Release of Dangerous Goods

KNOW THE LAWS OF YOUR PROVINCE
General OHS reporting requirements that might apply in the event of an incident involving the release of dangerous goods or hazardous substances

LAW

2) The employer shall report to a health and safety officer any accident, occupational disease or other hazardous occurrence referred to in Sec. 15.4 that had one of the following results:

a) the death of an employee;

b) a disabling injury to two or more employees;

c) the loss by an employee of a body member or a part thereof or the complete loss of the usefulness of a body member or a part thereof;

d) the permanent impairment of a body function of an employee;

e) an explosion;

f) damage to a boiler or pressure vessel that results in fire or the rupture of the boiler or pressure vessel; or

g) any damage to an elevating device that renders it unserviceable, or a free fall of an elevating device [Regs., Sec. 15.5].

a) an injury or accident that results in death,

b) an injury or accident that results in a worker’s being admitted to a hospital for more than two days,

c) an unplanned or uncontrolled explosion, fire or flood that causes a serious injury or that has the potential of causing a serious injury,

d) the collapse or upset of a crane, derrick or hoist; or

e) the collapse or failure of any component of a building or structure necessary for the structural integrity of the building or structure [Sec. 18(1)].

2) When a serious incident occurs at a workplace, an employer must immediately and by the fastest means of communication available, notify the division of the incident [Sec. 2.7(1)].

a) that results in serious injury to a person or results in the death of a person; or

b) that had, or continues to have, the reasonable potential of causing serious injury to or the death of a person, the employer, or principal contractor shall immediately notify the assistant deputy minister of the accident [Sec. 54(1)].

2) “Serious injury” means:

a) a fracture of the skull, spine, pelvis, femur, humerus, fibula or tibia, or radius or ulna;

b) an amputation of a major part of a hand or foot;

c) the loss of sight of an eye;

d) a serious internal haemorrhage;

e) a burn that requires medical attention;

f) an injury caused directly or indirectly by explosives;

g) an asphyxiation or poisoning by gas resulting in a partial or total loss of physical control; or

h) another injury likely to endanger life or cause permanent injury, but doesn’t include injuries to a worker of a nature that may be treated through first aid or medical treatment and the worker is able to return to his or her work either immediately after the treatment or at his or her next scheduled shift [Sec. 54(3)].

a) of a fire or accident at the workplace that occasions serious injury to an employee, within seven days of its occurrence;

b) of an accidental explosion at the workplace, whether any person is injured or not, within twenty-four hours of its occurrence; and

c) where at the workplace a person is killed from any cause or is injured from any cause in a manner likely to prove fatal, within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the death or injury [Sec. 63(1)].

2) If a person is disabled from performing his or her usual work or requires medical attention because of an accident, explosion, fire or incident of workplace violence at a workplace, but no person dies or is critically injured because of that occurrence, the employer shall, within four days of the occurrence, give written notice of the occurrence containing the prescribed information and particulars to the Director, if an inspector requires notification of the Director [Sec. 52(1)].

1) the death of a worker;

2) the loss of a limb or of part of a limb, the total or partial loss of the use of a limb or a significant physical trauma to a worker;

3) such serious injuries to several workers as probably to prevent them from performing their work for one working day; or

4) material damage valued at $150,000 or more [Sec. 62].

a) causes or may cause the death of a worker; or

b) will require a worker to be admitted to a hospital as an in-patient for a period of 72 hours or more [Sec. 8(1)].

2) “Dangerous occurrence” means any occurrence that doesn’t result in, but could have resulted in, a condition or circumstance set out in Sec. 8(1) and includes, an uncontrolled spill or escape of a toxic, corrosive or explosive substance [Sec. 9(1)(e)].

3) An employer, contractor or owner shall give notice to the division as soon as is reasonably possible of any dangerous occurrence that takes place at a place of employment, whether or not a worker sustains injury [Sec. 9(2)].

2) If a serious injury or a serious accident takes place at or on any work, undertaking, or business, the employer or person responsible for that place of work, undertaking or business, shall immediately, or as soon as reasonably practicable, give notice to a safety officer, or the office of a safety officer, of the injury or accident [Sec. 30(2)].