New WorkSafe BC Regulations coming soon
Since their initial release in April 1998, the 34 Parts that make up the British Columbia Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR) have, with few exceptions, gone virtually unchanged.
However, that’s about to change as of September 1 of this year when WorkSafeBC is scheduled to release an OHSR with significant revisions, particularly to Part 16 - Mobile Equipment.
This revision affects all IVES Certified Trainers as all of the equipment IVES trainers work with, including forklifts, MEWPs, loaders and excavators, are considered “mobile equipment.”
Following is a summary of some of the notable changes in the soon to be released Part 16 over the current version:
1) It has been streamlined quite a bit. By using more efficient wording and merging many previously separate regulations into one it has gone from having 55 sub-parts to only 43.
2) Although many of the current regulations also appear in the new version unchanged, their number and position within it has changed. If you have notated your lesson plan or other documents you use during operator training with regulation numbers, you will need to revise them.
3) The definitions have been revised and expanded to include:
- Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV)
4) Equipment designed for walk-behind, offboard or remote-control operation is considered an ‘excluded ground machine’ and not subject to the provisions of Part 16. This includes walkie type powered pallet jacks and stackers as well as walk-behind mini skid-steer loaders.
For those of you who train operators of these types of machines, it will not change a single thing you are doing in terms of operator training as training is required when using any type of tool, equipment or machinery.
5) The use of seat belts on equipment manufactured with them is much more clearly defined.
6) Procedures following a high voltage contact is now addressed and calls for equipment to be removed from service, inspected by a qualified person and repaired as required before returning to service following any contact between the equipment and a high voltage power source.
7) A new requirement prohibiting fuel tank fill points or vent openings within an enclosed cab now exists in the new version.
8) Braking requirements have been heavily modified but will not affect operator training as they are equipment performance specifications that do not need to be discussed during training.
9) A new requirement making a ROPS mandatory on all mobile equipment will be implemented in the new Part 16.
A ROPS is not required if a qualified person has conducted a rollover risk assessment and determined low or minimal risk of rollover. The assessment can be a simple visual inspection in low-risk areas like a warehouse but must be a formal written assessment if certain types of equipment like loaders or rough terrain forklifts are involved.
10) The referenced standard for lift truck (forklift) operator training in the new Part 16 is now Clause 6 of CSA B335-15 as opposed to the current regulation that references CSA B335-94.
There are no substantial differences between these two standards relative to the content of a forklift operator training program so it’s business as usual for classroom and practical training and evaluation. However, the time interval for retraining has moved from two years to three with no requirement for a mid-term evaluation.
11) The revisions made to Part 16 have triggered subsequent revisions in the following Parts:
- (8) – Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
- (10) – De-energization and Lockout
- (12) – Tools, Machinery and Equipment
- (17) – Transportation of Workers
- (26) – Forestry Operations and Similar Activities
For those of you that would like to get more familiar with the provisions of the new Part 16 and or the other affected Parts, use the link below to access and download a working document of them complete with explanatory notes provided by WorkSafeBC.
The final versions of each Part to be integrated into the OHSR and released September 1 will contain several minor editorial changes.
Rob Vetter
Director of Training
IVES Training Group