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Board of Directors’ decisions on amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
At its October 2011 meeting, WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
These amendments will become effective on February 1, 2012.
Strikethrough versions of the amendments with explanatory notes can be accessed below. Deletions in the regulatory amendments are identified with a strikethrough and additions are in bold text and highlighted in yellow.
- Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements; and consequential amendments to Part 20, Construction, Excavation and Demolition, relating to updating asbestos requirements
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements, relating to updating the reference to the Pesticide Control Act
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 9, Confined Spaces, relating to clarifying that atmospheric testing must be conducted by a qualified person
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 12, Tools, Machinery and Equipment, relating to safer driven-feed mobile chipper requirements
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 14, Cranes and Hoists, relating to updating the reference to the Elevating Devices Safety Act
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 15, Rigging, relating to wire rope splices
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 16, Mobile Equipment, relating to a worker riding on a rear-mounted work platform on a vehicle for retrieving traffic cones
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 20, Construction, Excavation and Demolition, relating to new requirement that concrete pumps and placing booms meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z151‑09
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 23, Oil and Gas, relating to updating the reference to the Power Engineers and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Part 28, Agriculture, relating to the requirement for rollover protective structures on agricultural tractors
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Removal from the OHSR of the requirements for “prior approval” or “prior permission” before proceeding with certain types of work or using certain work arrangements. The sections identified for change by identifying specific requirements or referencing standards, or by partial repeal, are as follows:
- Part 5, Chemical Agents and Biological Agents, relating to extended work periods,
- Part 14, Cranes and Hoists, relating to chimney hoists,
- Part 19, Electrical Safety, relating to high voltage,
- Part 21, Blasting Operations, relating to mobile drill rigs
Approved amendments with explanatory notes - Addition of more prescriptive requirements to sections containing the phrase “acceptable to the Board” before proceeding with certain types of work or using certain work arrangements. The amendments are in Part 6, Substance Specific Requirements, and relate to:
- the removal of asbestos debris and acceptance from the Board,
- monitors and alarms for equipment and machinery and acceptance from the Board
Approved amendments with explanatory notes
The above amendments were taken to public consultations in the fall of 2010 and to public hearings in May‑June 2011. Stakeholder feedback received during the public hearing process is available for review.
Proposals for two items were not put forward for approval. The first relates to proposed amendments to section 6.85, Substance Specific Requirements, regarding posting warning signs. Both workers and employers supported the existing regulation. The second relates to proposed amendments to Part 16, Mobile Equipment, regarding requiring a permanent mechanical support for trailer dump boxes. During the public hearing, stakeholders advised of issues that will need to be addressed.
The Board of Directors will consider proposed amendments to Part 4, General Conditions, relating to a third option to protect workers assigned to work alone in a late night retail premises, at their December 2011 meeting.