The following amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation are in effect January 1, 2024 [B.C. Reg. 204/2023].

Part 6 Substance Specific Requirements – Asbestos

• 6.1 Definitions (amended)
• 6.2.1 Asbestos certificate required (enacted)
• 6.2.2 Employer to ensure competence, certification and compliance (enacted)
• 6.2.3 Duty of owner and prime contractor (enacted)

The following sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation were enacted, effective December 1, 2023 [B.C. Reg. 203/2023].

Part 6 Substance Specific Requirements — Hazardous Drugs

• 6.42 Definitions
• 6.43 Application
• 6.44 Identifying hazardous drugs
• 6.45 Risk assessment
• 6.46 Exposure control plan
• 6.46.1 Work procedures
• 6.47 Reproductive toxins
• 6.48 Eliminating or controlling exposure
• 6.49 Contaminated personal protective equipment
• 6.50 Preparation and administration of certain hazardous drugs
• 6.51 Instruction and training
• 6.52 Supervision
• 6.53 Spill kits
• 6.54 Storing and labelling hazardous drugs
• 6.55 Transporting hazardous drugs
• 6.56 Handling and disposing of waste
• 6.57 Controlling cross-contamination
• 6.58 Records

March 1, 2023

The following amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation are effective March 1, 2023 [B.C. Reg. 223/2022].

• Part 14 - Crane and Hoists
• 14.16.1 Certification following misadventure (amended)
• 14.39 Contact with loads and structures (repealed)
• 14.49.1 Communication between equipment operators (amended)
• 14.84.1 Overlapping operating zones (amended)

• Part 16 - Mobile Equipment
• 16.43 Lift trucks (amended)

• Part 19 - Electrical Safety
• 19.24.1 Minimum approach distance when working close to exposed electrical equipment and conductors (amended)

Strikethrough versions of the amendments with explanatory notes are available: Parts 14 and 19, Inconsistent Crane Misadventure and Zone-Limiting Devices in Tower Cranes

The following amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation are effective August 22, 2022 [B.C. Reg. 116/2022].

• Part 3 - Rights and Responsibilities
• 3.12.1 Reassignment of refused work (new)

Housekeeping amendments were also made to the following sections.

• Part 1 - Definitions
• Section 1.1 Definitions

• Part 3 - Rights and Responsibilities
• 3.12 Procedure for refusal
• 3.13 No prohibited action

• Part 5 - Chemical Agents and Biological Agents (Flammable and Combustible Substances)
• 5.6 Worker education
• 5.7 Worker training

• Part 6 - Substance Specific Requirements
• 6.4 Inventory

• Part 7 - Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temparature (Division 3 - Radiation Exposure)
• 7.19 Exposure limits

• Part 10 - De-energization and Lockout
• 10.7 Worker responsibilities
• 10.8 Removal of locks
• 10.9 Group lockout procedure

• Part 12 - Tools, Machinery and Equipment
• 12.178 Visual inspection before loading container onto vehicle

• Part 16 - Mobile Equipment
• 16.43 Lift trucks

• Part 21 - Blasting Operations
• 21.12 Custody of certificates

• Part 22 - Underground Workings
• 22.63 During excavation

• Part 24 - Forestry Operations and Similar Activities
• 24.20 Diver's responsibilities

• Part 28 - Agriculture
• 28.47 Annual inspection and certification exception

Strikethrough versions of the amendments with explanatory notes are available:

• Part 3, Reassignment of refused work
• Housekeeping amendments

The following amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation are effective December 1, 2021 [B.C. Reg. 207/2021 and 222/2021].

• Part 1 - Definitions
• Section 1.1 Definitions

• Part 5 - Chemical Agents and Biological Agents (Flammable and Combustible Substances)
• 5.27 Ignition sources
• 5.28 Grounding or bonding
• 5.32 Manual cleaning

• Part 7 - Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature (Division 3 - Radiation Exposure)
• 7.19 Exposure limits

• Part 12 - Tools, Machinery and Equipment
• 12.89 Drilling procedures

• Part 18 - Traffic Control
• 18.1 – 18.5 General requirements
• 18.6 – 18.8 Traffic control persons
• 18.9 – 18.11 Equipment for traffic control persons
• 18.13 – 18.14 Directions and signals
• 18.16 – 18.17 Other requirements

• Part 20 - Construction, Excavation and Demolition (Concrete Pumping)
• 20.26.4 Duty to ensure operator's competency
• 20.26.5 Certification authority
• 20.26.6 Operator certification

• Part 21 - Blasting Operations
• 21.1 Definitions
• Division 1 - General requirements
• Division 2 - Certification of blasters
• Division 3 - Storage
• Division 4 - Transportation
• Division 5 - Handling explosives
• Division 6 - Drilling
• Division 7 - Loading
• Division 8 - Safety fuse assembly initiation
• Division 9 - Electrical initiation
• Division 10 - Firing
• Division 11 - After the blast
• Division 12 - Misfire procedures
• Division 13 - Specialized blasting operations
• Division 14 - Close proximity blasting

• Part 22 - Underground Workings
• 22.1 Definitions
• 22.70 – 22.73, 22.80, and 22.80.1 Underground use of explosives

• Part 26 - Forestry Operations and Similar Activities
• 26.1 Definitions
• 26.2.1 Planning and conducting activities involving trees other than a forestry operation or tree-climbing activities
• 26.7.1 Climbing equipment
• 26.12.0.1 – 26.12.0.6 Tree-climbing activities
• 26.61 Vehicle movements
• 26.66 – 26.76 Hauling

Housekeeping amendments were also made to the following sections.

• 14.2 Standards
• 22.54 Fire prevention and control
• 23.78 Truck loading and unloading
• 24.70 Compliance with standards
• Part 25 – Note
• 31.34 Inspection and testing

Strikethrough versions of the amendments with explanatory notes are also available.

• Part 5 - Combustible and flammable liquids
• Part 7 - Ionizing radiation - dose limits for the lens of the eye
• Part 18 - Traffic control
• Part 20 - Certification of concrete pump operators
• Part 21 - Blasting
• Part 26 - Arborists
• Part 26 - Logging truck load securement