Conventional Health and Safety

Preface

This regulatory document is part of the CNSC’s conventional health and safety series of regulatory documents. The full list of regulatory document series is included at the end of this document and can also be found on the CNSC’s website.

Regulatory document REGDOC-2.8.1, Conventional Health and Safety, sets out information regarding conventional health and safety (CHS) and the implementation and maintenance of a CHS program.

For information on the implementation of regulatory documents and on the graded approach, see REGDOC-3.5.3, Regulatory Fundamentals.

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

This regulatory document provides information on conventional health and safety (CHS).

In accordance with the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), the CNSC has a mandate related to the risks to health and safety of persons associated with the development, production and use of nuclear energy, with the production, possession and use of nuclear substances, and with prescribed equipment and information. CHS is a safety and control area (SCA) that covers the implementation of a program to manage workplace safety hazards and to protect workers.

Occupational health and safety (OHS) seeks to prevent worker illness and injuries through the proactive identification and mitigation of hazards. OHS in a nuclear setting consists of four SCAs: CHS; emergency management and fire protection; physical design; and radiation protection.

The CNSC evaluates each SCA to determine whether licensees meet the regulatory requirements set out in the NSCA and its associated regulations.

1.2 Scope

This document applies to all CNSC-licensed activities. This document does not include any requirements, but is a source of CHS-related information for all applicants and licensees.

1.3 Relevant legislation

The following provisions of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) and the regulations made under it are some of the more significant provisions relevant to this document:

• NSCA, paragraph 21(1)(a)
• General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations, paragraphs 12(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k)
• General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations, section 17
• General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations, paragraphs 29(1)(d), (h) and (i)

2. Canadian Regulatory Framework and Standards

Legislative authority over CHS is divided among federal, provincial, and territorial governments. It is the responsibility of applicants and licensees to be able to identify and comply with all applicable legislation. The following are some of the more significant Canadian regulatory framework and related standards for CHS and OHS.

2.1 Federal acts and regulations

• Canada Labour Code, Part II
• Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

2.2 Provincial and territorial acts and regulations

• British Columbia: Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, B.C. Reg. 296/97
• Alberta: Occupational Health and Safety Act / Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
• Saskatchewan: The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996 / The Mines Regulations, 2003, Saskatchewan Uranium Mines and Mills Exclusion Regulations
• Manitoba: Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation, 2014
• Ontario: Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1 / Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A
• Quebec: Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety, S-2.1 / Regulation respecting occupational health and safety, chapter S-2.1, r.13
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Occupational Health and Safety Act, RSNL1990 Chapter O-3
• New Brunswick: Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.N.B. 1983, c. O-0.2
• Prince Edward Island: Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations, R.S.P.E.I. 1988
• Nova Scotia: Occupational Health and Safety Act, Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1996
• Yukon: Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Northwest Territories: Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-039-2015
• Nunavut: Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

2.3 Related Canadian standards

• CAN/CSA-Z1000-14, Occupational health and safety management
• CSA N286-12 (R2017), Management system requirements for nuclear facilities
• CAN/CSA-Z94.4, Selection, use, and care of respirators

With permission of the publisher, CSA Group, all nuclear-related CSA standards may be viewed at no cost through the CNSC Web page "How to gain free access to all nuclear-related CSA standards".

3. Reporting

The CNSC’s reporting requirements series of regulatory documents (series 3.1) covers reporting requirements for nuclear facilities. The full list of regulatory document series is included at the end of this document and can also be found on the CNSC’s website.

Glossary

For definitions of terms used in this document, see REGDOC-3.6, Glossary of CNSC Terminology, which includes terms and definitions used in the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and the regulations made under it, and in CNSC regulatory documents and other publications. REGDOC-3.6 is provided for reference and information.

Additional Information

The following website provides additional information that may be relevant and useful for licensees:

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

CNSC Regulatory Document Series

Facilities and activities within the nuclear sector in Canada are regulated by the CNSC. In addition to the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and associated regulations, these facilities and activities may also be required to comply with other regulatory instruments such as regulatory documents or standards.

CNSC regulatory documents are classified under the following categories and series:

• 1.0 Regulated facilities and activities
• Series 1.1 Reactor facilities 1.2 Class IB facilities 1.3 Uranium mines and mills 1.4 Class II facilities 1.5 Certification of prescribed equipment 1.6 Nuclear substances and radiation devices
• 1.2 Class IB facilities
• 1.3 Uranium mines and mills
• 1.4 Class II facilities
• 1.5 Certification of prescribed equipment
• 1.6 Nuclear substances and radiation devices
• 2.0 Safety and control areas
• Series 2.1 Management system 2.2 Human performance management 2.3 Operating performance 2.4 Safety analysis 2.5 Physical design 2.6 Fitness for service 2.7 Radiation protection 2.8 Conventional health and safety 2.9 Environmental protection 2.10 Emergency management and fire protection 2.11 Waste management 2.12 Security 2.13 Safeguards and non-proliferation 2.14 Packaging and transport
• 2.2 Human performance management
• 2.3 Operating performance
• 2.4 Safety analysis
• 2.5 Physical design
• 2.6 Fitness for service
• 2.7 Radiation protection
• 2.8 Conventional health and safety
• 2.9 Environmental protection
• 2.10 Emergency management and fire protection
• 2.11 Waste management
• 2.12 Security
• 2.13 Safeguards and non-proliferation
• 2.14 Packaging and transport
• 3.0 Other regulatory areas
• Series 3.1 Reporting requirements 3.2 Public and Aboriginal engagement 3.3 Financial guarantees 3.4 Commission proceedings 3.5 CNSC processes and practices 3.6 Glossary of CNSC terminology
• 3.2 Public and Aboriginal engagement
• 3.3 Financial guarantees
• 3.4 Commission proceedings
• 3.5 CNSC processes and practices
• 3.6 Glossary of CNSC terminology

• 1.2 Class IB facilities
• 1.3 Uranium mines and mills
• 1.4 Class II facilities
• 1.5 Certification of prescribed equipment
• 1.6 Nuclear substances and radiation devices

• 2.2 Human performance management
• 2.3 Operating performance
• 2.4 Safety analysis
• 2.5 Physical design
• 2.6 Fitness for service
• 2.7 Radiation protection
• 2.8 Conventional health and safety
• 2.9 Environmental protection
• 2.10 Emergency management and fire protection
• 2.11 Waste management
• 2.12 Security
• 2.13 Safeguards and non-proliferation
• 2.14 Packaging and transport

• 3.2 Public and Aboriginal engagement
• 3.3 Financial guarantees
• 3.4 Commission proceedings
• 3.5 CNSC processes and practices
• 3.6 Glossary of CNSC terminology

Note: The regulatory document series may be adjusted periodically by the CNSC. Each regulatory document series listed above may contain multiple regulatory documents. Visit the CNSC’s website for the latest list of regulatory documents.