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 Alkanes Atrazine Barium sulfate 1-Bromopropane Butane, all isomers Ethyl isocyanate Ethyl tert-butyl ether Glycerin mist Manganese, elemental and |
1-Methoxy-2-propanol
Methyl formate Methyl isoamyl ketone Methyl isocyanate Naphthalene Oxalic acid, anhydrous and Pentane, all isomers Phenyl isocyanate Trichloroacetic acid Triethylamine |
WorkSafeBC proposes to retain the OELs for the following substances:
| Clopidol
Cyanogen bromide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy- Diethylene glycol 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.