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Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the

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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> was asked <strong>to</strong> consider circumstances when <strong>the</strong> General Safety Regulations arenot up-<strong>to</strong>-date with <strong>the</strong> changing safety environment – for example, changes intechnology or <strong>the</strong> introduction <strong>of</strong> safer work practices.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> was <strong>to</strong>ld that it takes time <strong>to</strong> revise regulations and in <strong>the</strong> interim <strong>the</strong>re is norequirement for stakeholders <strong>to</strong> adopt or follow <strong>the</strong>se improved codes, standards, or o<strong>the</strong>rsafety measures.A majority <strong>of</strong> respondents <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Stakeholder Questionnaire thought that <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> Board<strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs, on <strong>the</strong> advice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief Safety Officer, should have <strong>the</strong> authority <strong>to</strong>establish “codes <strong>of</strong> practice” in regulation. <strong>The</strong> Chief Inspec<strong>to</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Mines has authority <strong>to</strong>issue directives respecting occupational health and safety matters that are applicable <strong>to</strong>more than 1 mine.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> agrees that <strong>the</strong> process for establishing codes, standards, and o<strong>the</strong>r safetymeasures should be one that is responsive <strong>to</strong> changing conditions. Enabling <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> <strong>to</strong>issue directives having <strong>the</strong> force <strong>of</strong> law would ensure that any deficiencies or omissionsin <strong>the</strong> General Safety Regulations receive immediate attention. Having said this, <strong>the</strong><strong>Panel</strong> is mindful <strong>of</strong> stakeholders’ concerns about prior consultation before changing <strong>the</strong>regula<strong>to</strong>ry regime.Recommendations: 4.1.5 Interim Directives1. <strong>The</strong> legislation should be changed <strong>to</strong> enable <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs, on <strong>the</strong>advice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief Safety Officer, <strong>to</strong> issue directives <strong>to</strong> change codes, standards ando<strong>the</strong>r safety measures.2. <strong>The</strong> legislation should be changed <strong>to</strong> require <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> consultwith affected stakeholders, or <strong>the</strong>ir representative associations, prior <strong>to</strong> issuingdirectives that govern codes, standards, and o<strong>the</strong>r safety measures.3. <strong>The</strong> legislation should be changed <strong>to</strong> enable <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> delegatesuch responsibility <strong>to</strong> consult.<strong>WCB</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Page 89 <strong>of</strong> 128December, 2001

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