September 30, 2009

Dear Stakeholder:

In September 2009 the Board of Directors ("BOD") approved the release of the 2010 proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ("OHSR") for consultation.

In addition, the BOD directed that the issue of the definition of late night hours in section 4.22.1 of the OHSR be included on the 2010 regulatory review agenda. Currently the OHSR defines late night hours as anytime between 10 pm and 6 am. The proposal is to amend the definition of late night hours to mean anytime between 11 pm and 6 am in order to avoid a conflict with the BC Liquor Control & Licensing Regulation which specifies that licensee retail stores (i.e., private liquor stores) may remain open until 11 pm. Currently, there is a Vice-President Directive in effect that directs prevention officers to enforce from 11 pm to 6 am.

The consultation phase provides stakeholders with an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed amendments. All feedback received will be reviewed and changes made to the proposed amendments, where appropriate, prior to the proposed amendments being taken to a public hearing in May or June 2010. WorkSafeBC must hold a public hearing under the Workers Compensation Act before a regulation can be made.

The proposed amendments with explanatory notes have been posted on WorkSafeBC's website. There is also an online survey with each regulatory amendment package for stakeholders to provide feedback. A link to this website is provided below for your convenience.

View 2010 proposed amendments

WorkSafeBC welcomes your written feedback on the proposed amendments via:

When providing written feedback, please identify the part and section number of the regulation that corresponds to your comments. Feedback will be accepted until 4:30 pm on Friday, December 18, 2009. For further information please call (604) 232 7744, or toll free 1 (866) 614 7744.

Sincerely,


Anne Burch,
Director, Prevention Policy and Regulation Review
Policy and Research Division
WorkSafeBC-WCB