Ministry of Labour

McGuinty Government to Strengthen Protection for Workers

Tougher Exposure Limits Would Help Protect Workers from Hazardous
    Substances

    TORONTO, July 23 — The Ontario government is strengthening
protection for workers by proposing new or updated occupational exposure
limits (OELs) for 21 hazardous workplace substances, Labour Minister Steve
Peters announced today.
    "Our government continues to act to make Ontario workplaces healthier and
safer," said Peters. "Exposure to hazardous substances can cause occupational
illness, which impacts workers and their families as well as businesses. That
is why we are holding consultations on updating Ontario's exposure limits
based on the most current information available."
    OELs restrict a worker's exposure to hazardous substances on the job.
Ontario currently has OELs for over 700 substances. Since the government
initiated an annual review process in 2004, 131 OELs have been revised,
updated or added.
    The Ministry of Labour is undertaking a 60-day consultation to allow
stakeholders to comment on proposed new and revised limits and listings for
these 21 hazardous substances. This includes proposed limits for six
substances for which a limit does not currently exist in Ontario. Revised
limits and/or listings are proposed for 13 other substances. It is proposed
that two substances, calcium carbonate and limestone, now covered by specific
OELs, be withdrawn. They would continue to be regulated by the OELs for
'Particles not Otherwise Specified.'
    This initiative is just one of a number of actions the Ontario government
has taken to support workers on the job. Other measures include:

    

 — the High-Risk initiative, targeting enforcement efforts at Ontario
        workplaces with the highest injury rates and highest costs in
        Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims
 — the Pains and Strains initiative, targeting musculoskeletal injuries,
        which make up a significant portion of all workplace injuries, and
 — the hiring of 200 new health and safety inspectors. All 200 will be
        carrying out inspections of high-risk workplaces.

    To participate in the consultation, submit comments to the ministry at the
address provided in the proposal. Specific concerns about the proposals should
contain a clear description of the rationale along with supporting
documentation.
    Copies of the proposal are on the Ministry of Labour website, or are
available by e-mailing the OEL Update Project at oelupdateproject@ontario.ca
    The submission deadline is September 28, 2007.
    "Our government wants to consult with affected stakeholders, including
business and labour, before introducing new exposure limits," said Peters. "We
are on the side of workers and their families and are acting to protect them
from potentially hazardous substances that can cause illness or disability."

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    Backgrounder
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                     OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT REVIEW
    

Contact Info
    The 2007 Ministry of Labour consultation on Occupational Exposure Limits
(OELs) will be the fourth annual review under the ministry's process to keep
OELs current.
    On April 26, 2004, the Ontario government announced an annual revision
system for occupational exposure limits (OELs). This system of updating OELs
is based on stakeholder input on limits recommended by the American Conference
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Exposure to hazardous
substances is a major cause of occupational illness that in turn can have a
devastating impact on workers and their families. It also adds significant
costs to businesses through lost productivity and higher workplace insurance
premiums.
    Prior to the April 2004 announcement to have an annual review, OELs had
only been revised on two occasions (1994 and 2000) since OELs were first
introduced into regulation in 1986.

    What are OELs?

    Regulated under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, OELs restrict the
amount and duration of workers' exposure to hazardous workplace substances,
such as asbestos, benzene, lead and silica. Ontario currently has OELs for
over 700 substances.

    Previous updates

    OELs were first adopted into regulation in Ontario in 1986. They were
based on the then current (1985) limits recommended by the ACGIH. Updates were
made to OELs in 1994, 2000, 2004, 2005, and most recently in 2007.

    What substances are included in these consultations?

    

    New OELs for six substances are being proposed.

 — Alachlor — 1-Methyl naphthalene
 — Dimethyl disulfide — 2-Methyl naphthalene
 — Hexafluoropropylene — 5-Nitro-o-toluidine

    Revised OELs are being proposed for the following 13 substances:

 — Aldrin — Methyl demeton
 — Arsine — Methyl propyl ketone,
 — Coumaphos — n-Propanol
 — Diglycidyl ether — Tetraethyl pyrophosphate
 — Dimethylcarbamoyl chloride — Toluene
 — 3,5-Dinitro-o-toluamide — Trichloroethylene
 — Ethyl amyl ketone

    Specific OELs for two substances are proposed to be removed based on the
ACGIH conclusion that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support an
OEL for the following:

 — Calcium carbonate
 — Limestone

    These two substances would continue to be regulated by the Ontario OELs
for 'Particles Not Otherwise Specified.'

    For more information on these proposals, go to the Ministry of Labour
website at http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/oels/07_notice.html.

    The consultation process

    The government is initiating the consultation process for the 2007 annual
review. Stakeholders are invited to review the proposal and make written
submissions on the proposed limits, including the practicality of implementing
and complying with any or all of the proposed limits. Specific concerns about
the proposals should contain a clear description of the rationale along with
supporting documentation.
    To participate in the consultation, stakeholders can download a copy of
the proposal from the Ministry of Labour website (www.labour.gov.on.ca) and
submit written comments to the ministry. Copies of the proposal are also
available e-mailing the OEL Update Project at: oelupdateproject@ontario.ca.
    Stakeholders are also invited to nominate substances for development of an
OEL during the consultation period where the ACGIH has not recommended a limit
or does not have a limit under development. In doing so, the submission should
include a proposed limit and supporting documentation.

    Deadline for submissions

    Comments should be sent in writing by September 28, 2007 to:

    The OEL Update Project
    Ontario Ministry of Labour
    400 University Ave., 12th Fl.
    Toronto, ON M7A 1T7
    Fax: (416) 326-7889
    Phone: (416) 326-9299
    E-mail: oelupdateproject@ontario.ca

    For further information:
    Media enquiries:
    Belinda Sutton
    Ministry of Labour
    (416) 326-7405


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                             www.labour.gov.on.ca