Occupational illnesses can result from acute and long-term exposures to hazardous chemical agents. Controlling these exposures can help lower the risk of workers developing a workplace disease. On this episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast, Jon Lee, Occupational Hygienist with Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), and Jasmine Kalsi, IHSA's Occupational Hygienist, discuss occupational hygiene and the Ministry's campaign efforts regarding exposure to chemical agents.

Jon discusses the Ministry's focus to enforce airborne occupational exposure limits in workplaces. For the current 2024-2025 fiscal year, the Ministry will focus on two initiatives: worker exposures to chemical agents in the workplace, and WHMIS training based on the amended Hazardous Products Regulations.

The first initiative, the Compliance Assistance phase, which runs from April 1st, 2024 until March 31st, 2025, will provide some guidance to workplaces and help them understand compliance issues, as well as prepare them for the next phase. The second initiative, the Focused Inspections phase, starts on July 2nd, 2024 until March 31st, 2025, and will take a more targeted approach to check for compliance and issue orders. Both initiatives focus on industries like construction, transportation, and electrical utilities where workers may be exposed to hazardous chemical agents.

Jasmine mentions common chemical agents that can pose significant risks to workers in various industries, such as silica, VOCs generated from paints and solvents, dusts, fuels, epoxy, welding fumes, and diesel engine exhaust. She highlights the importance of identifying potential exposure sources—which sometimes can be overlooked—and carrying out the appropriate risk assessment to ensure the hazards are controlled appropriately.

Free Resources

Silica Control Tool | OHCOW

Silica Exposure in the Workplace | IHSA Safety Podcast

Occupational Health | IHSA.ca

Current occupational exposure limits for Ontario workplaces under Regulation 833 | MLITSD

Occupational Illness Exposures | OHCOW

Amendments to the Hazardous Products Regulations | Health Canada

WHMIS 2015 Fact Sheets | CCOHS

WHMIS 2015 eLearning | IHSA

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