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Month In Review – New Brunswick

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PPE

Feb 2: A typo in the New Brunswick OHS Regulations indicates that Type 1, Class E headwear is the required head protection for construction project sites, even though the province revised the rule to make Type 2, Class E headwear the standard. For now, WorkSafeNB will accept both Type 1 and Type 2, Class E headwear on project sites until the error is officially corrected. However, the agency is encouraging employers to go with Type 2 since that will be the standard in the future.

Action Point: Use the OHSI PPE Head Protection Compliance Game Plan to prevent head injuries and OHS penalties at your workplace

Sanitation & Housekeeping

Feb 7: From now through April 3, WorkSafeNB will be taking public comments on proposed changes to OHS regulations governing eating area sanitation and the minimum number of toilets required at workplaces. Employers will also have to furnish at least one wash basin or equivalent hand cleaning facility in a room with one or two toilets or urinals and an additional wash basin or equivalent hand cleaning facility in the room for each two additional toilets or urinals.

Action Point: Find out how to implement a Sanitation and Toilets Compliance Game Plan at your site

Hazardous Substances

Feb 7: Under newly proposed OHS changes, emergency eyewash stations and showers will have to meet ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2009, or a standard offering equivalent or better protection,” rather than ANSI Z358.1-1990, which is the standard under current rules. Deadline for comments: April 3.

Lighting

Feb 7: Under newly proposed rules, lighting for industrial facilities will have to meet one of the following ANSI standards or a standard providing equivalent or better protection: (a) ANSI/IESNA RP-7-01, Recommended Practice for Lighting Industrial Facilities; (b) ANSI/IESNA RP3-00, Recommended Practice on Lighting for Educational Facilities; or (c) ANSI/IESNA RP-1-04, American National Standard Practice for Office Lighting. The OHS amendments also specify that lighting must be tested at least once a month or at a frequency specified by the manufacturer to ensure that it will function in an emergency.

Action Point: Find out how to comply with OHS emergency lighting requirements

Noise Protection

Feb 7: Proposed changes would require New Brunswick employers to establish a hearing conservation code of practice, in consultation with the JHSC in a work area where noise exposure is above the levels specified in Sec. 30 of the OHS General Regulations. The new rules also require hearing tests for exposed workers. April is the deadline for comments.

Action Point: Use the OHSI noise control and hearing conservation program template to protect your workers from hazardous noise exposure

Radiation

Feb 7: WorkSafeNB proposed changes to OHS regulations requiring that laser equipment in non-medical industries be used and operated in accordance with 1 of 5 ANSI standards, or standards offering at least equivalent protection: (a) ANSI Z136.1-2007; (b) ANSI Z136.4-2005; (c) ANSI Z136.5-2020; (d) ANSI Z136.6-2005; or (e) ANSI Z136.7-2008. In medical industries, operation and use of laser equipment must meet either CSA-C22.2 No. 60601-2-22-01 (R2005) or CSA Z386:20, or a standard offering equivalent or better protection.

Action Point: Find out about the 7 steps required to protect workers from radiation hazards

 

Respiratory Protection

Feb 7: Proposed OHS changes would require New Brunswick employers to establish and implement a code of practice concerning respiratory protective equipment for each place of employment where use of respiratory protective equipment is required listing among other things a description of the potential respiratory hazards and respiratory protective equipment required to control them, as well as requirements for training and proper selection, care, use, maintenance and fitting of respiratory protective equipment.

Action Point: Find out how to implement a compliant respiratory protection policy at your workplace

Industry Challenges

Feb 7: From now through April 3, WorkSafeNB will be fielding public comments on proposed OHS regulatory changes to beef up protections for workers that carry out demolition operations, including new requirements affecting structural integrity, hazardous substances, glass removal, disconnecting utilities and protection against falling debris.

 

New Laws

Jan 29: The federal and provincial governments announced that they will provide funding to launch a Labour Force Adjustment Committee charged with developing solutions to the continuing labour shortages in New Brunswick’s construction sector.

 

First Aid

Jan 12: WorkSafeNB issued new guidelines to help employers comply with OHS first aid requirements, including the regulatory changes made to bring New Brunswick’s rules into harmony with the standards and requirements of other provinces and territories.

Action Point: Find out how to implement an effective First Aid Compliance Game Plan at your workplace

Fall Protection

Feb 2: For the first time since 2011, WorkSafeNB revised its infographic chart setting out the general requirements and guidelines for inspecting elevating work platforms.

Action Point: Use the OHSI Fall Protection Compliance Game Plan to prevent fall injuries and OHS violations at your site

Workers Comp

Feb 29: That’s the deadline for New Brunswick employers to submit their Form 100-Employer Payroll Report listing their actual payroll costs from 2023 and projected costs for 2024 to WorkSafeNB to avoid late filings that may result in interest, late fees and penalties.