Public hearings in May-June 2011 for proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ("OHSR") - UPDATED

April 12, 2011

Dear Stakeholder:

The Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC approved public hearings to be held in May - June 2011 to consider proposed regulatory amendments pertaining to the items below. There is an additional proposal for Part 16, Mobile Equipment.

• Part 4 - relating to a third option to protect workers assigned to work alone in a late night retail premises. This third option is proposed because some employers have found it impracticable to install barriers to separate workers from the public or alternatively employ two workers on shift during late night hours;
• Parts 6 and 20 - relating to updating asbestos requirements;
• Part 6 - relating to updating the reference to the Pesticide Control Act;
• Part 9 - relating to clarifying that atmospheric testing must be conducted by a qualified person;
• Part 12 - relating to safer driven-feed mobile chipper requirements;
• Part 14 - relating to updating the reference to the Elevating Devices Safety Act;
• Part 15 - relating to clarifying the correct number of wire rope clips to be used in wire rope splices;
• Part 16 - relating to the requirement for trailer units with a dump box to have a permanently affixed mechanical device capable of supporting the empty box in the raised position;
• Part 16 - relating to permitting a worker riding on a rear-mounted work platform to retrieve traffic cones when the vehicle is backing up;
• Part 20 - relating to new requirement that concrete pumps and placing booms meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z151-09;
• Part 23 - relating to updating the reference to the Power Engineers and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act;
• Part 28 - relating to the requirement for rollover protective structures on agricultural tractors;
• Removal from the OHSR of the requirements for "prior approval" or "prior permission" before proceeding with certain types of work or using certain work arrangements. The sections identified for change by identifying specific requirements or referencing standards are as follows:
  • Part 5 - relating to extended work periods;
  • Part 14 - relating to chimney hoists;
  • Part 19 - relating to high voltage;
  • Part 21 - relating to mobile drill rigs;
• Removal from the OHSR of the requirements for "acceptable to the Board" before proceeding with certain types of work or using certain work arrangements. The sections identified for change are in Part 6 and relate to:
  • the removal of asbestos debris and acceptance from the Board;
  • posting warning signs and acceptance from the Board;
  • monitors and alarms for equipment and machinery and acceptance from the Board.

The proposed amendments with explanatory notes and details of the public hearings can be accessed via the WorkSafeBC website or the link below:

2011 Proposed Regulatory Amendments

The public hearings will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on the proposed regulatory amendments. WorkSafeBC welcomes your feedback on the amendments by either written submissions or participation at the oral public hearings. Written submissions will be accepted until 4:30 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011.

Please note that the public consultation phase is separate from the public hearing process. Accordingly, if you provided comments during consultation, and you wish your feedback to be considered during the public hearing process, please make another submission on the proposed amendments.

Based on the feedback received from stakeholders, the Board of Directors decided that the following proposed amendment package which was released for consultation, not proceed to public hearings and that WorkSafeBC continue to work with industry on this topic:

• Part 21 - relating to restricting the abandonment of misfired explosives to reduce chances of accidentally drilling into an un-detonated charge.

Sincerely,

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

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