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Release of the 2010 Proposed Amendments for Consultation

In September 2009 the Board of Directors (“BOD”) approved the release of the 2010 proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (“OHSR”) for consultation.

In addition, the BOD directed that the issue of the definition of late night hours in section 4.22.1 of the OHSR be included on the 2010 regulatory review agenda. Currently the OHSR defines late night hours as anytime between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The proposal is to amend the definition of late night hours to mean anytime between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. in order to avoid a conflict with the BC Liquor Control & Licensing Regulation which specifies that licensee retail stores (i.e., private liquor stores) may remain open until 11 p.m. Currently, there is a Vice-President Directive in effect that directs prevention officers to enforce from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The consultation phase provides stakeholders with an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed amendments. All feedback received will be reviewed and changes made to the proposed amendments, where appropriate, prior to the proposed amendments being taken to a public hearing in May or June 2010. WorkSafeBC must hold a public hearing under the Workers Compensation Act before a regulation can be made.

WorkSafeBC welcomes your written feedback on the proposed amendments via:

Online survey: See each amendment below for surveys
E-mail: Regquery@ worksafebc.com
Fax: 604-279-7599 or toll-free in B.C. 1-877-279-7599
Mail: Policy and Research Division
WorkSafeBC
P.O. Box 5350 Station Terminal
Vancouver BC V6B 5L5

When providing written feedback, please identify the part and section number of the regulation that corresponds to your feedback. Feedback will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009. For further information, please call 604 232-7744, or toll-free in B.C. 1 866 614-7744.

There are 12 regulatory amendment packages under review. These are listed below. From the regulatory packages, you will be able to access:

  • overviews of the proposed regulatory changes; and
  • proposed amendments including explanatory notes. Proposed deletions in the regulatory amendments are identified with a strikethrough and additions are in bold text and highlighted in yellow.

You will also be able to access an online survey from each amendment package.

Proposed regulatory amendments:

  1. Part 4, General Conditions with consequential amendments to Part 1, Definitions; and Part 20, Construction, Excavation and Demolition
    relating to notification of utilities

  2. Part 4, General Conditions
    relating to wire rope guardrails and prior approval

  3. Part 4, General Conditions
    relating to the definition of late night hours

  4. Part 8, Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
    relating to leg protection

  5. Part 8, Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment with consequential amendments to Part 4, General Conditions; Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements; Part 9, Confined Spaces; Part 12, Tools, Machinery and Equipment; Part 23, Oil and Gas; and Part 31, Firefighting
    relating to respirator protection factors

  6. Part 9, Confined Spaces
    relating to alternate procedures

  7. Part 12, Tools, Machinery and Equipment
    relating to swing-arm restraint

  8. Part 13, Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms
    relating to swing stages and prior permission

  9. Part 15, Rigging
    relating to standards for slings

  10. Part 16, Mobile Equipment
    relating to warning signal device

  11. Part 19, Electrical Safety
    relating to minimum clearance

  12. Part 30, Laboratories with consequential amendments to Part 5, Chemical Agents and Biological Agents; and Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements
    relating to biohazardous materials