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WorkSafeBC to hold series of public hearings
Richmond, B.C., April 26, 2010 — During May and June, WorkSafeBC will hold public hearings in various locations in B.C. to receive feedback from stakeholders and other interested parties on 14 proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
WorkSafeBC invites all interested parties to present oral and/or written submissions on any of the proposed amendments, which relate to the following sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation:
- Part 1 – Expanding the definition of qualified registered professionals to include registered forest technologists
- Parts 1, 4, and 20 – Broadening the definition of service utilities
- Part 4 – Changing terminology related to guardrails and adopting a new standard for guardrails made with rope rails
- Part 4 – Changing the definition of late night hours to any time between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in order to harmonize the Working Alone or in Isolation Regulation with BC’s Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation. Under the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation, private liquor store operators can keep their businesses open until 11:00 p.m. rather than 10 p.m., which is currently stipulated in WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
- Parts 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 23, and 31 – Updating terminology and the protection factors related to respirators
- Parts 4 and 26 – Modifying the definition of qualified avalanche planners
- Parts 5, 6, and 30 – Updating terminology related to biohazardous agents
- Part 8 – Updating manufacturing standards for leg protective devices
- Part 9 – Clarifying the acceptable isolation methods that don’t require WorkSafeBC’s approval when working in confined spaces
- Part 12 – Clarifying the requirement for swing arm pivot restraints
- Part 13 – Changing the process for using swing stages
- Part 15 – Updating the manufacturing standards related to slings
- Part 16 – Adding the requirement for warning signal devices on certain vehicles
- Part 19 – Expanding the definition related to minimum clearance for electrical safety
All public hearings will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
Date
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City
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Location
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| May 4 | Cranbrook | Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort & Convention Centre |
| May 6 | Kelowna | Best Western Inn |
| May 11 | Prince George | Coast Inn of the North |
| May 13 | Victoria | Hotel Grand Pacific |
| June 3 | Richmond | Executive Airport Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre |
Interested parties can also provide written submissions online or by email, fax, mail or by delivery to a public hearing during hearing hours. Written submissions will be accepted until 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 4th.
For more information on the amendments, or on how to make a submission in writing or in person, visit the public hearings page on WorkSafeBC.com.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves about two million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
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For more information, contact: |
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| Scott McCloy |
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