The Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Canada Labour Code (SOR/2026-10), updates the occupational health and safety requirements for hazardous substances in federally regulated workplaces. The amendments respond to longstanding concerns that five existing regulatory frameworks contained outdated standards, inconsistent record-keeping rules, and gaps in protections for emerging or previously under-regulated hazards.

The Regulations introduce new requirements addressing engineered nanomaterials, thermal stress, non-solar ultraviolet radiation, and radon exposure, while also clarifying how employers must manage hazardous substances when no established exposure limit exists. For nanomaterials, employers must implement exposure control programs aligned with CSA Standard Z12885 and maintain detailed inventories and preventive procedures to mitigate inhalation, ingestion, and dermal risks associated with nanoscale particles. For thermal stress, employers must develop workplace-specific mitigation procedures in consultation with workplace committees, incorporating environmental monitoring, protective equipment, administrative controls such as work-rest cycles, and employee training on symptoms and response. Exposure to non-solar UV radiation is now regulated through limits based on recognized threshold values, reflecting the risks posed by industrial sources such as arc welding and UV lamps.

The Regulations also significantly strengthen radon protections by lowering the permissible exposure limit to 200 Bq/m³, aligning federal requirements with the guideline established by Health Canada and international best practices. In addition, the amendments establish a precautionary approach requiring employers to keep airborne concentrations of hazardous substances as low as feasible where formal exposure limits are not defined. This addresses previous regulatory gaps that may have implied certain substances were safe simply because they were not listed in exposure tables.

To improve regulatory clarity and consistency, the Regulations update references to external technical standards and convert many static references into ambulatory ones, ensuring that the most current versions automatically apply. Updated references include standards from organizations such as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the CSA Group, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the National Fire Protection Association. Obsolete or irrelevant standards and exemptions—such as those relating to coal mines no longer under federal jurisdiction—have been repealed.

Overall, SOR/2026-10 represents a comprehensive modernization of hazardous substance regulation under federal labour law, closing safety gaps, clarifying employer obligations, and ensuring that occupational health standards keep pace with scientific knowledge and evolving workplace risks.

Canada (10/2026) February 17, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.