Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 4, 2020
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) would like to engage with its partners and stakeholders on its discussion paper: a proposed integrated management approach to plastic products to prevent waste and pollution.
The new CSA B620:20 standard includes new qualifications for highway and portable tank testers and tank inspectors. If you are a new tank tester or tank inspector, you must be trained on the different types of tests and inspections needed for highway and portable tanks. This training must be done by a certified training organization. Once this training is complete, you will have to complete a certain number of tests and inspections with a qualified tank tester or tank inspector before you are recognized as a qualified tank tester or tank inspector.
This bulletin is for anyone who manufactures TC highway tanks and for those who fill these and other highway tanks with dangerous goods (DGs). The manufacturing requirements for TC highway tanks intended for DGs service are found in CSA B620-14. This standard outlines the metal identification plate markings for these tanks.
Transport Canada wants feedback on creating a new safety regulation under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Act) for administrative monetary penalties (AMPs).
Establishment License (EL)Bulletin No. 98 – In light of the ongoing challenges protecting the supply of certain drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic, on October 16, 2020, the Minister of Health signed the Interim Order Respecting the Prevention and Alleviation of Shortages of Drugs in Relation to COVID-19. This IO became effective immediately upon being signed by the Minister.
This Interim Order (IO) gives the Minister of Health new authorities to reduce the impacts of drug shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic. A shortage is considered related to the pandemic if it is used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and/or its availability has been impacted by the pandemic. The IO allows the Minister to (1) require the provision of information, and (2) place terms and conditions on a market authorization for a drug.
The draft screening assessment for 2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one, 7-(diethylamino)-4-methyl-, also referred to as coumarin 1, has been published. It is proposed to conclude that this substance may be harmful to human health and meets the criteria under section 64(c) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). A risk management scope has been published concurrently to initiate discussions with stakeholders on the risk management options being considered. Communicating measures to reduce exposures of Canadians to coumarin 1 from certain cosmetics, specifically body makeup, by describing coumarin 1 as a prohibited or restricted ingredient on the Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist.
The final Order deleting benzenamine, N-phenyl-, reaction products with styrene and 2,4,4-trimethylpentene (BNST) from the List of Toxic Substances to CEPA has been published.
The final Order adding Benzene, 1-chloro-2-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-, also referred to as mitotane, to the List of Toxic Substances to CEPA has been published. his decision does not preclude the ministers from implementing other risk management measures for a toxic substance under CEPA on mitotane in the future, should such measures be deemed necessary due to new activities that were not identified and assessed in the screening assessment.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will update its Compliance and Enforcement Policy, effective November 1, 2020. Here’s what’s changing:
There is no significant shift in policy direction between the 2015 Compliance and Enforcement Operational Policy and the new Compliance and Enforcement Policy. Rather, the policy has been revised to include changes such as the coming into force of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) and changes to Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs). Updates were also required to reflect the evolving nature of CFIA’s operating environment such as online services for regulated parties through My CFIA. Additional updates include:
- Alignment with the CFIA’s official policy template
- Explanation of inspection versus investigation under the Roles and Responsibilities section
- Removal of Department of Justice roles
- Inclusion of an Inquiries section.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has published a factsheet on new substances requirements for living organisms and animate products of biotechnology.
the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its Watchlist 2020. For 10 years, the TSB Watchlist has put the spotlight on key safety issues and actions needed to make Canada’s transportation system even safer. Watchlist 2020 identifies eight key safety issues that require government and industry attention that are the result of hundreds of investigations, compelling findings and data, and active TSB recommendations. New to Watchlist 2020 is the risk of unplanned or uncontrolled movement of railway equipment. The number of uncontrolled movements is climbing, with last year’s total of 78 well above the 10-year average. The TSB has made two recommendations relating to uncontrolled movements (R14-04 & R20-01) and issued one safety concern.
The Government of Canada is committed to improving road safety in Canada by taking measures to reduce commercial driver fatigue, which is why it has mandated the use of electronic logging devices.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) provided results of this year’s Brake Safety Week, 12% of the 43,565 commercial motor vehicles inspected were placed out of service for brake-related violations. Inspectors from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. removed 5,156 commercial motor vehicles from roadways due to brake violations during the week-long inspection and enforcement event, focused specifically on reducing brake-related crashes by conducting inspections and identifying and removing unsafe commercial motor vehicles from roadways.
The first meeting of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) will be held today with another this Wednesday November 4th, 2020.
Environment and Climate Change Canada is reviewing the Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations as part of its regulatory stock review to determine if amendments are required. Consultations will be national in scope and will be targeted to storage tank systems on Aboriginal lands and federal lands across Canada.
The Regulations, made pursuant to paragraph 264(1)(j.5) of the Code, will amend the Canada Labour Standards Regulations to temporarily suspend an employer’s ability to require an employee to provide a certificate from a health care practitioner if he or she is absent for three or more days on medical leave. Instead, employers will be able to require employees to provide a written declaration attesting to the fact that they were incapable of working during the period in which they were absent.
A new program to turn Alberta into a top global producer of petrochemicals is launching with an aggressive industry-driven strategy to spur long-term international investment and thousands of jobs to the province.
Manitoba Finance is reminding employers to ensure that workplaces are safe and workers are adequately trained to perform their duties after employers were prosecuted for violations of the Workplace Safety and Health Act and its associated regulations.
The Ontario government has launched a new public education campaign to increase awareness about accessibility needs and responsibilities, and help organizations identify and remove barriers for people with disabilities.
Now more than ever, keeping your team and customers safe and healthy in the workplace is not only good for business, it needs to be a top priority for all businesses and we’re here to help.
We are happy to inform you that we have scheduled virtual information sessions for you to engage with us and learn more about the Health and Safety Excellence program. Our incentive program connects businesses of all sizes with WSIB-approved providers to help you develop a program that is suitable for your business.
Fewer workplace accidents, lower claims costs and a reduction in administration costs have resulted in a reduced assessment rate for 2021, WorkSafeNB announced today. WorkSafeNB’s 2021 provincial average assessment rate has been set at $2.17 per $100 of assessable payroll, a reduction of 9.6% from $2.40 in 2020.
The 2020 NWT Environmental Audit found the environmental regulatory system has continued to improve since the last Audit was completed in 2015. No new significant issues were identified, and progress was made in several areas, including climate change policy and action planning, and updated laws related to land, water and resource management. The Audit also highlighted areas that still need improvement, including community well-being, land use planning, finalizing land claims and engaging communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment on a revised draft risk evaluation of C. I. Pigment Violent 29 under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA conducts risk evaluations to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment without consideration of costs or other nonrisk factors, including an unreasonable risk to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, under the conditions of use. The draft risk evaluation has been revised to include information EPA received from the manufacturing stakeholders as a result of a TSCA section 4 order requiring testing of the chemical substance. EPA is announcing the opening of a docket for a 30-day comment period to allow the public to review the revised draft in-light of the additional information.
PMN P-95-169 – CAS No. 5117-12-4
PMN P-10-136
PMN P-12-44
PMN P-12-292 and PMN P-17-217 – CAS No. 94113-91-4
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is amending the requirements of the requalification periods for certain Department of Transportation (DOT) 4-series specification cylinders in non-corrosive gas service in response to a petition for rulemaking submitted by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA).
The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) has announced the 2021 edition of NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® as the latest addition to NFPA LiNK™, the Association’s new information delivery platform that will include codes and standards, supplementary content, and visual aids for building, electrical, and life safety professionals and practitioners.
SCIP is the database for information on Substances of Concern In articles (Products) as such or in complex objects (Products) established under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD). Industry can now submit information on substances of very high concern in their articles to ECHA’s SCIP database. The aim is to make recycling of products safer and improve information about dangerous chemicals in products.
An intention has been received for 1,4-dioxane (EC 204-661-8 CAS 123-91-1) and orthoboric acid, sodium salt (EC 237-560-2, CAS 13840-56-7).
Safety Share
(Ontario Workplace Safety and Prevention Services) When the pandemic began, many workplaces that were not open to the public applied a simple solution to the issue of visitors: no visitors allowed. But as the pandemic persists, this strategy may no longer be sustainable. For instance, an equipment breakdown or process change may require on-site technical support.
To mark Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2020, Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal is encouraging everyone to test their carbon monoxide alarms and ensure all fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and outside vents in their home are inspected annually to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
(Ontario Infrastructure Health and Safety Association)Transportation workers face a number of slip, trip, and fall hazards depending on the type of work they do. According to statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, the bulk of the injuries in the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association’s member industries are suffered by truck drivers, loading dock workers, and lumber-yard workers. This program will help employers and workers in the transportation industry identify hazards and strategies to minimize the risk of slips, trips and falls in the workplace.
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