Earlier this spring WCB NS released a draft policy regarding Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and they asked system stakeholders, such as employers, to comment on the proposed draft changes.
Office of the Employer Association NS (OEA NS) held employer consultation sessions and convened a committee of employers who met between May and July to look at the proposed draft policy, complete a cross jurisdictional scan and review relevant OHS standards from Canada and the USA in workplace noise assessment and adjudication. Jennifer Bullman WCB Specialist was the representative from CDHA on this committee.
AWARE-NS had posted this communication on their website early in April to allow for follow up.
The due date for all stakeholders who wish to comment on the WCB’s proposed policy draft is Thursday July 31, 2014. OEA NS wrote, at the urging of employers, to the Minister of Labour to request additional time for consultation on this policy however this request was denied. Later this fall, employers and OEA NS expect the NS Dept. of Labour and Advanced Education (OHS Div.) to release their draft of phase 2 of Workplace Safety Regulations, of which noise is an important topic. OEA believes both drafts should have had a consultation period which enabled employers to review both drafts concurrently. But this did not occur.
As you know it is important for employers to respond to this draft policy and the proposed changes. It is important for the WCB NS to understand employer’s concerns which arise from the draft policy. Please click here if you would like to access a form letter for response.
They are asking that it be placed on your DHA letterhead, signed and sent back to OES by fax at 902.252.3466 before July 31, 2014 so it can be included in the submission for employers.
