Physical Hazards

Wood dusts have been designated as confirmed human carcinogens by WorkSafeBC and other jurisdictions. Depending on the type of wood processed, airborne concentration, duration of exposure, extent of respiratory protection and individual susceptibility, wood dusts can cause a variety of health effects ranging from nasal cancer, asthma, to skin irritation. Wood dusts may also cause fire safety concern and tripping hazards.

This Exposure Control Plan is designed to minimize employee, student, contractor, and visitor exposure to wood dust, to eliminate fire hazards due to the accumulation of wood dust, and to ensure compliance with applicable WorkSafeBC regulations.

This Exposure Control Plan applies to any areas or tasks at BCIT where there is the potential for the generation or accumulation of wood dust. The Control Plan outlines the measures to prevent exposures to wood dust on campus. The appendices to this document describe the processes that are taken and schedules that are followed in order to minimize exposures to wood dust in each of the buildings at BCIT where wood dust would be generated or accumulated.

• Wood Dust Exposure Control Plan [PDF]
• Appendix A – Planned Maintenance [PDF]
• Appendix B – Carpentry [PDF]
• Appendix C – Joinery [PDF]

The Radiation Safety Committee together with the Radiation Safety Officer are committed to providing a safe working environment for staff , students and visitors on all BCIT campuses employing ionizing or non-ionizing radiation sources. As part of the Health, Safety and Environment division, this group provides training, advice and emergency response to the BCIT community.

The purpose of this committee is to promote, maintain and audit safe working practices using radiation sources within the framework of the Canadian national regulatory bodies.

Radiation Safety Manual [PDF]