Effective April 1, 2026
Amendments to Parts 8 and 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation come into effect on April 1, 2026. These amendments update references to selected safety headgear and respiratory protection standards.
The amendments are to:
- Bring the OHS Regulation in line with OHS guidelines
- Reflect standards already widely used and accepted in practice
- Provide greater clarity and consistency with current practices across workplaces in B.C.
These amendments do not introduce new obligations or additional requirements for employers or workers.
What’s Changing?
The amendments update references to the following standards in the OHS Regulation:
- Safety headgear (Part 8)
Two additional acceptable standards are formally adopted under section 8.13(1):- ASTM F1447-06 — Defines minimum performance requirements for recreational bicycle and roller‑skating helmets, focusing on impact protection, stability, and strap strength.
- Snell B-90A — An enhanced version of Snell’s 1990 bicycle helmet standard, adding stricter testing and additional performance requirements.
- Respiratory protection (Parts 8 and 31)
References to older editions of CSA Z94.4 are updated to CAN/CSA Z94.4‑18, the most current fully published and validated edition of the standard. Updates apply to sections 8.33, 8.41, 8.44, 8.45, and 31.26.
Technical standards evolve over time. WorkSafeBC reviews updates through subject matter experts and typically accepts newer standards first through OHS Guidelines. When appropriate, the Regulation is then updated to reflect those accepted standards.
For more information