This edition of the Prevention Manual reflects the following updates.

CORRECTION: 2014 New or Revised ACGIH Threshold Limit Values and BC OELs

The Table of Occupational Exposure Limits for Excluded Substances in Prevention Policy R5.48-1 has been amended to correct a typographical error that relates to the exposure limit for Ethylidene norbornene. An updated  Prevention Manual page is available. 

2014 New or Revised ACGIH Threshold Limit Values and BC OELs

Each year, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ("ACGIH") publishes a list of substances for which they have set new or revised Threshold Limit Values ("TLVs"). A TLV is an exposure limit that is the suggested maximum allowed airborne concentration for a particular substance where nearly all workers are believed to experience no adverse health effects over a working lifetime. TLVs may be an 8-hour time weighted average, short-term exposure limit or ceiling limit.

Prior to the adoption of the new or revised ACGIH TLVs that are published each year as BC occupational exposure limits ("OELs"), WorkSafeBC reviews and stakeholders are consulted on potential implementation issues. WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors ("BOD") then decides which of the new or revised ACGIH TLVs are to be adopted as BC OELs. The existing OELs for these substances continue to be in effect until the BOD makes the decision to adopt the ACGIH TLVs as BC OELs.

In order to retain the existing BC OELs, the substances are added to the Table of Occupational Exposure Limits for Excluded Substances in Prevention Policy R5.48-1. Once the BOD approves the adoption of the ACGIH TLVs as BC OELs, the substances are removed from the Table of Occupational Exposure Limits for Excluded Substances, and the ACGIH TLVs then apply.

The ACGIH has published the 2014 new or revised TLVs. The following substances, for which there are new or revised ACGIH TLVs, have been added to the Table of Occupational Exposure Limits for Excluded Substances in Prevention Policy R5.48-1 on April 1, 2014. The current BC OELs are maintained until the BOD makes a decision on the adoption of the ACGIH TLVs.

• Argon
• Atrazine
• Barium sulphate
• 1-Bromopropane
• Ethylidene norbornene
• Ethyl isocyanate
• Helium
• Hydrogen
• Methomyl
• Methyl isocyanate
• Napthalene
• Neon
• Nitrogen
• Pentachlorophenol
• Pentane, all isomers
• Peracetic acid
• Trichloroacetic acid

The ACGIH has also revised the TLVs for Nickel carbonyl. This substance is already listed in the Table of Occupational Exposure Limits for Excluded Substances and the current BC OEL is also maintained.