Features Health and Safety Sawmilling
2015 guideline updates to OHS regulation

Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy.

Periodically, guidelines are updated and new ones added. The following list shows the new and updated guidelines for 2015.

March 31, 2015

OHS Regulation

Part 5 Chemical Agents and Biological Agents

G5.30 Dispensing
This guideline is no longer required, it has now been retired.

G5.53-4 Occupational hygiene methods acceptable to WorkSafeBC
This guideline has been updated to add further examples of acceptable analytical methods and to clarify that methods are only acceptable if they can detect levels that are appropriate for comparison with the Regulatory requirements (e.g., the exposure limits).

Part 9 Confined Spaces

G9.1-1 Excluded confined spaces
This guideline has been updated to provide the risk factors that must be addressed by an employer as part of the hazard assessment. Spaces that might not be considered “confined spaces” for the purpose of Part 9 require a hazard assessment prior to that determination.

Part 21 Blasting Operations

G21.5 Authority to blast
This guideline has been updated to add a reference to G21.82 regarding the authority and visual supervision of the certified blaster of record for underwater blasting operations.

G21.82 Underwater blasting 
This new guideline is to provide clarification on the authority and visual supervision by the certified blaster of a diver, when the diver is not a certified blaster, during underwater blasting operations.

Part 23 Oil and Gas

G23.22 Driver training
This guideline has been revised to reflect the fact that the GODI course has been replaced by a new course.

February 20, 2015

OHS Regulation

Part 19 Electrical Safety

G19.27 Specially trained
This guideline has been revised to include a course approved by WorkSafeBC, and to update the list of work activities that may be conducted under section 19.27.

February 1, 2015

OHS Regulation

Part 5 Chemical Agents and Biological Agents

Table of exposure limits for chemical and biological substances
The Table of Exposure Limits has been updated to reflect recent Board of Directors decisions concerning adoption of occupational exposure limits. Recent revisions to the Table are highlighted in green.

The following guidelines accompany regulatory amendments to the OHS Regulationthat are effective February 1, 2015. These are both new and revised guidelines which align with the new regulatory provisions. For information on the regulatory amendments, refer to
www.worksafebc.com/regulation_and_policy/public_hearings/
2014PublicHearing/law_40_50.asp

Part 4 General Conditions

G4.1.1 Snow avalanche assessment (revised)
G4.69 Emergency lighting (revised)

Part 5 Chemical Agents and Biological Agents

G5.3-1 WHMIS application (editorial revision)

Part 8 Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

G.8.11(2) Activity specific safety headgear (editorial revision)

Part 11 Fall Protection

G11.2(5)-1 Control zones and safety monitors as a work procedure acceptable to WorkSafeBC (editorial revision)
G11.2-2 Selecting a method of fall protection (editorial revision)
G11.2-3 Defining a fall restraint versus fall arrest system (editorial revision)
G11.2-4 Tilt-up construction (editorial revision)
G11.2-5 Fall protection in agriculture (editorial revision)

Part 12 Tools, Machinery and Equipment

G12.175 Container safety standard for roll-on/roll-off containers (issued) 

Part 13 Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms

G13.32-1 Work in high-risk situations — Inspection and testing requirements (revised)

Part 20 Construction, Excavation and Demolition

G20.26 Inspections (revised)
G20.112 Hazardous materials — Asbestos (revised)

Part 26 Forestry Operations and Similar Activities

G26.65(1) Certified welding inspector — Alternate standards (issued) 
G26.65(2)(e) Installing the cab guard on the log transporter in a manner acceptable to WorkSafeBC (issued) 
G26.65(4) Log transporters pulling multiple trailers (revised)
G26.65(4)(b) Installing the barrier on the logging truck in a manner acceptable to WorkSafeBC [Withdrawn February 1, 2015]

Part 34 Rope Access

G34.1 Definitions — Boatswain’s (Bosun’s) chair (preliminary issue) 
This new guideline provides information to help distinguish between rope access comfort work seats and bosun’s chairs.

G34.4(1)(a) Training and certification (preliminary issue) 
This new guideline clarifies how rope access training relates to different disciplines of work. It also accepts an alternate code for certification of rope access technicians.

G34.5 Safe work practices (preliminary issue) 
This new guideline clarifies how safe work practices relate to different types of rope access work.

G34.6(3) Two-rope system — Independent connection (preliminary issue) 
This new guideline clarifies what constitutes an appropriate connection to an anchorage for the two-rope system.

G34.8 Rescue — Prompt rescue (preliminary issue) 
This new guideline clarifies requirements for the prompt rescue of workers after a rope access incident.

G34.9 Equipment — Standards (preliminary issue) 
This new guideline clarifies how the standards listed in Schedule 34-A apply to work involving rope access and how to apply for acceptance of alternate standards.

G34.12 Permanent anchors — inspection and testing (preliminary issue) 
This new guideline clarifies the regulatory requirements for the inspection and testing of permanent anchors used as part of a rope access system.

January 23, 2015

OHS Regulation

Forestry Operations and Similar Activities

G26.21-2 Faller qualifications — Performance upgrade 
This new guideline explains when and how performance upgrade training for fallers may be required, and explains the process for a faller to be re-evaluated when this happens. WorkSafeBC invited input broadly internally and externally during development of this guideline.