Ontario new health and safety legislation 2020

Two regulations under OHSA (Occupational Health and Safety Act) come to effect January 1, 2020. These changes are only in the Ontario legislation. The first regulation Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents (Reg 883/90), and the second Designated Substances (Reg 490/09). The two regulations are mutually exclusive to what they cover. All businesses must be compliant in 2020 to these regulations.

Regulation 883/90: Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents

The changes in the new 2020 legislation will affect the manner in which the employers must protect workers. There are a number of new updates to the definitions and terms, as well as the requirement of testing of Personal Protective Equipment PPE (ventilation like respirators) using artificial methods to assisted breathing and the calculation of acceptable exposure to biological or chemical agents covered in the regulation.

Regulation 490/09: Designated Substances

Just like the first regulation, there are changes to the manner of airborne measurement and calculation of worker exposure. In some specific workplaces that contain designated substances for many years, have been required to have methods in place to protect workers and their exposure by providing plus the use of Personal Protective Equipment PPE, and worker medical assessments/programs.

Compliance

Many businesses are already on the road to comply with the regulations, exposure to biological and chemical agents and/or, designated substances, nevertheless if a business is not, do so immediately so that if an inspector attends the workplace during January, you will be able to demonstrate your compliance with the new legislation. If found to have non-compliance in the workplace, a business could face a non-compliance charge.

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