SPRING 1999     Inside: • FAST, A New Approach to Pre-Purchase Site Assessments • New BC WCB Regulation Highlights • Building Material Diversion • Health & Safety Challenges in Argetina NEW BRITISH COLUMBIA WCB REGULATIONS HIGHLIGHTS By Michael Mysak & Ralph Shearman     April 15th, 1999 has come and gone, and so has the WCB's 'grace period' for full application of the new WCB Health and Safety Regulations. Is your company in compliance with the new Regulations? The new Regulations have several significant changes that affect workplaces every-www. phhenvironmental.com where. In this brief article we would like to cover some of the key areas where changes have been made.     Some of the most significant changes to regulations apply to: Exposure Control Plans (Regulation 5.54); Risk Assessments; Lead; Confined Spaces; Notice of Project (NOP) for all Projects over $100,000; Indoor Air Quality; Ergonomics; and Asbestos EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN     An Exposure Control Plan (ECP) is a new, systematic approach to understanding and dealing with exposures to chemical and biological sub-stances, and other hazardous conditions as outlined in Part 5 of the new Regulations. An ECP is a pro-active approach to worker exposures in the workplace. Each regulated substance or chemical in use in the workplace MUST have a visual assessment of the risk of over-exposure (see Part 5 of the Regulations for regulated substance list). Where there is a risk of over-exposure to any chemical, sampling data must be used to evaluate the risk. For example, a mill or manufacturing plant where workers are exposed to wood dust, which has been designated a K1 (confirmed human carcinogen) by the WCB, must implement an Exposure Control Plan when: exposure monitoring indicates that a worker is or may be exposed to an air contaminant in excess of 50% of the exposure limit (EL), measurement is not possible at 50% of the EL, or otherwise required by the Regulations. Previous sampling and prevention pro-grams may not meet the requirements for an ECP.     An ECP must incorporate: statement of purpose and responsibilities, risk identification, assessment, and control, education and training, written work procedures, hygiene facilities and decontamination procedures, health monitoring, and documentation. If measures were taken to control exposure by installing additional local exhaust ventilation, reducing the exposure to a level below 50% of the EL, then hygiene facilities and health monitoring may not be necessary. An established ECP must be reviewed at least annually with the Health & Safety Committee or Representative. For further information, see Part 5: Chemical and Biological Substances in the new Regs, check out WCB's website at www.wcb.bc.ca., or contact PHH.