Aims to ensure they 'reflect the realities of today's workplaces'
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is looking for feedback from stakeholders as it reviews the current pre-start health and safety review (PSR) requirements. The goal of the review is to ensure that PSRs continue to reflect the realities of today’s workplaces.
Section 7 of the Industrial Establishments regulation (Regulation 851) requires that a pre-start health and safety review be carried out on certain machinery, protective elements, structures and processes before they are put into service for the first time or if modifications are needed. The section applies only to factories and not other types of workplaces that are also defined as industrial establishments
The ministry will maintain the existing worker health and safety protections under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, but will consider opportunities to streamline the existing requirements or reduce the burden on business. It will also take a look at whether the equipment and processes that trigger a PSR are appropriate as well as other ways to make the requirements clearer and easier to understand.
“We would be particularly interested in receiving information about costs associated with capital and equipment; training and education; maintenance of new or previously owned equipment; labour; record-keeping and reporting; other operating costs; and other administrative costs,” said the ministry. “The ministry will consider the information provided as we develop the proposal and the associated RIA [regulatory impact analysis].”
The comments period will end on Mar. 27. Click here to have your say..
