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Approved Regulatory Amendments

Approved Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation for 2009

WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors has approved amendments to Parts 1, 4, 5, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23 and 26 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

A strikethrough version of the approved amendments with explanatory notes can be accessed below.

All amendments, except those relating to avalanche assessment in Part 4, will become effective on January 1, 2009.

The amendments relating to avalanche assessment in Part 4 will become effective on September 1, 2009, to avoid introducing changes in the middle of the winter season. Requirements for avalanche planners to sign off on active avalanche safety programs will become effective on September 1, 2011, to allow time for a sufficient number of avalanche planners to meet the training and experience criteria established by the Canadian Avalanche Association.

In light of feedback received during the public hearing process, the proposed amendments to Part 22, relating to accommodation of tunnel boring and cut and cover excavation methods, were withdrawn.  Further consultation will be done with affected stakeholders.

The amendments referenced above were all taken to public hearings in May and June 2008. Stakeholder feedback received during the public hearing process is available for review.

Harmonization of the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation/Working Alone or in Isolation

The Board of Directors has approved taking to the 2009 public hearing an adjustment to Part 4 relating to working alone or in isolation. The proposed adjustment to the Working Alone Regulation will harmonize it to the requirements of the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation: Late night hours will be defined as being between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., rather than between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. With regard to the one-hour differential, the general duties of the law remain in effect as do the specific requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation that address violence prevention and safe work practices.

The following is a strikethrough version showing the proposed amendment to the definition of late night hours in section 4.22.1:

"late night hours" means any time between 10:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m.
and 6:00 a.m.;

Approved Amendments Part 4: Working Alone or in Isolation

Part 4: General Conditions - Working Alone or in Isolation
  • Late Night Retail Provisions Update  new item (PDF 64 KB), September 2008
    This document outlines recent updates to WorkSafeBC's compliance timelines for the requirement for late night retail premises to have either a second worker during late night hours or a physical barrier or locked door between the worker and the customers.
  • Handbook for Employers Working Alone, Late Night Retail, and Prepayment of Fuel  new item (PDF 569 KB)
    This handbook is designed for retail store and gas station employers who do not already have adequate safe work practices to protect workers who must work alone and/or late at night.
  • Approved Amendments (PDF 35KB)
    The "Approved Amendments" documents show how the sections have been amended together with explanatory notes. The deletions of regulatory requirements are identified with a strikethrough and additions are identified in bold. These amendments come into effect on February 1, 2008.
  • OHS Guidelines  updated
    The following guidelines have been developed to assist in complying with the new requirements.
  • Frequently asked questions updated
    Answers to questions about the new regulation, working alone, late night retail premises, and prepaying for fuel.

If you have a comment about the new working alone, late night retail, or fuel prepayment requirements, please email:


Approved Amendments for OHS Regulation Parts 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, and 30

The "Approved Amendments" documents show how the sections have been amended together with explanatory notes. The deletions of regulatory requirements are identified with a strikethrough and additions are identified in bold. All of the amendments listed here come into effect on February 1, 2008.

The "Proposed OHS Guidelines" documents are currently in draft form and may be amended when the regulatory amendments are finalized.

Part 3: Rights and Responsibilities - Occupational health and safety programs and Occupational first aid
Section 3.1
Sections 3.16, 3.17.1, 3.20
Schedule 3-A
Approved Amendments (PDF 129KB)

 

Part 5: Chemical Agents and Biological Agents - Definitions and General information requirement
Part 6: Substance Specific Requirements - Biological agents
Sections 5.1 - 5.2 Approved Amendments (PDF 140KB)
Sections 6.33 - 6.41

 

Part 9: Confined Spaces - Lockout and isolation
Section 9.18.1 Approved Amendments (PDF 27KB)

 

Part 11: Fall Protection - Removal from service
Section 11.10 Approved Amendments (PDF 25KB)

 

Part 13: Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms - Mobile work platforms
Sections 13.24 and 13.30
  • Approved Amendments (PDF 136KB)
  • WorkSafeBC Standard 13.30: Work Platforms Supported by Lift Trucks (PDF 32KB)

 

Part 14: Cranes and Hoists
Section 14.1 Definitions
Sections 14.2 - 14.30 General requirements
Sections 14.35 - 14.53 Equipment operation
Sections 14.54 - 14.57 Bridge, gantry and overhead travelling cranes
Section 14.59 Pneumatically powered hoists and winches
Sections 14.63 - 14.73 Mobile cranes, boom trucks and sign trucks
Sections 14.73.1 - 14.94 Tower cranes
Section 14.95 Miscellaneous material hoists
Sections 14.96 - 14.115 Construction material hoists
Sections 14.116 - 14.132 Chimney hoists
Part 16: Mobile Equipment - General requirements
Sections 16.3 - 16.19

 

Part 30: Laboratories - General Requirements
Sections 30.7.1 - 30.12 Approved Amendments (PDF 42KB)


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