Announcements

In November last year, the “Study Meeting on the State of Chemical Substances in the Workplace” report was announced on this blog, and it was announced that studies on revisions to related laws and regulations are proceeding.

‍

Since then, preparations have been underway by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, and a draft ministerial ordinance to revise the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations etc. was announced this March.

The following 7 points have been listed as points of the amendment.

‍

(Related to Occupational Safety and Health Regulations)

① Appointment of a “chemical substance manager” for each business site that manufactures or handles risk assessment substances.

② Strengthen communication of information transmission through chemical substance SDS, etc.

③ Strengthen autonomous management of chemical substances, such as minimizing the extent to which workers are exposed by means of exposure measures selected and implemented by operators themselves.

④ Obligation of the Health Committee to investigate and deliberate on the implementation status of autonomous management of chemical substances, etc. (Related to each individual rule)

⑤ Exemption from application of individual regulations to workplaces where chemical substance control levels are above a certain level

⑥ Strengthening improvement measures (including obligations) for workplaces with work environment measurement results in the third control category

⑦ Reduction in the frequency of implementation of some special health examinations when measures etc. are being implemented appropriately

‍

Enforcement date relationship

Promulgation date (partially enforced on Reiwa 5/4/1 or Reiwa 6/4/1)

In the current revision, a wide range of details relating to chemical substances have been shown, and it is thought that each business operator will need to prepare in advance.

‍

Work environment measurers, etc. are scheduled to be announced as requirements as “chemical substance management experts” and “work environment management experts” in the draft ministerial ordinance, and our enrolled surveyors are also currently proceeding with preparations such as collecting information. We also accept consultations, so please make use of it.

‍

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_24724.html