REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY 18, 2020

• Notice with respect to the substances in the National Pollutant Release Inventory for 2020 and 2021

This NPRI notice applies to the calendar years 2020 and 2021. Information pertaining to the 2020 calendar year shall be provided no later than June 1, 2021. Information pertaining to the 2021 calendar year shall be provided no later than June 1, 2022.

• The Government of Canada supports a global ban on heavy fuel oil in the Arctic

The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, announced the Government of Canada’s support for a ban on heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters. Ministers also announced they will be seeking a phased-in approach to the ban as Canada discusses with IMO countries ways to help balance the environmental benefits with the economic realities of northern, Indigenous and Inuit communities.

• Ontario launches pre-start health and safety review consultation

The ministry is reviewing current pre-start health and safety review requirements in the Industrial Establishments regulation to ensure they continue to reflect the realities of today’s workplaces while maintaining existing worker health and safety protections.

• Ontario updates employment standards policy and interpretation manual

The ministry has updated the P&I Manual, which explains how the ministry interprets, administers and enforces the Employment Standards Act (ESA), the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act and their associated regulations. The most recent updates relate to the Divisional Court’s Rouge River Farms decision, the “Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Processing” special overtime threshold and the provision for employers to provide a copy of the ESA poster to employees.

• Ontario has developed a new infographic on chemical exposure for small businesses

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) has developed a new infographic poster on chemical exposure. Employers can download the free poster and post it in their workplaces.

• Administrative fees imposed on importers and distributors to administer the TSCA

The 2016 amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) provided EPA with expanded authority to collect fees from chemical manufacturers and importers to help defray up to 25% of the costs associated with overall TSCA implementation efforts. TSCA further required EPA to establish a fee structure by rule. On September 27, 2018, EPA finalized the Fees for the Administration of TSCA rule. The final rule became effective on October 18, 2018.

• EPA Publishes 2018 Annual Toxics Release Inventory Report and Analysis

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2018 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis. Findings from this publicly available report show an increase in recycling of TRI chemical wastes nationwide and indicate that companies continue to find ways to implement new source reduction activities and reduce the quantities of TRI chemicals they release into the environment.

• Chemical Safety Bureau issues prepublication version of Accidental Release Reporting final rule

This is a prepublication version of the document approved by the CSB and submitted

for publication in the Federal Register. While the CSB has taken steps to ensure the

accuracy of this prepublication version of the document, it is not the official, final version

of the document. Please refer to the official version of the document that will appear in a forthcoming Federal Register publication.

• Europe concerned about inconsistent classification and labelling of mixtures

When inspectors in 29 countries checked to see if companies are classifying and labelling their mixtures correctly, they found that almost half of the checked mixtures were not compliant with the law. We spoke with two inspectors, who have experience in enforcing these duties and who also took part in this EU-wide Enforcement Forum project, to learn about the results and what companies could do to improve.

• Europe adds 11 substances to authorization list

The European Commission has added 11 new substances to the Authorisation List. It contains now 54 substances in total.

• Transporting dangerous goods gets quality touch with updated International Standard

Transporting dangerous goods demands adequate quality and safety programmes in place to meet local and international laws. The International Standard that outlines the requirements for such programmes for packaging has just been updated.

Safety Share

• A Surgical Mask Won’t Protect You From Coronavirus

McGill Office for Science and Society – The masks are designed to prevent you from infecting someone else with your germs, not to prevent someone else’s germs from infecting you.

• Loading dock safety

Learn how to identify and manage loading dock hazards that can result in injuries. Loading docks are frequently congested with equipment, goods and people, exposed to weather, and often poorly laid out and lit. These conditions can easily lead to injuries and property loss. Nevertheless, loading docks are often the workplace’s most overlooked areas during monthly inspections.