Pinchin Environmental Newsletter (PEN #18)

Prepare for New Occupational Exposure Limits

Mechanism is In-Place for Regular Updates to the OELs

On 20 September 2004, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) proposed changes to the occupational exposure limits (OELs) of 66 chemical agents, and proposed 26 new limits for agents not currently regulated. This action follows four other recent revisions to the OELs for carbon monoxide, benzene, manganese dust and 1,3-butadiene.

The MOL is currently seeking stakeholder input on the proposed limits, and has requested written comment by 19 November 2004. The MOL announcement states that "following public input, the government will review the submissions and move to adopt the proposed limits into regulation as appropriate."

Occupational exposure limits restrict the airborne concentration of chemical agents to which workers can be exposed. The MOL notes that "Ontario workplaces are required to monitor exposure levels of a wide range of dangerous substances and develop control programs to ensure compliance with OELs".

Earlier in 2004, the MOL announced that a new system has been implemented to regularly review and update OELs to ensure that the limits are set using "the most current scientific and medical knowledge".

Updates to the OELs will be based on the Threshold Limit Values published yearly by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The ACGIH is an internationally recognized authority in the field of occupational hygiene. Chemical exposure issues are expected to take a high profile considering the new mechanism to review OELs more regularly and the MOL's hiring of 200 new inspectors in 2004 and 2005 (which almost doubles the size of the current inspectorate).

For the convenience of our clients, Pinchin has created Table 1, which outlines the existing and proposed OELs for the 92 substances noted in the MOL's 20 September announcement, and also includes the four most recent changes to the OELs.

Pinchin is advising our clients to review these proposed limits and determine the potential impact they may have on their operations. The changes may require:

• Review and update of Occupational Hygiene Programs
  
  
• Review and update of Hygiene Monitoring Plans
  
  
• Review of existing designated substance assessments to determine the need for re-assessments triggered by lower OELs (e.g. silica)
  
  
• Review of Respiratory Protection Programs (as lower OELs will increase hazard ratios and lower Maximum Use Concentrations of respirators)
  
  
• Update of WHMIS and other hazard communication programs to incorporate new toxicological information

Pinchin's hygienists will be contacting our existing clients to ensure that they are aware of the proposed changes and determine if the changes would impact their business.

Prospective clients are encouraged to call Pinchin to set-up an on-site meeting to identify their occupational hygiene needs and develop appropriate strategies to evaluate and control exposures.

©Pinchin Environmental Newsletter 2004 - Disclaimer