Remaining Occupational Safety Regulations Coming Nov. 1

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--Remaining Occupational Safety Regulations Coming Nov. 1

The provincial government is taking another step forward in its quest to make Nova Scotia workplaces the safest in Canada. After review by the Red Tape Reduction Task Force, regulations that will strengthen health and safety in the workplace will become law on Nov. 1.

The announcement was made today by Angus MacIsaac, Acting Minister of Environment and Labour.

"This completes an extensive, exhaustive and comprehensive review process that began in 1993," said Mr. MacIsaac. "Since the first meeting seven years ago, government and stakeholders worked as one to improve workplace safety conditions."

The minister said that 23 groups, representing employers and employees along with a countless number of private citizens, had input into the process.

The five regulations reviewed and endorsed by the Red Tape Reduction Task Force and to be implemented on Nov. 1, include:

• Lock-out: Where work is performed on electrical, mechanical or high pressure equipment, employers must ensure that no one works on this equipment until the energy source has been securely isolated and adequately identified

• Roll-over Protective Structure: Standards are adopted for the design and construction of roll-over protection on mobile equipment, such as tractors, and criteria has been identified as to when roll-over protection is a requirement

• Hoists: Adopts specific standards to which lifting devices, such as cranes, hoists, etc., must be designed and identifies operating and inspection criteria for these lifting devices

• Confined Space Entry: Where work is conducted in a confined space, the employer must have a written work procedure, which includes testing the confined space, and provide training, equipment and additional resources to workers who are required to enter the confined space

• Electrical Plans: The owner of a building, with more that one electrical service entrance or where the electrical system meets specified criteria, must have an electrical plan for the building

"I am satisfied that sufficient consultation has been carried out and we are now preparing an education process to assist with the implementation," Mr. MacIsaac said. "We will be alerting Nova Scotians through advertisements and we have six public information sessions scheduled for various communities across the province."

The minister said it is important that stakeholders understand the intent of, and fully comply to these regulations.