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Global Occupational Safety and Health Update (Episode 6): Ontario, Canada amends mining safety laws. Recently, in an effort to improve mining safety standards, Ontario, Canada has revised Regulation 854 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, namely “Mines and Mining Plants”. This revision mainly includes 7 key aspects, which cover: workwear with high visibility – reflective materials must be used around safety helmets, and reflective strips must be placed on the waist, arms, and areas below the knees of the clothing, with a width of no less than 50 mm; there should be 2 vertical reflective strips on the front of the clothing, while the reflective strips on the back should be in an “X” shape; requirements regarding emergency braking of conveyor belts; training for diamond mining at the surface; assessment of known risks and potential risks; requirements for water management projects; requirements for traffic management projects; and recording of seismic activity. The first 3 regulations came into effect on July 1, 2016, while the latter 4 will be implemented starting January 1, 2017. ——Canadian Workplace Safety Network (WSN) NIOSH releases mobile app for chemical risk guidelines On July 14, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a mobile application for the “Chemical Risk Pocket Guide,” providing users with a more convenient way to access information on chemicals. The NIOSH Pocket Guide contains risk information on more than 600 chemicals, which can be used as a reference by workers, employers, and occupational health professionals in risk identification and control. Today, with the advent of mobile apps, this information has become readily available. People can search using the chemical’s name, designation, synonyms, North American Hazardous Materials Number, and American Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number; they can also tag the search results for future reference. The application download address is the NIOSH official website. ——U.S. **National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): IOSH urges workers to take precautions against high temperatures. On July 19, temperatures in some areas of the UK rose above 30°C, and the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) warned people to be cautious regarding sun exposure while working outdoors. Currently, IOSH is running the “No Time to Lose” campaign to raise awareness about carcinogenic factors and provide relevant prevention advice, including regarding solar radiation. Simple preventive measures provided by IOSH include: checking the UV index, communicating with workers to ensure they wear protective equipment; avoiding outdoor work or reducing exposure to direct sunlight at midday; arranging shifts so that each worker has time to rest in the shade; installing shading structures when working outdoors; having employees regularly check for any changes in their skin; and conducting safety awareness training. ——British Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH): ANSES assessment report highlights the occupational risks faced by sewer workers. From October 2014 to March 2015, France’s Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health (ANSES) conducted measurements and assessments of individual risk exposure among sewer workers in Paris, and has now released its assessment report, urging people to be aware of the occupational risks associated with these workers. According to the assessment report, chemical substances and biological agents are present in sewer wastewater and air, which can pose a threat to workers’ health. Common symptoms include digestive system disorders, respiratory problems, and irritation of the throat, nasal cavity, and skin. Although infectious diseases may occur, the episodes are short-lived and not life-threatening. Overall, exposure increases the risk of cancer in workers’ livers and lungs, but it is not yet possible to determine exactly which chemicals are responsible. ANSES recommends that the following measures be taken to address this issue: providing mandatory safety training for sewer workers; paying close attention to tasks that involve a high level of exposure; enforcing health and safety regulations as well as providing occupational health services; and creating risk maps for sewage systems. ——EU-OSHA (European Union Agency for Occupational Safety and Health)