Changes Were Made To The Rules On Fall Protection In The Workplace

The provincial government made changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations for fall protection equipment. The revisions come as the country moves to a standardized approach across all jurisdictions. Changes to the regulations cover things like fall arrest harnesses, vertical life preservers and self-retracting devices. The new standards are the result of the signing of a Pan-Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Reconciliation Agreement, which builds on a similar 2019 document that sets standards for first aid kit contents and PPE. Amendments to this province’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations are now published in the Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette. In addition to fall protection equipment, the agreement provides opportunities for future work focusing on occupational exposure limits and safety training. “The primary aim of occupational health and safety legislation is to protect the health and safety of all workers,” says NL Service Minister Sarah Stoodley. “This agreement ensures that safety standards in Newfoundland and Labrador and other Canadian jurisdictions are aligned.”