REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY 25, 2019

• Ministerial Condition 19725 for Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 97766-43-3

• First Reading for Bill C-429 to prohibit use of consumer packaging without recyclable materials

This enactment amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, to prohibit the use of consumer product packaging unless it is made of a material that is recyclable or compostable.

• Updated information in Safe Food Canadians Regulations licensing guidance

New information for food businesses with a pre-existing CFIA issued licence or registration (permission) can be found in Section 2.0 of “What to consider before applying for a Safe Food for Canadians licence”.

• Dyes of the Aromatic Azo and Benzidine-based Substance Grouping

Proposed Release Guidelines for Disperse Yellow 3 and 25 other azo disperse dyes in the textile sector were published

• Ontario Ministry of Labour needs Inspectors!

The ministry is hiring industrial and mining inspectors for its health and safety program. It’s also seeking a radiation protection officer. Learn what qualifications are needed.

• Ontario publishes warehouse inspection results

Warehouse and big-box retail workers can be at serious risk of injuries if safety hazards exist. Learn what the ministry found when it conducted a province-wide, health and safety initiative in October and November 2018. During a health and safety initiative at warehouses and big box retail stores from October 1 to November 23, 2018, Ministry of Labour inspectors:

• conducted 960 field visits with 55 support role activities
• visited 820 workplaces
• issued 2,764 orders and requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations, including 64 stop work orders

• EPA Releases First Major Update to Chemicals List in 40 Years

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an update of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory listing the chemicals that are actively being manufactured, processed and imported in the United States.

A key result of the update is that less than half of the total number of chemicals on the current TSCA Inventory (47 percent or 40,655 of the 86,228 chemicals) are currently in commerce. As the result of a tremendous effort on behalf of thousands of stakeholders and manufacturers from across the country, this information will help EPA focus risk evaluation efforts on chemicals that are still on the market.

• EPA hosting TSCA Active-Inactive rule reporting webinar

EPA is hosting a webinar on March 13, 2019 from 1-4 PM EDT to assist manufacturers (including importers) and processors with future reporting requirements under the TSCA Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) final rule after the initial Inventory was published in February. The webinar will include an overview of filing a Notice of Activity Form B, a demo of the electronic reporting application, and time for questions and answers. Registration for the webinar is not required.

• March 2^nd deadline for reporting injury and illness

March 2, 2019, is the deadline for employers to electronically report OSHA Form 300A data, which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses logged during calendar year 2018. Not all establishments are covered by this requirement.

• Australia passes Industrial Chemicals Bill 2017

The most significant amendment to the IC Bill in the Senate was a change to obligations for introducers using the exempted category under the new scheme, the Australian Industrial Chemical Introduction Scheme (AICIS).

• European REACH compliance is an Agency priority for 2019

Many of the registration dossiers received by ECHA do not include all of the required information. This could mean that potential risks posed by the substances are not being managed properly. ECHA’s Executive Director Bjorn Hansen tells how the Agency intends to tackle the challenge of non-compliant data and reduce the uncertainties around potential substances of concern.

• 5 cobalt salts proposed for restriction in Europe

The five cobalt salts cobalt sulphate, cobalt dichloride, cobalt dinitrate, cobalt carbonate and cobalt di(acetate) are produced and widely used to manufacture chemicals, catalysts, batteries, feed grade materials and biogas. The salts are also used for surface treatments and in fermentation processes.

• Guidance document on Good In Vitro Methods Practices (GIVIMP)

The document is targeted towards test method developers and test guideline users and provides best practices for designing guideline in vitro methods, carrying out safety tests and assuring quality and scientific integrity of the resulting data.

• IARC Monograph volume 119 covering seven substances

This volume includes seven monographs: 1-tert-butoxypropan-2-ol, β-myrcene, furfuryl alcohol, melamine, pyridine, tetrahydrofuran, and vinylidene chloride.

Safety Share

• Falls from heights how can employers better protect their workers?

Five (5) suggested steps to follow:

1. Ensure workers receive training in the proper use of PPE, including fall arrest systems, harnesses, lanyards and anchor points. “
2. Identify fall hazards in your workplace. Are there open edges or unsafe scaffolds? Take steps to eliminate the hazards, such as installing guardrails.
3. Provide workplace-specific training. Workers need to understand how to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. “For example, ‘Where are the fall hazards? Can the hazard be eliminated? Can I set up the fall protection equipment so that it stops me from reaching the edge (fall hazard)?’ As a last resort and if fall arrest is the only means of protection, make sure there is a rescue plan.”
4. Mentor and empower workers. Observe and coach workers, especially in the first few months, to ensure they are using equipment and ladders properly.
5. Empower workers to ask questions. Make sure there is a comfortable, trusting relationship between supervisors and workers, and encourage them to ask for help without fear of discipline.