Published on: March 24, 2025

Amendments to Part 5 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation came into effect on February 3, 2025. These amendments provide clarity and specify what emergency plans must include.

By Steven Gilstead

“Emergencies can happen suddenly and without warning,” says Diana Janke, senior prevention advisor. “The more prepared you are for them, the better you’ll be able to respond in a way that reduces the chance of injury.”

What it means for employers

B.C.’s employers are already required to develop response plans for emergencies involving hazardous substances. The amendments now require them to:

• Prepare a written emergency response plan that is appropriate to the hazards of the workplace and clarifies roles and responsibilities during an emergency.
• Conduct training and drills annually or when a plan is revised.
• Engage staff in the emergency response plan process.

Emergency response plans

“Employers must now document their risk assessment for hazardous substances that could endanger a person in an emergency,” says Janke. “They must then develop emergency plans for all reasonably foreseeable emergencies involving hazardous substances — even if the substance arises from outside the workplace.”

Hazardous substances that should be considered when developing emergency plans include:

• Products covered by the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• Explosives
• Pesticides
• Radioactive materials
• Hazardous waste
• Consumer products (if they could endanger someone in an emergency)

Examples of emergency situations that employers should consider when developing or updating their plans include:

• An accidental spill or release of hazardous substances at the workplace or at a neighbouring workplace
• A fire caused by or involving hazardous substances
• A natural disaster that could generate or impact hazardous substances in a way that would increase risk to people.

“Although both the terms ‘hazardous substance’ and ‘emergency’ should be interpreted very broadly,” Janke continues, “employers only need to plan for emergencies that are reasonably foreseeable.”

Training and drills

Employers are still required to ensure workers are adequately trained in emergency procedures.

However, the amendments now clarify that employers are expected to conduct drills annually and after any significant change to the emergency response plan is made.

These drills must be designed to ensure that the procedures are effective.

Worker participation

The amendments make it a requirement for employers to consult with workers when developing, implementing, reviewing, or updating all components of the emergency response plan. This includes the hazard inventory, risk assessment, emergency procedures or a program for training and drills.

Employers must involve their workers in all aspects of drafting the emergency response plan, and ensure they have ready access to all elements of the plan. This means consulting with the joint committee or the worker health and safety representative, if present at the workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have these resources, employers should consult with the workers.

“Workers have first-hand experience about the risks and procedures in their workplace,” says Janke. Getting their input and having meaningful conversations about all aspects of managing risk makes emergency planning more effective.

For more information

WorkSafeBC has developed guidelines and resources to support employers in implementing the new requirements. For more information, visit worksafebc.com:

• Emergency planning & response (webpage)
• Backgrounder: Emergency procedures for hazardous substances
• Section 5.97 – 5.104, Emergency Planning of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
• Guideline G5.97-1 – G5.104 of the Occupational Health and Safety Guideline

This information originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of WorkSafe Magazine. To read more or to subscribe, visit WorkSafe Magazine.

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