Proposed Asbestos
Construction Regulations (Draft)
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has posted a draft of the proposed changes to
the Asbestos Construction Regulations (Regulation 838). Regulation 838 applies
to construction projects and to workers involved in maintenance and repair
operations in industrial, commercial and institutional buildings that contain
asbestos. It prescribes measures to control worker exposure to asbestos (e.g.,
enclosures, use of respirators) as well as safe work procedures (e.g., how to
safely remove contaminated waste). The Ontario government is seeking
stakeholder input on these proposed amendments.
The draft
regulation is based on current scientific and technical knowledge. Proposed
amendments to Regulation 838 would:
- Provide construction and maintenance/repair
workers with a comparable standard of protection as workers covered by the
occupational exposure limit (OEL) prescribed in the Regulation respecting
Asbestos (Regulation 837), which was updated in 2000.
- Strengthen training requirements, by
requiring asbestos abatement workers to complete a training program.
- Support the Ministry of Labour's efforts to
reduce occupational disease in Ontario workplaces.
For more information, please go
to: http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/english/hs/reg838/index.html
Comments should be sent by November 5, 2004 to:
Regulation 838 Review Project
Ministry of Labour
12th Floor, 400 University Avenue
Toronto, ON M7A 1T7
Fax: 416-326-7889
Phone: (416) 326-9299
Toll-free Phone: 1-866-290-3335
E-mail: reg838construction@mol.gov.on.ca
Website: www.gov.on.ca/lab
Electronic submissions are encouraged.