The Board of Directors approved public hearings to be held in June 2014 to consider proposed regulatory amendments to:
•    General Conditions, section 4.1.1 Snow avalanche assessment – Resolve the implementation issues with the avalanche risk assessment and safety plan;
•    General Conditions, section 4.69 Emergency lighting – Update the reference to the BC Fire Code;
•    Chemical Agents and Biological Agents, sections 5.3 Application and 5.27 Ignition – Update references to repealed Acts;
•    Tools, Machinery and Equipment, new sections – Adopt ANSI standard and add requirements for the safe use of roll on/roll off containers;
•    Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms, section 13.32 Work in high risk situations – Update the reference to CSA Standard Z271;
•    Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms, section 13.5 Position and stability – Review the safe positioning and stability requirements of portable ladders;
•    Construction, Excavation and Demolition, section 20.26 Inspections – Clarify gang form inspection requirements when there is a change to the design or erection of a gang form;
•    Construction, Excavation and Demolition, section 20.112 Hazardous materials – Clarify the responsibilities of employers, owners and qualified persons for the safe containment or removal of hazardous materials;
•    Diving, Fishing and Other Marine Operations, section 24.40 Minimum crew – Clarify the conditions that must be met for a surface supply diver to serve as a standby in the water
•    Forestry Operations and Similar Activities, section 26.65 Bullboards – Add new construction, inspection, removal and return to service requirements;
•    Agriculture, section 28.12 Biohazards exception – Remove an obsolete provision; and
•    Rope access, new Part 34 – Ensure comprehensive requirements for rope access training, certification, safe work procedures, and equipment.
The proposed Respirable Crystalline Silica (“RCS”) regulation will not proceed to the 2014 public hearing. It is intended that WorkSafeBC will work with industry stakeholders to develop acceptable compliance tools, and that the proposed RCS regulation will be introduced at the next scheduled public hearing.
From the regulatory packages, you will be able to access the proposed amendments and explanatory notes. Proposed deletions in the regulatory amendments are identified with a strikethrough and additions are in bold text and highlighted in yellow.