCCSA’s one-day education program led by Dr Paul Farnan. After training, they provide confidential guidance and help connect colleagues to professional resources when needed. This early, peer-based approach prevents issues from becoming safety risks or lost time.

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Building Safely, Building Better

Integrating Peer Support Recovery Navigators (PSRNs) into the BC Construction Sector

Substance use and mental health challenges impact the safety, morale, and financial performance of every construction site in British Columbia. Traditional company policies and the public healthcare system are insufficient to address this pervasive industry challenge, especially in the earlier stages when support is most beneficial.

The Peer Support Recovery Navigator (PSRN) Program, a BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) initiative developed in partnership with national educational expert Dr. Paul Farnan, offers an innovative and strategic solution. The program is provided at no cost to employers (employers only provide employees’ time), and leverages the uniquely powerful asset of workers with lived or learned experience of recovery – the untapped superpower of peer support – rather than solely relying on external resources.

PSRNs are not counsellors or therapists. Nominated by their employers, they are workplace colleagues who complete the customized BCCSA-PSRN training program. They offer practical, confidential guidance and navigation for co-workers to access professional resources as they uphold the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality. They can also assist the workplace in becoming more informed on recovery-related issues.

Business Benefit	How the PSRN Program Delivers
Elevate Safety Culture	PSRNs provide early, confidential, peer-based support before personal challenges escalate into safety risks, incidents, or lost time.
Increase Productivity & Retention	By supporting workers on their personal recovery journey, companies foster deeper loyalty, reduce absenteeism, and decrease the costs associated with high turnover in a tight labour market.
Build a Competitive Recruitment Edge	Companies can become an employer of choice by genuinely investing in employee well-being, and attracting and retaining the reliable, high-performing workers who are successfully and consistently managing their personal recovery journey.
Mitigate Operational Risk	Proactively addressing substance-related challenges reduces the risk of serious incidents, site disruptions, and long-term disability claims.

Transforming Lived Experience into Workplace Leadership

For Workers Who Want to Help Their Co-workers by Becoming a PSRN: If you are a construction worker who has lived or learned experience in recovery or has successfully navigated significant related challenges, your journey is your greatest asset. With the support of your employer, BCCSA PSRN training transforms your experience into a valuable workplace leadership skill that benefits your crew and the entire industry.

The PSRN Difference: Giving Back with Confidence

The one-day PSRN training session, sponsored by the BCCSA and led by Dr. Farnan, empowers you to be an effective, ethical, and helpful resource without taking on the responsibilities of a professional counsellor. The PSRN model is grounded in trust and confidentiality. As a PSRN, you are there to listen, connect, and navigate—never to judge or provide treatment. You are a confidential go-to person, a colleague who has walked the same path.

Opportunity	How You Can Make a Difference
Be a Trusted Guide	Provide confidential, non-judgmental support to co-workers navigating their recovery, and offer the authenticity and understanding that only a peer who “gets it” can provide.
Offer Specialized Skills, with Clear Boundaries	Receive professional training in essential areas such as active listening, ethical conduct, recovery-informed communication, and crisis recognition. You will learn to set healthy boundaries and understand that your role is to navigate, not to treat. You are not expected to become a counsellor or therapist.
Contribute to Team Safety	Play a critical, proactive role in building a safer work environment where every worker feels supported and valued.
Join a Community of Practice	Connect with other PSRNs across the sector through a new BCCSA-led Community of Practice that offers ongoing support and mentorship after your initial training.

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Apply for the PSRN Program

Upcoming Training (Cost Free):

The BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) invites applications for the next Peer Support Recovery Navigator (PSRN) training cohort. This one-day education program equips workers to provide confidential, peer-based support and strengthen recovery-inclusive workplaces. Once your application is approved, you will be enrolled in one of the following courses:

December 8, 2025

• Location: Coquitlam (Executive Plaza Inn)
• Application deadline: November 28, 2025

January 16, 2026

• Location: Coquitlam (Executive Plaza Inn)
• Application deadline: January 2, 2026

February 6, 2026

• Location: Prince George (Courtyard by Marriott)
• Application deadline: January 28, 2026

The BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) invites applications for the next Peer Support Recovery Navigator (PSRN) training cohort. This one-day education program equips workers to provide confidential, peer-based support and strengthen recovery-inclusive workplaces.

Ideal Characteristics of a PSRN Candidate

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the PSRN Program?

  The Peer Support Recovery Navigator (PSRN) Program trains construction workers to provide confidential, peer-based support for co-workers affected by substance use or mental health challenges. PSRNs help connect people to resources, reduce stigma, and strengthen recovery-inclusive workplaces.

• Who can become a PSRN?

  PSRNs come from many backgrounds. Some have lived experience of recovery, while others bring learned experience through supporting a friend, family member, or coworker. Any construction worker, tradesperson, or supervisor who wants to make a difference can apply. What matters most is a commitment to helping others on their journey and promoting recovery at work.

• What does the training cover?

  The one-day education program introduces:

  • Substance use fundamentals and recovery principles
  • Peer support and ethical boundaries
  • Confidentiality and communication skills
  • Trauma-informed and inclusive practices
  • Resource navigation and emergency response
  • PSRN self-care and boundaries
• Is the training free?

  Yes. There is no cost for approved participants to attend the PSRN training session.

• How do I apply or nominate someone?

  Applications are submitted online through the BC Construction Safety Alliance website. Visit the Application section.

• How long is the training?

  It is a single-day in-person session that includes instruction, discussion, and practical case examples.

• What happens after training?

  Participants receive a certificate of completion and become part of a growing community of Peer Support Recovery Navigators across B.C. The program also encourages ongoing connection through a PSRN Community of Practice for shared learning and support.

• What does a PSRN do on the job?

  A PSRN is not a therapist, case manager, or sponsor. They:

  • Listens confidentially and without judgment
  • Connects workers to local or workplace resources
  • Provides guidance and hope based on peer experience
  • Encourages help-seeking and supports a recovery-inclusive culture
• How is confidentiality handled?

  Confidentiality is essential. PSRNs do not share personal information without consent, except when there is risk of harm, suspected abuse, or a legal requirement to disclose. They do not collect or store detailed records beyond basic contact notes or consent forms.