Resource roads part of B.C. workplace? • Alberta's proposed distracted driving law goes beyond cellphones • Saskatchewan looking at new Technical Safety Authority • Maximum fines for safety violations increasing in Manitoba • Safety-engineered needles mandatory in Ontario • OEL limit changes kick in on July 1 in Ontario • What to do when passing emergency vehicles in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Resource roads part of workplace?
WorkSafeBC has released a draft policy stating that resource roads are considered part of the workplace in British Columbia. Resource roads are roads that are made and used primarily to access or extract primary resources or other industrial products, or to install or service industrial sites. Examples include forest service roads, forestry permit roads and oil and gas development roads. The draft policy states that “if workers are or are likely to be engaged in work on a resource road or part of it, the road or that part of it is considered a ‘workplace.’”
ALBERTA
Proposed distracted driving law goes beyond cellphones
Alberta has introduced distracted driving legislation that proposes a ban on the use of handheld cellphones and activities like texting, reading, writing and personal grooming. It also puts restrictions on using other electronic devices while driving. Bill 16 proposes a fine of $172 with no demerit points for drivers that break the law. It allows for the use of hands-free phones and radio communications such as CB radios for commercial purposes and search and rescue services. Drivers are allowed to use cellphones to contact emergency services, and the law would not apply to emergency service personnel. The legislation is expected to be debated in the provincial legislature in the fall, which the province says gives stakeholders time to review the legislation and give input before it’s passed.
SASKATCHEWAN
Province looking at new Technical Safety Authority
New draft legislation — Bill 136, the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan Act — would establish the Technical Safety Authority to administer the safety program for boilers, pressure vessels, amusement rides and elevators. Currently, these activities are undertaken by Corrections, Public Safety and Policing’s Licensing and Inspections Branch.
MANITOBA
Maximum fines for safety violations increasing
Maximum fines for workplace safety violations in Manitoba will increase substantially under proposed legislative amendments in Bill 4, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act, introduced by Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard. The current maximum fines under are $150,000 for the first offence and $300,000 for a second or subsequent offence. The government is acting on a recommendation from the Minister’s Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health to increase the maximum fine levels to $250,000 for a first offence and $500,000 for a second or subsequent offence. The maximum fines have not changed since they were set in 1997.
ONTARIO
Safety-engineered needles mandatory
The use of safety-engineered needles will be mandatory in additional workplaces as of July 1, 2010. These needles have been designed to eliminate or minimize the risk of needle puncture to the user. On Sept. 1, 2008, the province made them mandatory in all hospitals, expanding the list on April 1, 2009, to include long-term care homes, labs, specimen collection centres and psychiatric facilities. As of July 1, they will be mandatory in doctors’ and dentists’ offices, community health centres, family health teams and independent health facilities. They will also be mandatory in other workplaces where health-related services are provided, including home-care services, ambulance services, public health programs, health support services to students in schools, and health-care/first-aid services to workers or individuals in industrial and other workplaces.
Exposure limit changes kick in on July 1
Changes to occupational exposure limits (OELs) for 36 hazardous substances — including polyvinyl chloride and ethanol — come into force on July 1, 2010. OELs restrict the amount and length of time a worker is exposed to hazardous chemical substances. And 11 of 12 standalone designated substance regulations are being consolidated into one designated substances regulation. This will make compliance easier: Employers will be able to consult two regulations instead of 12.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Change lanes when passing emergency vehicles
Drivers will be required to slow down and change lanes when passing emergency vehicles once Bill 29 is proclaimed. The legislation, a private member’s bill, received royal assent in April.
NOVA SCOTIA
Drivers must slow when passing emergency vehicles
Drivers who pass stopped emergency are now required to slow down to 60 kilometres per hour — or the posted speed limit if it is less — as of May 1. They must also move over a lane if possible. Fines range from $340.21 to $2,410.21 depending on the speed.
Resource roads part of workplace?
WorkSafeBC has released a draft policy stating that resource roads are considered part of the workplace in British Columbia. Resource roads are roads that are made and used primarily to access or extract primary resources or other industrial products, or to install or service industrial sites. Examples include forest service roads, forestry permit roads and oil and gas development roads. The draft policy states that “if workers are or are likely to be engaged in work on a resource road or part of it, the road or that part of it is considered a ‘workplace.’”
ALBERTA
Proposed distracted driving law goes beyond cellphones
Alberta has introduced distracted driving legislation that proposes a ban on the use of handheld cellphones and activities like texting, reading, writing and personal grooming. It also puts restrictions on using other electronic devices while driving. Bill 16 proposes a fine of $172 with no demerit points for drivers that break the law. It allows for the use of hands-free phones and radio communications such as CB radios for commercial purposes and search and rescue services. Drivers are allowed to use cellphones to contact emergency services, and the law would not apply to emergency service personnel. The legislation is expected to be debated in the provincial legislature in the fall, which the province says gives stakeholders time to review the legislation and give input before it’s passed.
SASKATCHEWAN
Province looking at new Technical Safety Authority
New draft legislation — Bill 136, the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan Act — would establish the Technical Safety Authority to administer the safety program for boilers, pressure vessels, amusement rides and elevators. Currently, these activities are undertaken by Corrections, Public Safety and Policing’s Licensing and Inspections Branch.
MANITOBA
Maximum fines for safety violations increasing
Maximum fines for workplace safety violations in Manitoba will increase substantially under proposed legislative amendments in Bill 4, The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act, introduced by Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard. The current maximum fines under are $150,000 for the first offence and $300,000 for a second or subsequent offence. The government is acting on a recommendation from the Minister’s Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health to increase the maximum fine levels to $250,000 for a first offence and $500,000 for a second or subsequent offence. The maximum fines have not changed since they were set in 1997.
ONTARIO
Safety-engineered needles mandatory
The use of safety-engineered needles will be mandatory in additional workplaces as of July 1, 2010. These needles have been designed to eliminate or minimize the risk of needle puncture to the user. On Sept. 1, 2008, the province made them mandatory in all hospitals, expanding the list on April 1, 2009, to include long-term care homes, labs, specimen collection centres and psychiatric facilities. As of July 1, they will be mandatory in doctors’ and dentists’ offices, community health centres, family health teams and independent health facilities. They will also be mandatory in other workplaces where health-related services are provided, including home-care services, ambulance services, public health programs, health support services to students in schools, and health-care/first-aid services to workers or individuals in industrial and other workplaces.
Exposure limit changes kick in on July 1
Changes to occupational exposure limits (OELs) for 36 hazardous substances — including polyvinyl chloride and ethanol — come into force on July 1, 2010. OELs restrict the amount and length of time a worker is exposed to hazardous chemical substances. And 11 of 12 standalone designated substance regulations are being consolidated into one designated substances regulation. This will make compliance easier: Employers will be able to consult two regulations instead of 12.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Change lanes when passing emergency vehicles
Drivers will be required to slow down and change lanes when passing emergency vehicles once Bill 29 is proclaimed. The legislation, a private member’s bill, received royal assent in April.
NOVA SCOTIA
Drivers must slow when passing emergency vehicles
Drivers who pass stopped emergency are now required to slow down to 60 kilometres per hour — or the posted speed limit if it is less — as of May 1. They must also move over a lane if possible. Fines range from $340.21 to $2,410.21 depending on the speed.
