|
July
16, 2009
Dear Stakeholder:
At its meeting on July 14, 2009, the Board of Directors
("BOD") approved that the current occupational
exposure limits ("OELs") for two substances
- formaldehyde and styrene - be retained. At issue was
whether the Board should adopt the American Conference
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ("ACGIH")
Threshold Limit Values ("TLVs") or retain
the current OELs.
The
current OELs that are retained are as follows:
| |
Formaldehyde |
Styrene |
| |
TWA: |
0.3
ppm |
TWA: |
50
ppm |
| |
Ceiling
limit: |
1.0
ppm |
STEL: |
75
ppm |
| |
|
|
| |
TWA=
8 hour time weighted average
STEL = 15 minute short term exposure limit |
For
both of these substances, the Policy and Research Division
("PRD") undertook:
- A
comprehensive review of the research on the health
effects;
- Meetings
with employer and worker representatives;
- Consultation
with stakeholders;
- Jurisdictional
comparisons of OELs;
- Visits
to some industries that use these substances; and
- Analyses
of claims data.
Discussion
papers with the research obtained from the above were
prepared and sent out for consultation with stakeholders
in 2007
At the request of the BOD, the PRD also obtained formal
recommendations from both the WorkSafeBC OEL Review
Committee and independent peer reviewers on whether
the summary of the health effects in the discussion
papers accurately reflects the health risks to workers,
particularly at exposure levels between the ACGIH TLVs
and the current OELs.
Both the OEL Review Committee and the independent peer
reviewers confirmed that the health effects outlined
in the discussion papers are complete and accurate,
and agreed that the current weight of evidence shows
no adverse health effects at the BC OELs for styrene
and formaldehyde. Lowering the limits to the ACGIH TLVs
will have no additional benefit to workers. They also
confirmed that the weight of evidence shows that neither
substance is a cytotoxin, carcinogen, genotoxin, reproductive
toxin, developmental toxin or causes other long term
health effects at the current OELs.
However, to ensure due diligence, the BOD directed the
PRD to report back to them on an annual basis with the
following information regarding both styrene and formaldehyde:
- Results
of any new scientific research - especially at the
lower levels where the current OELs are;
- WorkSafeBC
claims;
- Claims
in other Canadian jurisdictions that are significant
users of the substances; and
- Results
of inspections by prevention officers.
Sincerely,
Anne Burch
Director
Prevention Policy and Regulation Review
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