If the assessment reveals that a worker is likely to be exposed to a designated substance and the health of a worker may be affected by that exposure, the employer must develop, establish, put into effect and maintain measures and procedures to control the worker’s exposure to the substance.

These measures and procedures must be incorporated into a written control program that satisfies the requirements of section 20.

Written control program

Control programs must provide for the following:

  • Engineering controls, work practices, hygiene facilities and practices to control the exposure of a worker to the designated substance.
  • Methods and procedures to monitor the concentration of the designated substance in workplace air and worker exposure to it.
  • Personal records showing the exposure of workers to the substance at the workplace.
  • A training program for supervisors and workers on the health effects of the substance and the measures and procedures required under the control program.
  • A medical surveillance program, where required by the regulation.

Note: The regulation sets out additional requirements for a control program respecting coke oven emissions. Refer to subsection 20(3) and Part II of Schedule 1 of O. Reg. 490/09 for details.

Developing the control program

The employer is required to consult with the JHSC when developing the control program. Consultation with the JHSC can help ensure that workers at all levels understand the purpose of the program and share a commitment to carrying it out.

The control program should outline general practices and specific measures to control exposure at each step in the production process.  The assessment report (see section 3.5 of this guide) will be of great value in developing these measures.  A systematic review of exposures noted in the assessment can be the basis for determining the most effective controls to apply in each situation.

The control program should identify the workers who are to be included in each of its provisions (for example, the job categories that are to be included in air monitoring and medical surveillance programs; the workers who are required to comply with specified work practices or hygiene practices). While medical surveillance and air monitoring may be required for all workers who are subject to the control program, the frequency of air monitoring and medical examinations or tests could vary depending upon the extent of worker exposure to the substance and the requirements of the Code for Medical Surveillance for Designated Substances.

The control program should also include a timetable for implementation. Provisions for interim control measures may be necessary in some cases. For example, the program may specify personal protective equipment that is to be used until engineering controls are installed.

The following chapters provide additional information relevant to developing a control program:

Personal records

As part of the control program, the employer must maintain personal records of the exposure of a worker to a designated substance at the workplace.

The records must include:

  • an identification of the worker, including the worker’s date of birth
  • the worker’s job(s) or occupation(s) at the workplace
  • results of monitoring the worker’s exposure to airborne concentrations of the designated substance
  • the TWA exposure of the worker to the designated substance
  • the use of a respirator by the worker and its type
  • with respect to isocyanates other than those listed in Table 1 of the regulation, personal records of the length of time a worker is exposed to the isocyanates, among other information

Control programs must also provide for personal records of the medical examinations and clinical tests maintained by physicians who have examined a worker under the control program or who have performed or supervised clinical tests on the worker.