Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF JANUARY 30, 2020
Canadian Federal News
Not sure which emergency management organization to contact in your province? Provincial and territorial emergency management organizations (EMOs) are a good source of information about how to prepare for emergencies in your region. EMO’s activities include planning and research, training, response operations and the administration and delivery of disaster financial assistance programs. EMOs are most familiar with the natural hazards and other risks of your region.
A Ministerial Condition has been published pertaining to the substance formaldehyde, polymer with N1-(2-aminoethyl)-N2-[2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethyl]-1,2-ethanediamine, alkane bis oxymethyleneoxirane, 4,4′-(1-methylethylidene)bis[phenol] and 2,2′-[(1-methylethylidene)bis(4,1-phenyleneoxymethylene)]bis[oxirane], reaction products with Bu glycidyl ether and 1-[[2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethyl]amino]-3-phenoxy-2-propanol, acetates (salts), Confidential Substance Identity Number 13804-7.
The Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau is pleased to announce that the first five Hazardous Substance Assessments are now available on the Health Canada website. This marks a significant milestone for WHMIS 2015 given that this will be the first time the department will publish chemical classifications under the Hazardous Products Act (HPA).
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is still considering amending the sulphur compliance flexibilities of the Sulphur in Gasoline Regulations. The Regulations establish limits for the concentration of sulphur in gasoline produced, imported or sold in Canada.
Canada’s electronic logging device (ELD) compliance deadline is scheduled for June 12, 2021. If you are an ELD vendor or motor carrier that currently operates or plans to operate in Canada, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is offering a Canadian Hours-of-Service/Electronic Logging Device (HOS/ELD) Training Course in Rosemont, Illinois, from March 10-12. This training is for anyone – motor carrier safety directors, owner-operators, commercial motor vehicle drivers, technicians, fleet managers, ELD vendors and programmers, etc. – who wants to learn more about Canada’s HOS rules and its upcoming ELD mandate. The course will provide in-depth information on the HOS rules in Canada, including daily, work shift and cycle rules; the daily deferral rule; single and team driver sleeper berth requirements; and exemptions.
Canadian Provincial News
It is a sobering fact: if there is a work-related death in Manitoba, it is most likely that it happened on the road. Approximately one out of every five fatalities reported to the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba from 2014-18 were caused by a vehicle collision.
Ministry inspectors will conduct an enforcement blitz on machine guarding at industrial workplaces from January 20 to March 31. They will check that employers are taking appropriate action to assess and address any hazards involving unguarded machinery and complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations.
The ministry has released its occupational health and safety annual report for 2018-2019. The report outlines a variety of activities and initiatives by the ministry and its system partners. It also contains top workplace hazards, enforcement results and resources for businesses.
On July 1, 2020, changes will go into effect for occupational exposure limits and listings for 36 chemical substances.
New respirator requirements came into effect on January 1. Read about these and other updates to occupational health regulations.
US News
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-182) (Ref. 1), provides EPA with authority to establish fees to defray a portion of the costs associated with administering TSCA sections 4, 5, and 6, as amended, as well as the costs of “collecting, processing, reviewing, and providing access to and protecting information about chemical substances from disclosure as appropriate under TSCA section 14.” EPA is finalizing this rule under TSCA section 26(b), 15 U.S.C. 2625(b). These fees will apply to chemical wholesalers/distributors who also import into the US.
The challenge aims to address the ecological gap in EPA’s high throughput screening program by developing high quality and low-cost technologies for measuring global gene expression in samples from 4 listed ecological species representing fish, invertebrates, plants, and algae. A $300,000 prize will be awarded to the respondent that develops the best performing assay platform at the lowest cost.
International News
Social responsibility is not only good for business, it is everyone’s business. New international guidance for the agri-food sector has just been published.
At the request of the European Commission, ECHA has assessed the safety of pigments used in tattoo inks. ECHA is not proposing to ban tattoos, nor all green and blue tattooing colours. The Agency submitted its scientific opinions to the Commission in June 2019, and the Commission will discuss it with Member States in February.
Other Relevant Information
Safety Share
From Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – Ergonomic tips for workers using hand-held devices. Dina encourages workers to keep these tips in mind when using hand-held devices:
- Keep messages brief. If you need to write a longer email or message, use a computer or use your device with an external accessory, like a keyboard.
- Hold your device vertically when typing, as this reduces the amount of reaching space your thumbs will need to cover to push the keys.
- Hold your phone upright as much as possible so you’re not looking down. And remember to change your posture frequently!
- Attach an accessory to your phone or tablet that you can use to securely hold your device, rather than gripping it with your hand.
(Nunavut Public Service Announcement) Vaping can seriously harm your health. Vaping is linked to a serious lung disease that has killed over 50 people in the United States, and over 2,500 cases of this disease have been reported. There are 15 confirmed cases in Canada. Symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, vomiting, stomach pain, and fever.
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