WorkSafeBC | Effective January 4, 2027
The WorkSafeBC Board of Directors has approved amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation relating to combustible dusts.
These amendments strengthen protections for workers while providing clearer expectations for employers. The changes take effect January 4, 2027.
We’re sharing information now to support early awareness and help employers, workers, and industry stakeholders begin preparing for the changes to combustible dusts requirements.
This includes:
- Publishing a regulatory backgrounder explaining the changes and how workplaces can prepare
- Posting three prospective Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines for stakeholder review and comment.
- Updating the Combustible dusts page on worksafebc.com with information on the regulatory amendments and related resources as they become available
What’s changing
The amendments introduce a clearer and more comprehensive framework for identifying, assessing, and controlling risks from combustible dusts.
At a high level, the changes:
- Add a division focused on combustible dusts to Part 6 of the OHS Regulation
- Clarify what combustible dusts are and when the requirements apply
- Establish expectations for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls
- Emphasize worker consultation, training, and ongoing management of risks from combustible dusts
The requirements apply to many industries where combustible dusts may be generated as part of a work process — including dusts from materials such as wood, grain, metal, plastics, and chemicals.
What this means for employers
The amended requirements apply to an expanded range of industries where dust is generated as part of normal operations — including, but not limited to:
- Agriculture: fertilizer plants, grain handling, feed processing, composting facilities
- Food and beverage production: bakeries, flour and sugar processing, animal and human food production, breweries
- Manufacturing and processing: wood products, textiles, metalworking, plastics, rubber, additive manufacturing
- Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing: plastics, resins, pharmaceuticals
- Recycling and waste management: paper, plastic, metal, electronics, mixed materials
In some workplaces, combustible dusts may be present even when they are not the primary product. Dusts created from inputs, by-products or waste of a work process can still pose a serious risk.
Employers should review the updated information and backgrounder to understand how the amended requirements may apply to their workplace and what steps may be needed before the changes take effect.
What this means for workers
For workers, the amendments are intended to:
- Increase participation in discussions about combustible dust risks and controls
- Improve identification of combustible dust hazards and control of the risks
- Reduce the risk of fires and explosions linked to combustible dusts
- Support safer work environments through clearer and more consistent requirements
Workers can expect to be informed about combustible dust risks in their workplace by their employers and to receive training where required, including information about how hazards will be identified and risks will be assessed and controlled.
We will share more information as it becomes available.
For more information