The Labour Program 2024-2025 Regulatory Stock Review Plan

This Regulatory Stock Review Plan is a public list and description of planned reviews of regulations that the Labour Program is proposing within the next 5 years. It is intended to give Canadians, including businesses, Indigenous peoples, and trading partners, greater opportunity to inform the reviews of regulations and to plan for the future.

The Regulatory Stock Review Plan identifies the Labour Program’s contact point for the planned reviews. The Regulatory Stock Review Plan will be adjusted and updated over time to reflect the Labour Program’s regulatory priorities and changes to the operating environment.

Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations - Updating References to Standards Initiative

Enabling Act

• Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR)
• Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (MOHSR)
• Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (AOHSR), and
• On Board Trains Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (OTOHSR) under Part II of the Canada Labour Code

Rationale

Most of the references to the standards incorporated in these regulations are obsolete and need to be updated.

Narrative

The objective of amending the Government of Canada’s regulations related to occupational health and safety (OHS) is to mitigate the risk of workplace injuries resulting from outdated OHS standards incorporated in regulations. The proposed changes will update all incorporations by reference in these regulations to ensure that they include the most current standards. Part II of the Canada Labour Code provides authority to incorporate by reference standards in the Government of Canada’s regulations related to OHS.

The majority of the references to the standards incorporated in these OHS related regulations are obsolete (most of them being over 25 years old). Although most employers voluntarily comply with the latest standards, amending the existing provisions, including updating the National Building Code and the Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code, would ensure enforcement and protection of the health and safety of all employees.

Amendments would be made to the following regulations:

• Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR)
• Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (MOHSR)
• Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (AOHSR)
• On Board Trains Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (OTOHSR)

The references to the standards in Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (OGOHSR) will be updated when amending these regulations.

Date of last review or amendment (Year)

• Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR) – Section 7.2 (Measurement and Calculation of Exposure) and Section 10.19 (Control of Hazards) – 2018
• Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (MOHSR) – Section 255 (Control of Hazards) – 2018
• Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (AOHSR) – Section 2.2 (Measurement and Calculation of Exposure) – 2018
• On Board Trains Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (OTOHSR) – Section 4.2 (Measurement and Calculation of Exposure) – 2018

The review started in 2019

Stakeholder Feedback (once complete)

Stakeholders will be consulted during the development of amendments to the regulations. Timing for public consultation is to be determined.

Stakeholders will also have the opportunity to submit comments following the pre-publication of the proposed amendments in Part I of the Canada Gazette.

For further information

• Canada Labour Code
• Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR)
• Aviation Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (AOHSR)
• On Board Trains Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (OTOHSR)
• Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (MOHSR)
• Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (OGOHSR)

Departmental or agency contact:

Danijela Hong
Director General
Workplace Directorate, Labour Program
danijela.hong@labour-travail.gc.ca