Designated Substances and Hazardous Materials

Designated Substance Regulations

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act designates 11 substances as toxic. Separate regulations have been passed for each one, setting out the amount of the substance that workers can be exposed to in a given time period and the ways to control and measure the substance in the workplace. The 11 designated substances and their respective Ontario Regulations are:

Acrylonitrile – O. Reg. 835
Arsenic – O. Reg. 836
Asbestos – O. Reg. 278
Benzene – O. Reg. 839
Coke Oven Emissions – O. Reg. 840
Ethylene Oxide – O. Reg. 841
Isocyanates – O. Reg. 842
Lead – O. Reg. 843
Mercury – O. Reg. 844
Silica – O. Reg. 845
Vinyl Chloride – O. Reg. 846

Designated Substance Surveys and Reports

Before starting any construction or demolition on buildings or property, owners must give all prospective contractors and sub-contractors a Designated Substance Report. This is required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (1990 Bill 208 Amendments) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Builders must also give this Report to any contractors or sub-contractors before entering into any binding agreement.

The Report is based on the results of a Designated Substance Survey, which Greenough Environmental Consulting Inc. (GEC) is fully qualified to carry out. When conducting a Designated Substance Survey, GEC visually inspects the property to identify building materials and equipment that may contain Designated Substances (see above). We assess the type, characteristics and condition of building materials during the visual inspection. Where appropriate, we collect samples of Designated Substances for analysis. The survey may also include other hazardous materials, such as Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).

When the survey is complete and we have received and reviewed laboratory results, we summarize the Survey findings in a Designated Substance Report, which includes:

• An inventory of Designated Substances identified on the property, including their location, condition and estimated quantities;
• Our recommendations for the abatement of Designated Substances that may be disturbed during the proposed construction.

With 30 years' experience and comprehensive professional expertise, GEC will make sure your Designated Substances Survey and Report are completed safely, on time and on budget. Contact us today to find out how we can help.