Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09) – Overview Occupational Hygiene Association of Ontario PDC March 23, 2012 Thomas Lee, M. Eng. CIH, ROH Provincial Hygienist Occupational Health and Safety Branch Ministry of Labour Ministry of Labour
Notes The material in this presentation is being provided as information only. It is not intended to replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) or the regulations and reference should always be made to the official version of the legislation and regulations. This presentation does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of the workplace parties to ensure compliance with the legislation and to seek independent legal advice where questions remain. Ministry of Labour 2
Outline Background Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09) – Key Features Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09) – Overview Regulation 833 (Control of Exposure to Biological & Chemical Agents) Resources Questions Ministry of Labour 3
Background (1) • The Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHS Act) • Provides for the making of regulations • prescribing any biological, chemical or physical agent or combination thereof as a designated substance • For prohibiting, regulating, restricting, limiting or controlling the handling of, exposure to, or the use and disposal of any designated substance • In the 1980s, 12 Designated Substance Regulations (DSRs) were developed for 11 designated substances • The 11 designated substances are: Lead, Benzene, Mercury, Silica, Asbestos, Coke Oven Emissions, Acrylonitrile, Isocyanates, Vinyl Chloride, Arsenic, Ethylene Oxide • Two DSRs were developed for Asbestos – one addressing asbestos exposures through the mining of asbestos and manufacturing/assembly of asbestos products and the other addressing exposures on construction projects, buildings and repair operations. Ministry of Labour 4
Background (2) O. Reg 278/05 (Construction projects, buildings and repair operations) – Rationale • WSIB Data - more deaths in construction from occupational disease (asbestos) than from traumatic injury • The adoption of a ‘procedural approach’ in O. Reg. 278/05 was supported by construction labour and employer groups when the initial asbestos designated substance regulation was proposed. • Regulation sets out prescriptive requirements relating to: – safe work measures and procedures to be implemented for operations classified according to hazard; – Training of workers and supervisors in high hazard operations such as asbestos abatement. Ministry of Labour 5
Background (3) • In 2009, the 11 of the 12 stand-alone Designated Substances Regulations were revoked and consolidated into one Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09). • O. Reg. 278/05 Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations was not consolidated due to its unique nature. Ministry of Labour 6
Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09) – Key Features (1) • Came into force on July 1, 2010 • Continues the designation of all 11 chemical substances • Consolidates all common requirements in the previous 11 stand-alone designated substance regulations • No substantive changes in worker protections, role of JHSC or employer duties • New definitions for exposure, TWA, STEL and C • Revised exemption for construction work. Consistent approach taken for both O. Reg. 490/09-Designated Substances and Regulation 833 (Control of Exposure to Biological and Chemical Agents) Ministry of Labour 7
Designated Substances Regulation (O. Reg. 490/09) – Key Features (2) • OELs for designated substances set out in Table format. Listings identical to those in Regulation 833 (also revised in 2009) • Streamlined language for parallel requirements in the revised Regulation 833. • Maintains existing Codes for respiratory protection, measuring and medical surveillance. • Overall, compared to the previous stand-alone DSRs, there is no change in the general approach in achieving compliance with O. Reg. 490/09 Ministry of Labour 8
O. Reg. 490/09 – Overview (1) • New definitions for “Exposure” and occupational exposure limits (OELs): “TWA”, “STEL” and “Ceiling” (S. 1) • Prescribes 11 chemical agents as designated substances and specifies the forms and types of the 11 designated substances covered in the O. Reg. 490/09 (S. 1 and 2), e.g. the types of asbestos • The Regulation applies to all designated substances Language varies slightly depending on the designated substance • The Regulation does not apply at a construction project (S. 14) Ministry of Labour 9
O. Reg. 490/09 – Overview (2) • Substances and limits are set out in Table format. (Table 1 ) • There are no changes to the limits for designated substances. • One additional isocyanate (Methylene bis (4- cyclohexylisocyanate)) was added to the DSR. • No substantive change to employer duties (section 16) • Must limit workers airborne exposure to benzene, coke oven emissions, lead and mercury to limits set in Table I • ALARA principle applies for other designated substances in addition to requirement that exposure does not exceed the limits set out in Table 1 Ministry of Labour 10
O. Reg. 490/09 – Overview (3) • Duty with respect to isocyanates other than those listed in Table 1( S. 17) to • (a) adopt and implement engineering controls, work practices and hygiene practices as are reasonable and practical; and • (b) provide PPE to workers likely to inhale or come into contact with isocyanates. • Note: 2010 OEL consultation proposes – addition of limit for methyl isocyanate in Table 1 Ministry of Labour 11
Ministry of Labour Designated Substance Exposure Limits – Table 1 12
Ministry of Labour Designated Substance Exposure Limits- Table 1 13
O. Reg. 490/09 – Overview (4) • Circumstances allowing the use of respiratory equipment and minimum requirements (S. 18) • Emergency, engineering controls do not exist or are not available, not reasonable or practical for the length of time or frequency of exposure or the nature of the process, operation or work, or during a temporary breakdown of equipment • At the request of the worker exposed to any level of designated substance • Appropriate in the circumstances for the form and concentration of airborne designated substance • Meets or exceeds the requirements set out in the applicable code for respiratory equipment • Used in accordance with the applicable code for respiratory equipment • Shall provide training and instruction to the worker in the care and use of the equipment. Ministry of Labour 14
O. Reg. 490/09 – Overview (5) Assessment and Control Program (S. 19 – 26) • An assessment is required: • where O. Reg. 490/09 applies • wherever there is a “change” (note: defined term) in a workplace resulting in a difference in the exposure ( S. 22) • Consolidation led to minor changes in control program requirements • Requirement for a training program for supervisors and workers on the health effects of the designated substance and the measures and procedures required under the control program was expanded to all designated substances Ministry of Labour 15
O. Reg. 490/09 - Overview (6) • Changes Requiring Further Assessment i.e. Re-Assessment (Section 22) • Added ‘processed’ to the list of changes to methods and procedures that would trigger the requirement for a re-assessment • Specifies that further assessment is of the ‘exposure or likelihood of exposure of a worker to a designated substance’ • Criteria to determine if Control Program is necessary • If designated substance present/likelihood of exposure - assessment needs to be done • Control program to be established where assessment discloses worker is likely to be exposed to a designated substance and health of a worker may be affected by that exposure. ( S. 20) • Requirements of control programs (S.20) Ministry of Labour 16
O. Reg. 490/09 – Overview (7) • Maintains existing requirements for codes for, measuring, medical surveillance and respiratory protection. • Codes for measuring • Codes are prescribed for acrylonitrile, arsenic, coke oven emissions, ethylene oxide or isocyanates • Standard methods for workplace air sampling and analysis for asbestos, benzene, lead, mercury, silica or vinyl chloride use standard methods for workplace air sampling and analysis. (NIOSH, OSHA, HSE etc.) • Codes for medical surveillance • Codes as prescribed under S.20(4) for all designated substances except arsenic and ethylene oxide. • For arsenic and ethylene oxide, medical examinations after exposure as per S.28. • Codes for respiratory protection • Codes for all designated substances are prescribed for respiratory protection selection and general requirements Ministry of Labour 17
O. Reg. 490/09 – Overview (8) • Variance from a Code (S. 32) - For the purposes of this Regulation, the methods and procedures that may be used or adopted may vary from the Codes issued by the Ministry • Codes for measuring airborne substances • Variance accepted if factors of accuracy and precision are equal to or greater than in the codes issued by the Ministry • Codes for respiratory protection • Variance accepted, if protection afforded is equal to or greater than in the codes issued by the Ministry Ministry of Labour 18
Recommend
More recommend
