REGULATORY NEWS FOR WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2019

• Annual Report Highlights Contributions of CCOHS to Worker Health and Safety

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has released its 2018-2019 Annual Report of the Council. The report outlines the Centre’s significant accomplishments, and milestones reached as the centre advocated for the total physical and psychological health and well-being of working people in Canada.

• Ontario provides tools to help employers prepare for inspections covering inhalation hazards

To help you prepare for the Ministry of Labour’s Healthy Workers in Healthy Workplaces initiative, WSPS has created a complimentary Safety Tool Kit with resources to help protect workers from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and respiratory hazards.

• Ontario publishes new 2020 premium rates model

Business owners will soon receive their 2020 premium rate information. On January 1, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) will move to a clearer, transparent premium rate-setting model for almost 300,000 businesses across Ontario. Free monthly webinars will help businesses prepare. Business owners can also attend a free lunch and learn event in Timmins on September 24.

• Significant New Use Rules proposed for 19 new substances notified to the EPA

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) s issuing significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 19 chemical substances which are the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). The chemical substances are subject to Orders issued by EPA pursuant to TSCA section 5(e). This action requires persons who intend to manufacture (defined by statute to include import) or process any of these 19 chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. The required notification initiates EPA’s evaluation of the use, under the conditions of use for that chemical substance, within the applicable review period. Persons may not commence manufacture or processing for the significant new use until EPA has conducted a review of the notice, made an appropriate determination on the notice, and has taken such actions as are required by that determination. DATES: This rule is effective on November 18, 2019. For purposes of judicial review, this rule shall be promulgated at 1 p.m. (EST) on October 2, 2019.

• California adds 6 substances to Proposition 65

Effective September 13, 2019, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is adding 2-amino-4-chlorophenol (CAS No. 95-85-2), 2‑chloronitrobenzene (CAS No. 88-73-3), 1,4-dichloro-2-nitrobenzene (CAS No. 89-61-2), 2,4-dichloro-1-nitrobenzene (CAS No. 611-06-3), N,N-dimethylacetamide (CAS No. 127-19-5), and para-nitroanisole (CAS No. 100-17-4) to the list of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65.  The listing of these chemicals is pursuant to the “Labor Code” listing mechanism.

• Hours of Service Proposal to Improve Safety and Increase Flexibility for Commercial Drivers

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on changes to hours of service (HOS) rules to increase safety on America’s roadways by updating existing regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

• Opioid toolkit launched for employers

A new employer toolkit from the National Safety Council aims to help employers create workplace safety programs focused on opioids.

• Australia launches consultation on design of fees and charges for substances notifications

AICIS will replace the current scheme (NICNAS) on 1 July 2020.  As with NICNAS, the costs of running AICIS will be recovered through fees and charges imposed on importers and manufacturers (introducers) of industrial chemicals. We would like your views on the principles and options, outlined in this paper, that we will use to establish fees and charges for AICIS.

• IARC Monographs Volume 121: Styrene, styrene-7,8-oxide, and quinolone

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is pleased to announce that the IARC Monographs volume on styrene, styrene-7,8-oxide, and quinoline is now available online.

• Workshop on safety data sheets: material and web streaming

Our REACH Review Action 3 workshop from 23 to 24 September 2019 gives safety data sheet authors and risk assessors an opportunity to discuss how the extended safety data sheets, related flows of information and IT tools could be further developed to better meet the needs of different actors in the supply chain.

Safety Share

• Fouling Point Markers for Rail Operations

Effective June 24, 2019, In CN yards, tracks where cars are switched or staged must have fouling points identified with bright green paint at each turnout. The entire tie will be painted along with both sides of the web and head of the rail for the width of the tie.