Guides & Toolkits

Workbook for Designated Substance Assessments 6 366-BPV-01-IMOT © 2024, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | WSPS.CA ASSESSING DESIGNATED SUBSTANCES Each designated substance regulation follows a similar pattern: 1. You must determine if the regulation applies to your workplace. Basically the regulation will apply if the following conditions are met: – the substance is present; – exposure is likely if the worker can encounter the substance in any form (i.e. solid, liquid, dust, gas, vapour, fume or mist); and – none of the exemptions listed in the Designated Substances Regulation apply. 2. If the regulation applies, the employer is required to conduct an assessment in consultation with the Joint Health and Safety Committee and the committee may make recommendations respecting the assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to determine if a worker's health may be affected because of exposure to the substance, and if so, a control program must be implemented. Note: If health is not affected because present exposure control is adequate, the response will still be YES because controls may break down or become ineffective at any time. Refer to the diagram for Assessing Designated Substances on the next page. A NO response is likely only if the amount used is very small or minimal or the physical state of the substance is such that exposure will not cause adverse effects. Your committee should discuss a draft of the assessment. When agreement is reached, a final assessment should be prepared. The worksheets throughout this workbook may be used for this purpose. Your assessment must be in writing and a copy provided to each member of your committee. A copy should also be kept at the workplace for review by a MLITSD inspector. 3. If the assessment shows that a worker is likely to be exposed to the substance and that the health of a worker may be affected by that exposure, you must establish a control program. The regulation for each substance details what the control program is to include. If you already have some controls, you have taken the first steps in instituting a control program and must implement any remaining requirements of the regulation. The Joint Health and Safety Committee must be consulted about the control program, and the committee may make recommendations respecting it. Each member of the committee must be provided with a copy of it and affected workers must be acquainted with its provisions. The copy of the control program must be available in English and the majority language of the workplace. 4. If there is a change in a workplace that could result in a significant difference in the exposure of a worker to a designated substance, the employer must promptly carry out a further assessment of the exposure or likelihood of exposure of a worker to the designated substance. WSPS.CA

• Cover
• SECTION VI: REFERENCES
• SECTION V: CONTROL PROGRAMS
• Guidelines For Worksheet 1: Is The Designated Substance Present?
• Guidelines For Worksheet 2: Is Worker Exposure Likely?
• Guidelines For Worksheet 3: Process Description
• Guidelines For Worksheet 4: Walk Through
• Guidelines For Worksheet 5: Walk Through Conclusions
• Guidelines For Worksheet 6: Is A Control Program Necessary?
• SECTION IV: ASSESSMENT CONCLUSION
• Introduction
• Conclusions Worksheet 6: Is A Control Program Necessary?
• SECTION III: ASSESSMENT
• Introduction
• Assessment – Worksheets 3: Process Description
• Assessment – Walk Through Survey
• Assessment – Worksheet 4: Walk Through
• Assessment – Worksheet 5: Walk Through Conclusions
• SECTION II: APPLICATION
• Introduction
• Application – Worksheet 1: Is the Designated Substance Present?
• Application – Worksheet 2: Is Worker Exposure Likely?
• SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
• Purpose of this Workbook
• ASSESSING DESIGNATED SUBSTANCES
• Decision Diagram For Assessing Designated Substances
• Workbook Format