REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 28, 2019

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• WorkSafeBC announces 2020 rates

British Columbia – WorkSafeBC announces that the average base rate for 2020 is maintained at the same level as 2019 and 2018, at 1.55% of employers’ assessable payroll. Our positive financial results and stable claims costs have enabled us to keep the average rate flat for 2020.

• Ontario Making Businesses More Accessible for Employees and Customers

People with disabilities have the potential to create value for every business, yet remain a large, untapped talent pool. At the same time, many businesses in Ontario have difficulties finding qualified employees. When barriers prevent people with disabilities from taking part in everyday life, businesses and communities lose out on potential qualified talent, customers and higher profits.

• Québec publishes draft regulations for mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with sections 10 and 11 of the Regulations Act (chapter R-18.1) and sections 2.2 and 46.2 of the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2), that the Regulation to amend the Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere, appearing below, may be made by the Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change on the expiry of 45 days following this publication.

• New Brunswick announces reduction in 2020 proposed employer assessment rates

WorkSafeNB has announced a 9.4% reduction in the 2020 provisional average assessment rate. The rate is set at $2.40 per $100 of payroll, down from $2.65 in 2019. The 2020 assessment rate is based on the 2018 year-end audited financial statement with the improvement due to a reduced number of injury claims in 2019 and the declining cost of new claims as of Q3 2019.

• Newfoundland-Labrador strengthens workplace violence prevention

The new regulations, which can be found online, will come into force on January 1, 2020, to allow time for training, conduct of risk assessments and prevention plan development or updating.

• NHTSA seeks public comment on permitting camera-based rear visibility systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) A seeks public comment on permitting camera-based rear visibility systems, commonly referred to as ‘‘Camera Monitor Systems’’ or ‘‘CMS,’’ as an alternative to inside and outside rearview mirrors. Comments are due December 9, 2019

• US EPA releases statement of findings on new chemicals or significant new uses

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  to publish in the Federal Register a statement of its findings after its review of TSCA section 5(a) notices when EPA makes a finding that a new chemical substance or significant new use is not likely to present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. Such statements apply to premanufacture notices (PMNs), microbial commercial activity notices (MCANs), and significant new use notices (SNUNs) submitted to EPA under TSCA section 5. This document presents statements of findings made by EPA on TSCA section 5(a) notices during the period from July 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019.

• Europe consults on occupational exposure limits for lead compounds and isocyanates

At the request of the Commission, ECHA has evaluated two groups of substances, lead and its compounds and diisocyanates for occupational exposure limits (OELs), and has prepared scientific reports which are subject to a 60-day public consultation. The deadline for comments is 16 December 2019.

• Europe to evaluate 74 substances in 2020-2022

ECHA proposes 74 substances for evaluation by Member States under the Community rolling action plan (CoRAP) for 2020-2022. If you have registered any of these substances, you should coordinate actions with your co-registrants and contact the evaluating competent authority.

• Australia issues annual report and cost recovery implementation statement

The Department of Health has published its annual report, which includes the NICNAS annual report in Appendix 3 and Outcome 5. NICNAS exceeded all of its performance measures for the year.

The full costs of administering NICNAS are recovered through fees and charges paid by industrial chemical importers and manufacturers in accordance with the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines.

Safety Share

• The OECD releases its Guiding Principles for Establishing a Weight of Evidence for Chemical Assessment

This document is intended to provide universal Guiding Principles that should be considered when developing or augmenting systematic approaches to Weight of Evidence (WoE) for chemical evaluation and Key Elements to formulating a systematic approach to WoE.

The ultimate goal is to facilitate that regulators follow a consistent, clear and transparent delivery of evidence using the Principles and Elements described in this document. This can be especially helpful for countries with no existing WoE frameworks or those looking to augment their approaches.

It also allows for stakeholders to understand a WoE decision-making process, including potential for unreasonable bias. These Guiding Principles and Key Elements can be employed to develop frameworks that range from simple and pragmatic approaches to more elaborate systems, depending on the context.