The Occupational Health and Safety Code

Alberta Floor Covering Association

Alberta Human Resources and Employment

Presented by

Diane Radnoff
Workplace Investments September 28 and 30, 2004

The Occupational Health and Safety Code is

part of Albertas strategy to reduce workplace injuries by establishing rules that reflect the most appropriate technical/scientific standards and industry best-practices.

The new legislative framework

OHS Act

OHS Regulation

OHS CODE
April 30, 2004 effective date

Where it came from

The OHS Code consolidates existing Regulations
General Safety First Aid Chemical Hazards

Mines Safety

Ventilation Explosives Safety

Noise Joint Worksite H&S Committees (4)

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY CODE

Table of Contents
Core Requirements Applicable to All Industries (Parts 1-3) Requirements Applicable to All Industries (Parts 4-29)

Requirements Applicable to Specific Industries and Activities (Parts 30-39)

Schedules (1-11)

Index

Core Requirements Applicable to All Industries

Definitions

Hazard assessment
Specifications and certifications

Requirements Applicable to All Industries

Chemical Hazards
Emergency Prep. Fire/Explosion Joint Committees Noise Mobile Equipment Safeguards

Confined Spaces
Ladders First Aid Lifting Power Lines Radiation Scaffolds

Cranes
Fall Protection General Safety Lock Out Protective Equip. Rigging Hygiene

Machinery
Working Alone

Ventilation
WHMIS

Violence

Requirements Applicable to Specific Industries and Activities

Demolition Excavating Forestry Mining Residential Roofing Diving Explosives Health Care/Bio. Hazards Oil/Gas Wells Tree Care Operations

Schedules
1. Chem. Substances 3. Noise 5. Cable clips 7. No. of Toilets 9. Shoring 11. Mining 2. First aid 4. Approach Limit 6. Scaffold dimensions 8. Saw Blade Cracks 10. Explosives

Index
W
walkways. See entrances, walkways, stairways walls masonry walls stabilization, 192 warning devices and alarms diving operations, 433 in emergency response plans, 116(g) excavation markings, 444 falling objects, 318(3)

An Explanation Guide to the OHS Code is available

www.whs.gov.ab.ca

Includes examples of how to comply

New Provisions
Many of the NEW requirements : Recognize hazards that have become prevalent enough to merit specific rules Are in response to conditions that did not exist when the current rules were enacted Stem from experience that suggested a change was needed

Changes to Existing Provisions Many EXISTING requirements were modified to:

Reflect new or changed technical Standards

Reflect changes in industry practice

Be clearer
Be in harmony with other provinces

Address concerns raised by experience

Hazard Assessment, Elimination and Control (Part 2 )

Establishes assessment of hazards as a critical first step Establishes a hierarchy of control strategies Establishes a way to make a health and safety planning mandatory

Hazard A situation, condition, or thing that may be dangerous to the safety or health of workers

+ HAZARD + EXPOSURE INCIDENT

Chemistry of an incident

Employer obligations are clear:

Section 7 An employer must assess a work site and identify existing or potential hazards before work begins at the work site.

Section 9 If an existing or potential hazardis identified during a hazard assessment, an employer must

Eliminate the hazards, or control the hazards

Specifics

In addition, there are Sections where control action may be triggered by an explicit or implied hazard assessment Look for wording such as: If the hazard assessment then (ACTION) If there is a danger that then (ACTION) If the worker may be injured (exposed) then (ACTION) If it is likely that then (ACTION)

Hazards must be eliminated, or controlled through:

CONTROL

Engineering solutions Administrative solutions Use of PPE Combination

Allowed as a last resort only!

HOW?
Inspection

DOCUMENT ENFORCE

IDENTIFY HAZARDS

Observation Task/job analysis Incident analysis

MONITOR

ELIMINATE, OR IMPLEMENT CONTROLS

DEVELOP CONTROLS

EVALUATE THOSE HAZARDS

ACTION

ASSESSMENT

Engineering Control Examples

Minimization by designing the facility, equipment, or process to remove the hazard, or substituting processes, equipment, materials or other factors Enclosure Isolation with interlocks, guards, shields, curtains Removal or redirection such as with exhaust ventilation

Administrative Control Examples

Written operating procedures, work permits, safe work practices Exposure time limits Monitoring Alarms, signs, warnings Buddy system Training

Control PPE as a last Resort

PPE is acceptable when

Engineering controls are being developed When engineering or administrative controls do not totally eliminate or control a hazard When elimination of a hazard, engineering and administrative controls are not practical

During emergencies when engineering or administrative controls may not be feasible

Exposure to Harmful Substances (Part 4)

If a worker may be exposed to a harmful substance at a work site, the employer must identify the health hazards and assess the workers exposure. Assessment should be conducted at least on an annual basis and when New equipment/processes are introduced to the work site Work practices or procedures change Workers complain of adverse health effects during or after work shifts The assessment must be performed by a competent individual.

Asbestos Requirements
For the most part, the requirements for asbestos have not changed. Requirements in the Alberta Building Code, administered by Alberta Municipal Affairs were transferred into the OHS Code. Consolidation of the asbestos provisions into one piece of legislation under the jurisdiction of one department was done at the request of stakeholders to simplify the requirements for users.

Asbestos Requirements from the Alberta Building Code

Release of asbestos fibres is an unsafe condition that must be corrected by an employer Use of materials containing crocidolite asbestos prohibited

Spray application of asbestos is prohibited

Asbestos must not be present in an air distribution system in a form or location where asbestos fibres could enter the system Materials with the potential to release asbestos fibres must be removed prior to demolition Materials with the potential to release asbestos fibres must be removed, encapsulated or enclosed prior to renovation

Asbestos Worker Training

Workers who must enter a restricted area must take an approved course.
A restricted area is an area of the work site where the airborne concentration of asbestos exceeds the OEL of 0.1 fibre/cc

All workers who work with asbestos must have the training necessary to do the work safely. Workers who will not be in a restricted area must at least have training that is appropriate to the tasks they will complete. Since January 1, 2004, photo-ID cards are being issued to workers who successfully completed the course and all cards have an expiry date

First Aid (Part 11)

Employers must provide and maintain first aid services, equipment and supplies, based on Schedule 2 of the OHS Code Schedule 2 lists what is required given:

Hazard level
Travel time (distance to the health care facility) Number of workers at the work site Number of designated first aiders is determined from Schedule 2

First Aid Equipment and Supplies

They must be in a location that is quickly and easily accessible during working hours Ready for use Signage An emergency communication system to summon first aid is mandatory regardless of where the worker is working Transportation plan is required

Lifting and Handling Loads (Part 14)

Overexertion and repetitive motion injuries accounted for over 27% of lost-time claims in 2002 Acknowledges manual handling as a worksite hazard Aims to reduce or eliminate manual handling

Where reasonably practicable, appropriate equipment to be provided Otherwise loads be adapted or handling be minimized. Hazard assessments of handling activities. Investigation/corrective measures when workers report musculoskeletal injuries believed to be work related.

Violence (Part 27)

Violence -- the threatened, attempted or actual conduct of a person that causes or is likely to cause physical injury

Recognizes violence as a potential hazard Policy and procedures required Worker instruction required Investigation, reporting, corrective actions required Required to advise worker to see health professional

Working Alone (Part 28)

Hazards associated with working alone must be minimized
Applies where assistance is not readily available if theres an emergency or the worker is injured or ill Working Alone Safely, A Guide for Employers and Employees available at: http://www3.gov.ab.ca/hre/whs/publications/pdf/working alone.pdf

Personal Protective Equipment (Part 18)

Requirement for eye, foot, head, limb and body and respiratory protection are included in the OHS Code. Most have not changed, but have been expanded and new standards referenced. Employers may still continue to use PPE that complies with the older version of the standard, as long as it is in good condition.

Duty to Use PPE

The employer must not only ensure that the required PPE is worn and used, but that it is worn and used properly. PPE must be in a condition to perform the function for which it is designed Workers must be trained in the use, care, limitations and assigned maintenance for the PPE they use PPE must not endanger the worker Latex Medical fitness to wear a respirator

Safety Footwear
Required where there is a hazard of injury to the foot If a worker cannot wear protective footwear for medical reasons, external safety toecaps may be substituted.

Toecaps may only be used if the employer ensures that

The toecaps must meet the impact force test requirements of CSA Standard Z195-02, Protective Footwear Metatarsal hazards are not present The worker will not be exposed to sole penetration hazards Wearing of the toecaps does not itself present a hazard to the worker

Head Protection
If there is a foreseeable danger of injury to a workers head, protective headwear appropriate to the hazard must be worn. The headwear must meet the appropriate standard. Protective headwear is not required if the worker can be protected by an alternative means. Exemption is an existing requirement Section meant to apply where a worker must remove their headwear to perform a specific task Protection can involve a barrier or work procedures Use of protective headwear for workers who wear turbans

Respiratory Protective Equipment

Need for RPE must be evaluated If respiratory protective equipment is used at the work site, the employer must prepare a code of practice governing selection, maintenance and use. Respiratory protective equipment must be approved by NIOSH or an agency approved by a Director of Occupational Hygiene. The approval extends to the entire respirator assembly and accessories. Mixing and matching accessories will void the approval. Respiratory protective equipment must be selected in accordance with the CSA Standard Z94.4-02, Selection, Use and Care of Respirators.

Fit Testing of Respiratory Protective Equipment

Respiratory protective equipment that depends on an effective facial seal for its use must be fit tested in accordance with the CSA Standard Z94.402 or a method approved by a Director of Occupational Hygiene.
CSA Standard requires all respirators that are tight fitting to be fit tested Worker must be medically fit to wear the respirator and be clean shaven at the time of fit testing where the respirator seals to the face Other protective equipment that will be worn with the respirator must also be worn during fit testing A user seal check may not be used as a substitute for a qualitative or quantitative fit test Competency of the fit testor Assigned protection factors