B.C. Reg. 420/2004, deposited September 22, 2004, pursuant to the WORKERS COMPENSATION ACT [Section 225 (1)]. Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia Regulation, dated September 14, 2004.

DATED at Nanaimo, British Columbia, September 14, 2004. By the Workers' Compensation Board.

— DOUGLAS J. ENNS, Chair, Board of Directors.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLVES THAT:

1 The following is added after section 4.58 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, B.C. Reg. 296/97:

Temporary removal of guardrails

4.58.1 (1) If a guardrail must be removed to accommodate work,

(a) only that portion of the guardrail necessary to allow the work to be done may be removed, and

(b) workers exposed to a fall hazard must be protected by another fall protection system when the guardrail is absent.

(2) The guardrail must be replaced

(a) when the unguarded area is left unattended, and

(b) after the work is completed if the circumstances still require guardrails.

2 Section 11.1 is amended

(a) by repealing the definitions of "carabiner" and "control zone",

(b) by repealing the definition of "fall protection system" and substituting:

"fall protection system" means

(a) a fall restraint system,

(b) a fall arrest system, or

(c) work procedures that are acceptable to the Board and minimize the risk of injury to a worker from a fall; ,

(c) by repealing the definition of "fall restraint system" and substituting:

"fall restraint system" means a system to prevent a worker from falling from a work position, or from travelling to an unguarded edge from which the worker could fall; ,

(d) by repealing the definition of "free fall distance",

(e) by repealing the definition of "full body harness" and substituting:

"full body harness" means a body support device consisting of connected straps designed to distribute the force resulting from a fall over at least the thigh, shoulders and pelvis, with provision for attaching a lanyard, lifeline or other components; ,

(f) by repealing the definition of "personal fall protection system" and substituting:

"personal fall protection system" means a worker's fall restraint system or fall arrest system composed of

(a) a safety belt or full body harness, and

(b) a lanyard, lifeline and any other connecting equipment individual to the worker

that is used to secure the worker to an individual point of anchorage or to a horizontal lifeline system; , and

(g) by repealing the definitions of "safety monitor system", "safety strap", "shock absorber", "swing-fall hazard", "total fall distance", and "unusual risk of injury".

3 The heading "General requirements" following section 11.1 is struck out.

4 Section 11.2 is amended

(a) in subsection (1), by repealing paragraph (b) and substituting:

(b) where a fall from a height of less than 3 m involves a risk of injury greater than the risk of injury from the impact on a flat surface. , and

(b) by repealing subsections (3), (4) and (5) and substituting:

(3) If subsection (2) is not practicable, the employer must ensure that another fall restraint system is used.

(4) If subsection (3) is not practicable, the employer must ensure that a fall arrest system is used.

(5) If the use of a fall arrest system is not practicable, or will result in a hazard greater than if the system was not used, the employer must ensure that work procedures are followed that are acceptable to the Board and minimize the risk of injury to a worker from a fall.

(6) Before a worker is allowed into an area where a risk of falling exists, the employer must ensure that the worker is instructed in the fall protection system for the area and the procedures to be followed.

(7) A worker must use the fall protection system provided by the employer.

5 Section 11.3 is amended

(a) in subsection (1),

(i) by adding "or" to the end of paragraph (a),

(ii) by repealing paragraph (b) and substituting:

(b) section 11.2 (5) applies. , and

(iii) by repealing paragraph (c), and

(b) by repealing subsection (3).

6 Sections 11.4 to 11.40 are repealed and the following substituted:

Selection of harness or belt

11.4 (1) A worker must wear a full body harness or other harness acceptable to the Board when using a personal fall protection system for fall arrest.

(2) A worker must wear a safety belt, a full body harness or other harness acceptable to the Board when using a personal fall protection system for fall restraint.

Equipment standards

11.5 Equipment used for a fall protection system must

(a) consist of compatible and suitable components,

(b) be sufficient to support the fall restraint or arrest forces, and

(c) meet, and be used in accordance with, an applicable CSA or ANSI standard in effect when the equipment was manufactured, subject to any modification or upgrading considered necessary by the Board.

Anchors

11.6 (1) In a temporary fall restraint system, an anchor for a vertical lifeline, or for a lanyard used without a lifeline, must have an ultimate load capacity in any direction in which a load may be applied of at least

(a) 3.5 kN (800 lbs), or

(b) four times the weight of the worker to be connected to the system.

(2) Each vertical lifeline used for fall arrest must be secured to an independent point of anchorage.

(3) In a fall arrest system or permanent fall restraint system, an anchor for a vertical lifeline, or for a lanyard used without a lifeline, must have an ultimate load capacity in any direction required to resist a fall of at least

(a) 22 kN (5 000 lbs), or

(b) two times the maximum arrest force.

Temporary horizontal lifelines

11.7 A temporary horizontal lifeline system may be used if the system is

(a) manufactured for commercial distribution and installed and used in accordance with the written instructions and drawings from the manufacturer or authorized agent, and the instructions and drawings are readily available in the workplace,

(b) installed and used in accordance with written instructions and drawings certified by a professional engineer, and the instructions and drawings are readily available in the workplace, or

(c) designed, installed and used in a manner acceptable to the Board.

Certification by engineer

11.8 The following types of equipment and systems, and their installation, must be certified by a professional engineer:

(a) permanent anchors,

(b) anchors with multiple attachment points,

(c) permanent horizontal lifeline systems, and

(d) support structures for safety nets.

Inspection and maintenance

11.9 Equipment used in a fall protection system must be

(a) inspected by a qualified person before use on each workshift,

(b) kept free from substances and conditions that could contribute to its deterioration, and

(c) maintained in good working order.

Removal from service

11.10 After a fall protection system has arrested the fall of a worker, it must

(a) be removed from service, and

(b) not be returned to service until it has been inspected and recertified as safe for use by the manufacturer or its authorized agent, or by a professional engineer.

7 Section 20.4 is repealed and the following substituted:

Safe access

20.4 (1) Where practicable, suitable ladders, work platforms and scaffolds meeting the requirements of Part 13 (Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms) must be provided for and used by a worker for activities requiring positioning at elevations above a floor or grade.

8 Section 20.7 is repealed.

9 Section 20.13 is amended

(a) in subsection (3),

(i) by adding "and" to the end of paragraph (a),

(ii) by striking out "and" at the end of paragraph (b), and

(iii) by repealing paragraph (c), and

(b) by repealing subsection (5).

10 Section 20.73 is repealed.

11 Section 22.118 (1) is repealed.

12 Section 26.37 (2) is repealed.

13 The above amendments come into force January 1, 2005.

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