Consultation on proposed Occupational Exposure Limits

Each year, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes a list of substances for which they have set new or revised Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). A TLV is an airborne concentration of a chemical substance from which nearly all workers are believed to experience no adverse health effects over a working lifetime. TLVs may be expressed as an 8-hour time-weighted average, a short-term exposure limit, or a ceiling limit.

Before adopting new or revised TLVs published by the ACGIH, WorkSafeBC reviews and consults stakeholders on potential implementation issues. WorkSafeBC’s existing B.C. Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) continue to be in effect until the Board of Directors makes a decision on which new or revised ACGIH TLVs to adopt as B.C. OELs.

Background information on WorkSafeBC’s OEL review process

WorkSafeBC is requesting stakeholder feedback on proposed OELs based on the 2013, 2014, and 2015 new or revised ACGIH TLVs.

WorkSafeBC proposes new or revised OELs for the following substances:

Acetone

Aliphatic hydrocarbon
gases

Alkanes

Atrazine

Barium sulfate

1-Bromopropane

Butane, all isomers

Ethyl isocyanate

Ethyl tert-butyl ether

Glycerin mist

Manganese, elemental and
inorganic compounds,
as Mn

1-Methoxy-2-propanol

Methyl formate

Methyl isoamyl ketone

Methyl isocyanate

Naphthalene

Oxalic acid, anhydrous and
dihydrate

Pentane, all isomers

Phenyl isocyanate

Trichloroacetic acid

Triethylamine

WorkSafeBC proposes to retain the OELs for the following substances:

Clopidol

Cyanogen bromide

2,4-Dichlorophenoxy-
acetic acid and its esters

Diethylene glycol
monobutyl ether

N,N-Diethylhydroxylamine

Lithium hydride

Methomyl

Nickel carbonyl, as Ni

Pentachlorophenol

Peracetic acid

Tributyl phosphate

1,2,3-Trichloropropane

WorkSafeBC also proposes a withdrawal of the OEL for Ethylidene norbornene.

The proposed new or revised OELs, retention of OELs, and OEL withdrawal, along with instructions for providing feedback, can be accessed via the link below:

Proposed new or revised OELs, retention of OELs,
and OEL withdrawal

The deadline for feedback is 4:30 p.m., Friday, September 1, 2017.

All stakeholder feedback received will be carefully reviewed, analyzed, and provided to the Board of Directors of WorkSafeBC to consider as part of their decision making process.

Please note that COCA will be submitting comments on behalf of members. If you are making a submission on behalf of your own organization or company or would like to provide input to COCA’s response, please email to dave@cocabc.ca.