SK: On October 2, 2007 amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, which protects employees from work related injuries, will take effect.

Shannon Dumba of the Saskatchewan Labour office explained that the main changes will effect fall protection regulations and will include:

• Enhancing the education and training of workers who use fall protection
• Requiring a written fall protection plan
• Eliminating the use of waist-style safety belts and replacing them with the use of full body harnesses
• Eliminating some of the former exemptions for roofers
• Updating the regulations to recognize new equipment and standards for fall protection
• Recognizing the use of control zones in certain situations where workers are at risk of falling

Other areas involved in the amendments relate to high voltage electrical workers, power mobile equipment operators and safety standards for some equipment in the oil and gas industry. Finally, air quality standards for workplaces will be updated and the requirements on the use of respiratory protective devices and the use of asbestos will be strengthened.

"These changes represent our Governments' commitment to modernize and enhance Saskatchewan's workplace safety laws," Labour Minister David Forbes said. "These changes will prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities, and will ensure that Saskatchewan workers are protected from preventable injuries."

“The government is now considering recommendations for changes to requirements that affect health care, such as standards for safe patient lifting and supervision of safe work practices,” said Dumba.

The government is also considering more changes that would affect:

• general duties of employers, supervisors, suppliers and contractors with regard to health and safety
• establishing occupational health committees and occupational health and safety programs
• occupational health and safety appeal procedures and timelines
• health and safety training and record-keeping
• Fire-fighter rescue teams

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