BC Reg Changes -Apr 1, 2026
- rodgarland
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
Amendments to Parts 8 and 31 of the OHS Regulation now in effect as of April 1, 2026
Amendments to Parts 8 and 31 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation are in effect as of April 1, 2026. These amendments update references to selected safety headgear and respirator standards
.
The amendments are intended to:
Bring the Regulation in line with existing OHS Guidelines
Reflect standards that are already widely used and accepted in practice
Improve clarity and consistency with current workplace practices in B.C.
These updates do not introduce new obligations or additional requirements for employers or workers.
What has changed?
The amendments update references to the following technical standards in the OHS Regulation.
Safety headgear (Part 8)
Two additional acceptable standards are now formally recognized under section 8.13(1) for specific types of safety headgear:
ASTM F1447-06 — Sets performance requirements for bicycle and roller-skating helmets, including impact protection and strap strength
Snell B-90A — Updates Snell’s bicycle helmet standard with enhanced testing and performance requirements
These standards apply only when workers are using bicycles, in-line skates, and, in limited circumstances, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Respirators (Parts 8 and 31)
Most references to older editions of the CSA Z94.4 standard have been updated to CAN/CSA Z94.4-18, the current edition of the standard.
This update applies to respirator requirements in:
Sections 8.33, 8.41, 8.44, and 8.45 (Part 8, Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment)
Section 31.26 (Part 31, Firefighting)
Updating these references ensures the Regulation reflects the current Canadian respirator standards.
Updated Policies and Guidelines
We have also made corresponding amendments to the following OHS Policies and OHS Guidelines:
Breathe Safer manual coming soon
We are updating our Breathe Safer manual on respirators to reflect the amendments. Some of the changes will include:
A new Application section that explains what the manual does not cover and directs readers to other WorkSafeBC resources and the CSA standard where appropriate
Updating content to align with CSA Z94.4-18 and adding information on new CSA respirator certifications
Focusing on best practices as well as regulatory requirements
Removing the sample respirator program, which will be available as a separate download
The updated manual will be posted to our website as soon as possible.
What does this mean for employers and workers?
The updates do not introduce new obligations for employers or workers already following the 2018 standard. Employers and workers can continue to:
Use safety headgear and respirators that already meet standards accepted by WorkSafeBC
Follow existing processes for selecting, fitting, maintaining, and using personal protective equipment
Rely on OHS guidelines that already recognize these updated standards
Employers should update their respirator program documentation to refer to the 2018 standard.
More information
For more information contact:
Russell English
Industry and Program Specialist, Prevention Programs and Services
Phone: 604.233.4012 Email: russell.english@worksafebc.com
WorkSafeBC 4980 Wills Road, Nanaimo, BCworksafebc.com
Managing psychological health and safety in the workplace is as important as managing physical health and safety. Spot and prevent psychological harm like bullying, harassment, and threats of violence. Learn more at worksafebc.com/psych-health-safety.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest announcements, jobs, workplace health and safety resources, and news from WorkSafeBC.
Comments