Assessing Designated Substances
Regulation 490/09 Designated Substances under the Occupational Health and Safety Act outlines a set of required steps to control exposure of workers by conducting an assessment to determine whether the health of a worker may be affected. If the assessment shows that a worker is likely exposed to the substance, you must establish a control program.
LAW Environmental Consultants will recommend appropriate controls upon completion of the assessment. At the present time, the following substances have been designated:
- acrylonitrile
- arsenic
- asbestos
- benzene
- coke oven emissions
- ethylene oxide
- isocyanides
- lead
- mercury
- silica
- vinyl chloride
Basically the regulation will apply if the following conditions are met:
- the above substance is present;
- exposure is likely if the worker can come in contact with the substance in any form (i.e. solid, liquid, dust, gas, vapour, fume or mist);
- none of the exemptions listed in the Designated Substances Regulation apply.
For more information, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Labour website at: e-laws.gov.on.ca
Please give us a call for more information on designated substances survey or any issues affecting your facility under the Occupational Health & Safety Act.