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Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
Background Information
The OHS Regulation contains legal requirements that must be met by all workplaces under the inspectional jurisdiction of the WCB. This includes most workplaces in B.C., except mines and federally chartered workplaces such as banks, interprovincial and international transportation, telephone systems, and radio, television, and cable services.
The purpose of the OHS Regulation is to promote occupational health and safety and to protect workers and other persons present at workplaces from work-related risks to their health, safety, and well-being. Compliance with the requirements provides the basis on which workers and employers, in cooperation, can solve workplace health and safety problems. The requirements are not an end in themselves, but are a foundation upon which to build an effective health and safety program.
The board is committed to the regular review of the requirements of the OHS Regulation based on regulatory experience and changes in knowledge, technology, and work practices. All interested parties are invited to forward suggestions for improvement to the board.
Note: The requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation are adopted under the authority of the Workers Compensation Act of April 15, 1998, as amended by the Workers Compensation (Occupational Health and Safety) Amendment Act, effective October 1, 1999.
Note: The requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation are adopted under the authority of the Workers Compensation Act of April 15, 1998, as amended by the Workers Compensation (Occupational Health and Safety) Amendment Act, effective October 1, 1999.
B.C. Regulation 296/97 (effective April 15, 1998) amended by
- B.C. Reg. 185/1999 (effective October 1, 1999)
- B.C. Reg. 253/2001 (effective January 28, 2002)
- B.C. Reg. 313/2001 (effective: March 27, 2002)
- B.C. Reg. 3/2002 (effective: May 1, 2002)
- B.C. Reg. 152/2002 (effective: June 30, 2002)
- B.C. Reg. 234/2002 (effective: October 28, 2002)
- B.C. Reg. 320/2002 (effective: March 3, 2003)
- B.C. Reg. 312/2003 (effective: October 29, 2003)
- B.C. Reg. 315/2003 (effective October 29, 2003)
- B.C. Reg. 348/2003 (effective March 30, 2004)
- B.C. Reg. 312/2004 (effective: January 1, 2005
- B.C. Reg. 381/2004 (effective January 1, 2005)
- B.C. Reg. 382/2004 (effective January 1, 2005)
- B.C. Reg. 420/2004 (effective January 1, 2005)
- B.C. Reg. 421/2004 (effective January 1, 2005)
- B.C. Reg. 422/2004 (effective January 1, 2005)
- B.C. Reg. 73/2005 (effective February 25, 2005)
- B.C. Reg. 18/2006 (effective May 17, 2006)
- B.C. Reg. 19/2006 (effective May 17, 2006)
- B.C. Reg. 20/2006 (effective May 17, 2006)
- B.C. Reg. 21/2006 (effective May 17, 2006)
- B.C. Reg. 17/2006 (effective August 15, 2006)
- B.C. Reg. 241/2006 (effective January 1, 2007)
- B.C. Reg. 242/2006 (effective January 1, 2007)
- B.C. Reg. 243/2006 (effective January 1, 2007)
- B.C. Reg. 106/2007 (effective July 26, 2007)
- B.C. Reg. 319/2007 (effective February 1, 2008)
- B.C. Reg 320/2007 (effective February 1, 2008)
- B.C. Reg. 20/2008 (effective May 1, 2008)
- B.C. Reg. 258/2008 (effective January 1, 2009)
OHS Regulation Contents
Workers Compensation Act - Excerpts & SummariesHazardous Products Act (Canada) - Summary of Key Sections
Part 1: Definitions
Part 2: Application
Part 3: Rights and Responsibilities
Part 4: General Conditions
Part 5: Chemical Agents and Biological Agents
Part 6: Substance Specific Requirements
Part 7: Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature
Part 8: Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
Part 9: Confined Spaces
Part 10: De-energization and Lockout
Part 11: Fall Protection
Part 12: Tools, Machinery and Equipment
Part 13: Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms
Part 14: Cranes and Hoists
Part 15: Rigging
Part 16: Mobile Equipment
Part 17: Transportation of Workers
Part 18: Traffic Control
Part 19: Electrical Safety
Part 20: Construction, Excavation and Demolition
Part 21: Blasting Operations
Part 22: Underground Workings
Part 23: Oil and Gas
Part 24: Diving, Fishing and Other Marine Operations
Part 25: Camps
Part 26: Forestry Operations
Part 27: Wood Products Manufacturing
Part 28: Agriculture
Part 29: Aircraft Operations
Part 30: Laboratories
Part 31: Firefighting
Part 32: Evacuation and Rescue
Disclaimer: WorkSafeBC ("Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.") publishes the online version Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ("OHS Regulation") in accordance with its mandate under the Workers Compensation Act to provide information and promote public awareness of occupational health and safety matters. The online OHS Regulation is not the official version of the OHS Regulation, which may be purchased from Crown Publications.
WorkSafeBC endeavours to update the online OHS Regulation as soon as possible following any legislative amendments. However, WorkSafeBC does not warrant the accuracy or the completeness of the online OHS Regulation, and neither WorkSafeBC nor its board of directors, employees or agents shall be liable to any person for any loss or damage of any nature, whether arising out of negligence or otherwise, arising from the use of the online OHS Regulation.
Employers are legally obligated to make a copy of the Workers' Compensation Act and the OHS Regulation readily available for review by workers. The circumstances under which WorkSafeBC may consider an employer's providing access to electronic versions of the Act and OHS Regulation to have satisfied this obligation are described in Guideline G-D3-115(2)(f).