Recent Presentations by Phoenix OHC Personnel

Tom Beardall presented three topics at the recent meeting of the CGSB / CSA Committee on the Standard for the Protection of First Responders from Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Events.  He and two researchers from RMC also delivered a workshop on CBRN response to 160 participants at the CRTI Summer Symposium 2007, held in Gatineau Quebec (June 2007).

Ugis Bickis and Tom Beardall delivered a 2 day workshop on Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene in May 2007 for a large industrial client.  A similar workshop is planned for September 2007.

Lindsay Hadcock delivered a platform session entitled Plugged in Ergonomics at the IAPA's 2007 Health and Safety Conference (April 16, 2007)

Ugis Bickis discussed Biological Hazards: an occupational hygiene perspective at the Healthcare Workplace Safety Conference in St. John's, NL (April 2-4, 2007)

Tom Beardall presented "A Primer on Mould" to the Kingston Real Estate Association (October 2006).

Jeanette Campbell gave a session entitled "Indoor Air Quality versus Acceptable Levels of Airborne Contaminants" at the IAPA's 2006 Conference.

Phoenix OHC sponsored Breakfast Seminars in Kingston and Ottawa, where our professionals provided clients with legislative updates relating to Ontario's New Asbestos Regulation (O. Reg. 278/05) and the ACGIH TLV for Lifting.

Ontario OH&S News

Noise - Changes to noise regulations came into force on July 1, 2007.  Along with other changes, there is now an equivalent sound exposure limit (8-hour) which must be at or below 85 dBA (O. Reg. 565/06; http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Source/Regs/English/2006/R06565_e.htm).

Asbestos -  As of November 1, 2007, those items originally excluded from the new Regulation respecting Asbestos on Construction Projects (O.Reg. 278/05), which came into effect on November 1, 2005, will now have to be implemented.  These include training of asbestos workers and the inclusion of non-friable asbestos containing materials in the asbestos management program. 

Occupational Exposure Limits - New limits were introduced for 2 substances and OELs for 14 substances including carbon disulfide were recently revised (http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/oels/07_oels.html).

Heat Stress - Ministry of Labour's Heat Stress Guideline, which discusses legal requirements as well as heat symptoms and requirements for a hot weather plan may be found at http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/guidelines/gl_heat.html.

MSD (musculoskeletal disorders) - Ministry of Labour inspectorate staff now look for ergonomic hazards during inspections and enforce the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect workers from injuries related to ergonomic hazards (http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pains/topic_9.html).