WorkSafeBC to hold series of public hearings

RICHMOND, BC, April 26 /CNW/ - During May and June, WorkSafeBC will hold public hearings in various locations in B.C. to receive feedback from stakeholders and other interested parties on 14 proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

WorkSafeBC invites all interested parties to present oral and/or written submissions on any of the proposed amendments, which relate to the following sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation:

    
    -  Part 1 - Expanding the definition of qualified registered
       professionals to include registered forest technologists
    -  Parts 1, 4, and 20 - Broadening the definition of service utilities
    -  Part 4 - Changing terminology related to guardrails and adopting a new
       standard for guardrails made with rope rails
    -  Part 4 - Changing the definition of late night hours to any time
       between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in order to harmonize the Working
       Alone or in Isolation Regulation with BC's Liquor Control and
       Licensing Regulation. Under the Liquor Control and Licensing
       Regulation, private liquor store operators can keep their businesses
       open until 11:00 p.m. rather than 10 p.m., which is currently
       stipulated in WorkSafeBC's Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
    -  Parts 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 23, and 31 - Updating terminology and the
       protection factors related to respirators
    -  Parts 4 and 26 - Modifying the definition of qualified avalanche
       planners
    -  Parts 5, 6, and 30 - Updating terminology related to biohazardous
       agents
    -  Part 8 - Updating manufacturing standards for leg protective devices
    -  Part 9 - Clarifying the acceptable isolation methods that don't
       require WorkSafeBC's approval when working in confined spaces
    -  Part 12 - Clarifying the requirement for swing arm pivot restraints
    -  Part 13 - Changing the process for using swing stages
    -  Part 15 - Updating the manufacturing standards related to slings
    -  Part 16 - Adding the requirement for warning signal devices on certain
       vehicles
    -  Part 19 - Expanding the definition related to minimum clearance for
       electrical safety

    All public hearings will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

    -  May 4    Cranbrook       Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort & Convention
                                Centre
    -  May 6    Kelowna         Best Western Inn
    -  May 11   Prince George   Coast Inn of the North
    -  May 13   Victoria        Hotel Grand Pacific
    -  June 3   Richmond        Executive Airport Plaza Hotel & Conference
                                Centre
    

Interested parties can also provide written submissions online or by email, fax, mail or by delivery to a public hearing during hearing hours. Written submissions will be accepted until 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 4th.

For more information on the amendments, or on how to make a submission in writing or in person, visit WorkSafeBC.com and select "2010 public hearings" from the home page.

WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves about two million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.

For further information: Scott McCloy, Director, Communications, [phone] or [phone] (cell), (Email): [email protected]