September 30, 2009

Dear Stakeholder:

Each year, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ("ACGIH") publishes a list of substances for which they have set new or revised threshold limit values ("TLVs"). A TLV is the exposure limit which is the maximum allowed airborne concentration for a particular substance, and may be an 8-hour time weighted average, short-term exposure limit or ceiling limit.

In accordance with section 5.48 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, these new or revised TLVs are automatically adopted as WorkSafeBC occupational exposure limits ("OELs") unless otherwise determined by the Board.

WorkSafeBC is requesting stakeholder feedback on the new or revised 2009 OELs. All stakeholder feedback will be presented to the Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC.

Your feedback on the new or revised 2009 OELs is appreciated by 4:30 p.m., Monday, November 30, 2009.

Of note is that a concern has been raised with the lack of a validated sampling method for the reduced exposure limit for sulfur dioxide, one of the substances on the 2009 list of amended OELs. Hence a Vice President Directive has been issued and prevention officers will not issue orders for not being in compliance with the 2009 OEL for sulfur dioxide; officers will reference the former limit. WorkSafeBC will work with external laboratories to develop a sampling method for sulfur dioxide. The Vice-President Directive will be in effect until December 2010 or until such earlier time as may be determined.

Sincerely,


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