Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (SOR/86-304)

• 10.20 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the concentration of an airborne chemical agent or combination of airborne chemical agents in the work place shall be less than 50 per cent of the lower explosive limit of the chemical agent or combination of chemical agents.

• (2) Where a source of ignition may ignite an airborne chemical agent or combination of airborne chemical agents in the work place, the maximum concentration of the chemical agent or of the combination of chemical agents shall be 10 per cent of the lower explosive limit of the chemical agent or combination of chemical agents.

• (3) Subsection (2) does not apply in respect of concentrations of methane gas in the underground portion of a coal mine.

10.21 Compressed air, gas or steam shall not be used for blowing dust or other substances from structures, machinery or materials where

• (a) there is a risk of any person being directly exposed to the jet or where a fire, explosion, injury or health hazard is likely to result from such use; or

• (b) that use would result in a concentration of an airborne chemical agent that exceeds the values referred to in paragraph 10.19(1)(a) or subsection 10.19(1.1) or the limit referred to in subsection 10.20(1) or (2).

• 10.22 (1) Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning clothing contaminated with:

  • (a) asbestos; or

  • (b) a hazardous substance having an exposure limit referred to in paragraph 10.19(1)(a) or (b) lower than 1 mg/m³.

• (2) Where compressed air is used to clean clothing,

  • (a) appropriate eye protection shall be worn; and

  • (b) the maximum compressed air pressure in the pipeline shall be 69 kPa (10 psi) or a safety nozzle limiting the air pressure to no more than 69kPa (10 psi) shall be used.

Warnings

10.23 If feasible, the employer shall provide automated warning and detection systems if the seriousness of any exposure to a hazardous substance so requires.

Assembly of Pipes

10.24 Every assembly of pipes, pipe fittings, valves, safety devices, pumps, compressors and other fixed equipment that is used for transferring a hazardous substance from one location to another shall be

• (a) marked, by labelling, colour-coding, placarding or any other mode, to identify the hazardous substance being transferred and, if appropriate, the direction of the flow; and

• (b) fitted with valves and other control and safety devices to ensure its safe operation, maintenance and repair.

Explosives

10.25 All blasting using dynamite or other explosives shall be done by a qualified person who, where required under the laws of the province in which the blasting is carried out, holds a blasting certificate or such other authorization as may be required under those laws.

Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation

• 10.26 (1) Where a device that is capable of producing and emitting energy in the form of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation is used in the work place, the employer shall, if the device is referred to in subsection (2), implement the applicable document, as amended from time to time, published by the Department of National Health and Welfare, as specified in one of paragraphs (2)(a) to (k) or published by ANSI, as specified in paragraph (2)(l).

• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the applicable document is

  • (a) in respect of radio frequency and microwave devices in the frequency range from 10 kHz to 300 GHz, Safety Code - 6, dated 1990;

  • (b) in respect of X-ray equipment in medical diagnosis, Safety Code - 20A, dated 1980;

  • (c) in respect of baggage inspection X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 21, dated 1978;

  • (d) in respect of dental X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 22, dated 1980;

  • (e) in respect of ultrasound equipment, Safety Code - 23, dated 1989, and Safety Code - 24, dated 1990;

  • (f) in respect of short-wave diathermy equipment, Safety Code - 25, dated 1983;

  • (g) in respect of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy equipment, Safety Code - 26, dated 1987;

  • (h) in respect of industrial X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 27, dated 1987;

  • (i) in respect of veterinary X-ray equipment, Safety Code - 28, dated 1991;

  • (j) in respect of demonstration-type discharge devices, Recommended Safety Procedures for the Selection and Use of Demonstration-Type Discharge Devices in Schools, dated 1979;

  • (k) in respect of dielectric (RF) heaters, Dielectric (RF) Heaters Guidelines for Limiting Radio-Frequency Exposure, dated 1980; and

  • (l) in respect of lasers, ANSI Standard ANSI Z136.1-1986, American National Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers, dated 1986, including its appendices with the exception of Appendix D.

• (3) If an employee works on or near a device that may emit nuclear energy, the employer shall ensure that the exposure of the employee to nuclear energy does not exceed the radiation dose limits set out in the Radiation Protection Regulations.

• (4) No employee, other than a nuclear energy worker as defined in section 2 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, shall be exposed in the course of any year to a concentration of radon that on average, over the year, is higher than 800 Bq/m³.