Products and Services FAQs

CCOHS has found there to be a very short learning curve (literally a few hours) and experienced SDS authors can quickly produce an accurate, complete, WHMIS- and/or OSHA-compliant SDS in a very short time with the added bonus of a tremendous cost savings for French translation.

Fill out this short form and we will contact you to arrange a personal demonstration

CANWrite can produce SDSs in English, French and Spanish. Other languages may be offered in the future depending on client demand.

CANWrite contains a wealth of information in the software help. CANWrite provides tips, helpful resources and information on how to complete each SDS data field, section-by-section. The CANWrite authoring order was designed to facilitate the logical, step-by-step authoring of SDS content.

Yes. CANWrite's system has been designed so that you can write a WHMIS 2015/ HCS 2012 compliant safety data sheet in the same document.

Yes, you can produce a document that meets the minimum information requirements of WHMIS 2015, HCS 2012 and/or the GHS "purple" book.

Aimed at small to medium-sized chemical manufacturers and suppliers in Canada and the US, the CANWrite authoring solution features:

• A detailed classification worksheet
• An Audit tool which checks for WHMIS 2015 or HCS 2012 required information on the SDS.
• Automatic suggestions of required WHMIS 2015 or HCS 2012 label text based on the hazard classification
• Built-in logic that links key hazards to appropriate hazard controls
• An Acute Toxicity Estimate (ATE) calculator.

There are several ways that you can customize your SDS, as follows:

1. You can add your own company logo, manufacturer/supplier and emergency contact information to your SDSs.
2. You can add customized field labels in several SDS sections (e.g. Regulatory Information, Exposure Guidelines and Physical and Chemical Properties).
3. You can add custom phrases and free text content to your SDSs.
4. Data fields left blank will not appear on your SDS.

CANWrite has the option to include numerical NFPA Ratings. It currently does not provide the facility to include the NFPA graphical diamond.

CANWrite does not currently provide for HMIS, but it can be added into one of the customizable fields offered within the software.

CCOHS will be working closely with users to develop additional tools and features that they value. Addition of the NFPA graphical diamond and/or HMIS data fields can be provided if there is sufficient interest.

In order to help you efficiently write and maintain your SDSs, CANWrite will automatically populate and update occupational exposure limits, carcinogenicity, acute toxicity, and aquatic toxicity information from your Ingredient Sheets into relevant SDSs. For other sections, we have implemented other powerful features that give you quick, integrated access to your ingredient information from within the SDS that you are authoring. For example, you can elect to have information from Section 11 – Toxicological Information pushed from your Ingredient Sheet(s) into the corresponding free text field in Section 11 of your SDS. You can also easily copy and paste selected ingredient information and information from the valuable resources provided in the CANWrite resources window into your SDS.

Yes, on the GHS view of the software, you are able to generate a simple label in a PDF form.

Each database record contains currency information as to when the data was last updated. For example, in CHEMINFO there is the Revision/Preparation Date as well as Revision Indicators at the end of each record. These dates will guide you as to when the information was last updated. CCOHS processes database updates on a quarterly basis.

The regulatory and advisory information (e.g. IARC carcinogenicity status) that is provided with CANWrite is updated as quickly as possible after new information data is published.

The database engine used is Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, Express Edition. SQL Server will install on your computer during the CANWrite installation if you do not currently have SQL Server on your system.

Yes, your SDS can be exported as an RTF or TXT document, which are both supported by Microsoft Word. You can also export your SDS in PDF and HTML formats.

CCOHS provides a service to keep its customers up-to-date with the latest information. Chemical and other health and safety information changes rapidly and new records and updated records are frequently added to the databases. To ensure that only the most recent information available is used, most databases are updated every three months, with some Web databases updated on a monthly basis.

The purchase of a subscription is not the same as purchasing a book. Clients are subscribing to the information on a current basis, and after the subscription expires, so does their access to the information.

Receiving regular updates helps you stay aware and in compliance!

As a subscriber to CCOHS' electronic products you receive many benefits, including unlimited client and technical support by phone, fax, or e-mail, and our quarterly user newsletter, Liaison. Monthly update notices are sent to subscribers of the Legislation services.

CCOHS is committed to providing information and services that will help you reduce or eliminate workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Our money-back guarantee on all subscription products gives you the added assurance that we're here to serve you!

Contact us so we can help you pick the product that best suits your needs! Or visit CCOHS' secure online shopping centre, Shop@CCOHS.

We recommend web browser software that supports tables and HTML. View the complete list of equipment requirements.

Yes, annual fees are calculated based on the number of licenses required, ranging from a single license to an unlimited number of licenses.

Although CCOHS does not support this function, some users will import portions of information into personal software applications. However, there are conditions for use that prohibit the re-selling of information.

Yes, some of our products allow you to choose selected fields from the record's Table of Contents.

CCOHS is a not-for-profit organization and provides its products & services at the lowest possible price. However, we do offer an Academic Support Program (ASP) designed specifically for colleges and universities, and a Labour Support Program (LSP) for union/association training centres.

Yes, CCOHS offers free trials on all electronic products. Contact us or fill out the online free trial form.

Yes, training can be arranged with one of our Account Managers – in person or over the telephone. Contact us for details.

Direct databases provide discrete information on a specific substance (e.g. for gasoline: physical properties, LD50, fire hazards, environmental effects, safety procedures, etc.).

Bibliographic databases list references and sometimes summaries of reports, journal articles, publications, on a particular topic. Sometimes the topic is a chemical. For example, a search on the subject of gasoline might provide a number of database records which reference printed sources on gasoline or topics related to gasoline (e.g. hazards of underground gasoline storage tanks,gasoline accident reports, incidents of gasoline poisoning).

MSDS is best for users who need safety data on specific chemical products used in their workplaces (for example, cleaners, paints, glues, laboratory chemicals). MSDS database will provide users with Material Safety Data Sheets on these products.

CHEMINFO provides detailed health and safe handling information on industrial chemicals and ingredients found in products.

CHEMpendium™ is best for users with a wider range of chemical data needs, such as for both workplace and environment safety, or for workplace, transport and emergency response. It contains numerous and distinct databases all searchable by the chemical name or CAS registry number.

RTECS® is best for users who need specific toxicity data on a large number of chemicals. Summaries citing irritation, LD50s, carcinogenicity tests, plus some regulatory data like exposure limits are available for a very large number of chemical substances.

Direct databases provide discrete information on a specific substance (e.g. for gasoline: physical properties, LD50, fire hazards, environmental effects, safety procedures, etc.).

Bibliographic databases list references and sometimes summaries of reports, journal articles, publications, on a particular topic. Sometimes the topic is a chemical. For example, a search on the subject of gasoline might provide a number of database records which reference printed sources on gasoline or topics related to gasoline (e.g. hazards of underground gasoline storage tanks, gasoline accident reports, incidents of gasoline poisoning).

The MSDS database contains supplier Material Safety Data Sheets, in English. Material safety data sheets in French are available in the FTSS database.

How many data sheets are included?

As of December 2014 there were over 233,500 English-language data sheets in the MSDS database; over 122,350 French-language data sheets are in the FTSS database. The databases continue to grow as more and more companies participate in the project.

Can I search by CAS number?

Yes. If the product itself has a CAS number, in most cases, this will be found in the Product Name/ID index. CAS numbers for individual ingredients often appear in the Material Safety Data index. Since many of the data sheets are for chemical products with several ingredients, only a small percentage have product CAS numbers.

Where do the data sheets come from?

Companies (manufacturers and suppliers) who prepare the data sheets and take responsibility for their content and currency provide their data sheets directly to CCOHS In this way, we can ensure that the most current information is provided and that it is updated regularly. MSDS collections are submitted to CCOHS in electronic form, and all data sheets in the database appear word for word, exactly as provided.

Where can I find the lists of companies in the MSDS/FTSS databases?

These lists, with more than 2000 companies, are available from the left navigation bar. Click MSDS by Company (in the sidebar) to view the list of contributors.

Why do companies provide their MSDS collections for the CCOHS database?

Suppliers have a number of excellent reasons to participate in the database. Companies participate because:

• they have been asked by their customers;
• participation may reduce the number of requests for data sheets from customers which they must process and mail;
• participation is seen as a marketing advantage as it exposes their company name, and products, to a broader audience;
• their competitors MSDS collection is in the database;
• they have an attitude of "responsible care" and want a wide distribution of reliable information about their products;
• participation helps project an image of good corporate citizenship;
• it is a convenient way to provide data sheets for fire departments, hosptals and others who need quick access to the information;
• the company may use the CCOHS database as a means of accessing their own data sheets; or
• the company may use the CCOHS database as a back-up for their own central system in case of system unavailability.

How current are the data sheets?

The MSDS database contains only the most recent data sheets available from suppliers. Many suppliers update their collections quarterly, sometimes more often, and updated data sheets are given first priority for processing into the database. Typically, over 60,000 records are added and removed each quarter.

Some data sheets are older than 3 years. Is this permissible?

A 3-year rule applies only to products subject to Canadian WHMIS regulations. Other data sheets may be over 3 years old and still be valid. We contact our contributors on a regular basis and ask them to provide updates for their collections. In some cases, they advise us that their collections are still current, and a note to that effect is entered in the database. Occasionally, collections are removed if the company has gone out of business, or if we are unable to contact them.

There are sometimes several dates present in the MSDS database records; what do they mean?

• The Date of MSDS in the database record is the date on the MSDS document that indicates when the MSDS was issued, or reviewed, by the company and this is a valid date for WHMIS purposes.
• All database records contain a "Currency Note", with a message giving the date on which the data sheet was acquired by CCOHS, or stating that the MSDS is provided directly from the supplier's website. This message does not indicate the currency of the data sheet.
• The MSDS Confirmed Current date in the Currency Note is the date that the company informed CCOHS that the MSDS data is still current. The Confirmed Current Date supersedes the date on the MSDS and is valid for WHMIS purposes.
• The date at the bottom of each database record is simply the issue date for the database itself, and does not relate to the currency of any database record.

Do you have lab chemicals? Pesticides? Pharmaceuticals?

The MSDS database contains data sheets for all kinds of chemical products -- industrial products, consumer products, laboratory chemicals, paints, petroleum products, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, food additives, etc.

What percentage are from US/Canada?

The proportion of data sheets which originate in the USA cannot be precisely determined but the proportion of data sheets which contain US regulatory information has been established at about 65%.

In addition to US companies contributing to the database directly, many contributors (manufacturers and suppliers) have head offices in the US, but donate their data sheets through their Canadian offices. These data sheets often contain US specific terms such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), DOT (Department of Transport), CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), or CHEMTREC (Chemical Transportation Emergency Centre).

US regulatory terms such as these occur in approximately 65% of the data sheets in the database and these data sheets are most likely intended primarily for use in the USA.

Do data sheets in the MSDS/FTSS database meet US and/or Canada legal requirements?

For US data sheets, the MSDS producer is responsible for ensuring that their data sheets are OSHA-compliant; enforcing compliance is the responsibility of OSHA. All suppliers prepare their MSDS in order to comply with OSHA, WHMIS and Right-to-Know legislation, although some may not be perfectly 100% compliant.

CCOHS does not assess whether MSDS donated to the database comply with any legislation; the content of the MSDS is the responsibility of the supplier. CCOHS accepts MSDS collections as they are donated, and includes them in the database exactly as they are received, with no alteration to the content.

Can I use the MSDS service instead of keeping paper data sheets?

Yes, the Canadian federal government recognizes WWW as an acceptable means of making the data sheets available in the workplace. WHMIS regulations stipulate that material safety data sheets must be readily available in the workplace. This is a good reason to have a subscription to MSDS - it is convenient and current.

What makes the CCOHS MSDS Database different? Why should I use this database when there are data sheets freely available on the Internet?

• The CCOHS MSDS database is produced under the most stringent quality assurance procedures. We make sure that we only have data sheets from the companies who produce the information and take responsibility for the content and currency.
• There are many sources of data sheets available these days, and sometimes we're asked to include miscellaneous collections of data sheets in the CCOHS database. However, the quality and currency is often questionable, and we frequently already have more current information in the database direct from the original source.
• Some other databases contain "MSDS" for non-chemical products, such as pencils, desks, etc, and are not necessarily intended for OH&S purposes. Some contain many, many outdated data sheets, often decades old. Often there is no indication of how, or from where, the data sheets are acquired.
• Some companies may make their own data sheets available on the Internet for their customers, each company using its own different search engine. If you have many different suppliers it is very convenient, and efficient, to be able to access many collections of data sheets in one place, using the same search software.

As a subscriber, how can I add my suppliers' data sheets that are not currently in the MSDS/FTSS databases?

Most new collections being added to the MSDS database came as a result of the initiatives of users. You are encouraged to contact your suppliers to request them to contribute their data sheets. CCOHS will be pleased to provide copies of our supplier flyer and contributor form to users who wish to contact suppliers.

Can you recommend a MSDS management system to go with your database?

CCOHS introduced a new "MSDS Management Service" on the web in the summer of 2004. This service allows subscribers to maintain data sheets for the products they use, which are in the CCOHS MSDS database, in their own web-based folders. These MSDS documents will be automatically updated and the subscriber notified of changed documents via e-mail.

CHEMINFO is provided on two CCOHS products - CHEMINFO and CHEMpendium™. For more information on these products, also refer to the CHEMpendium™ FAQs. Individual CHEMINFO Profiles are also available, please contact CCOHS Client Services.

Who writes CHEMINFO Profiles?

Staff at CCOHS write CHEMINFO Profiles. Scientists and professionals with expertise in toxicology, human health hazard assessment, chemistry, fire hazard assessment and control and occupational hygiene write and review CHEMINFO Profiles. These highly regarded chemical Profiles are currently an exclusive CCOHS product.

What sources do you use to write CHEMINFO Profiles?

CHEMINFO Profiles are written using rigorous procedures to ensure high quality. The hazard assessment sections (fire, reactivity and health) are written by scientific staff following extensive consultation of original literature, reliable reviews and textbooks. We rely almost exclusively on peer-reviewed, primary scientific data to write the hazard assessment sections in each CHEMINFO Profile. The key original literature is referenced. Some of the hazard control sections, for example Personal Protective Equipment, are written using specific sources which we feel set the industry standard for a particular type of information. Other hazard control sections, for example Storage and Handling, are written by scientific staff at CCOHS following consultation of relevant literature and a complete evaluation of the specific hazards and properties of a chemical.

A list of the textbooks and standard sources we commonly consult in developing CHEMINFO Profiles can be found in the database help. The original literature and other specific sources used are referenced in the bibliography of each record.

Why do you have short and long records?

Short records contain readily available information from sources which CCOHS has identified as being reliable and credible. Therefore, the short records require less evaluation by scientific staff, yet provide good quality, useful information for a large number of important chemicals. Typically, these records contain identification information, physical and chemical properties, occupational exposure limits, methods for sampling and analysis, selected fire fighting information, carcinogenicity evaluations, respiratory selection guidelines, information on resistance of materials for glove selection, U.S. and Canadian transportation information and European Union classification information. As resources permit, short records are turned into long records based on our priority list.

In long records, the hazard assessment sections are completed following extensive consultation of original literature, reliable texts and reviews. The hazard control measures are determined based on the hazard assessment information and a complete summary is written. Development of long records takes more time because the hazards of each chemical are evaluated and summarized individually.

How do you establish priorities for adding to CHEMINFO?

The priorities for CHEMINFO Profiles creation have been established bearing in mind both the volume of use of the chemical in world commerce and the degree of concern people have about a chemical's potential hazards. For example, a chemical like ammonium nitrate is on our priority list because it is one of the top 50 highest volume chemicals sold in Canada and the United States. On the other hand, a chemical like tetraethyl lead has virtually had its use in Canada and the United States eliminated because of concerns about potential health effects. This chemical remains on our priority list because of these concerns and the level of public interest.

Customer feedback also influences the priority records are given. When a high degree of interest is expressed in a particular chemical or chemical family, these records are given higher priority.

How often do you review CHEMINFO Profiles?

Short and long records are up-dated every time the original source material is up-dated, for example annually with the ACGIH Threshold Limit Values. For long records, we have a "current awareness" process in place which allows us to follow recent scientific developments in the literature. If significant new information is identified, we "flag" the affected CHEMINFO Profile(s) and up-date them as soon as possible.

Do CHEMINFO records have exposure limits?

Yes, you will find exposure limits in the "Exposure Guideline" part of Section 8 - Exposure Control. In CHEMINFO, you will find:

1. Threshold Limit Values (TLV) from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
2. The Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) from the United States government.
3. The Workplace Environmental Exposure Level Guides (WEEL) from the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

The CHEMpendium™ collection provides complete chemical hazard information for your workplace and the environment in one convenient location.

Why are there so many different databases available in CHEMpendium™?

All of the databases contain complementary on chemical data and were selected for inclusion in CHEMpendium based on the scope of the information they provide. With ever-changing requirements in workplaces, many users need data outside the scope of workplace health and safety, such as transport or environmental data. This collection of databases was designed to meet these broad needs.

What types of databases are provided on CHEMpendium™?

• Databases focussing on workplaces and the environment
  • CHEMINFO - the best evaluated and summarized database for health and safety, on over 1,300 chemicals
  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - NIOSH's most popular print publication in computer format, providing workplace exposure limits and respirator selections in an easy-to-use format,
  • New Jersey Hazardous Substances Fact Sheets - general overview of hazards and safety precautions for 1000 important chemicals
  • CESARS - a unique and comprehensive database with emphasis on environmental toxicity data, containing reports over 50 pages long on chemicals of environmental concern (eg. DDT, Mercury, Lead),
  • HSDB - a source of health, safety and environmental data for 4,700 important chemicals, including medications, food additives, industrial chemicals and environmental contaminants. The records are very detailed with over 100 different information fields (many records over 50 pages in length).

• Hazard Data, Emergency Response and Transportation Guidance
  • CHEMINFO - the best evaluated and summarized database for health and safety, on over 1,300 chemicals.
  • CHRIS - a guide to hazards and emergency response for 1,300 chemicals from the US Coast Guard
  • Transport TDG and Transport 49CFR contain key regulatory data on transport of hazardous materials in Canada and the USA, plus emergency response guidelines for thousands of materials
  • HSDB® - a source of hazard, safety and regulatory data for 4,700 important chemicals. The records have an emergency or regulatory record format, which includes useful emergency response and transportation information.

• Canadian Environmental Inventory
  • DSL/NDSL - Canada's environmental inventory, the Domestic / Non-Domestic Substances List contains over 70,000 chemicals.

• Tool to Help You Locate Chemical Information
  • CHEMINDEX - exclusive directory of CCOHS databases provides one source to identify and locate chemical information. Over 200,000 chemicals are included from up to 20 databases or products

How can I tell if there is information on a chemical in the CHEMpendium™ database?

There is information in CHEMpendium™ for thousands of specific chemicals. You can easily use the CHEMINDEX database to see where information is available within the CHEMpendium collection as well as in other CCOHS databases.

What type of environmental data is on CHEMpendium™?

• Canada's DSL/NDSL inventory list
• CESARS and HSDB contain detailed evaluations of environmental information on many chemicals, including human environmental exposures, ecotoxicity values and environmental fate.
• Transport 49CFR for Marine Pollutants and CERCLA spill quantities for emergency reporting.

How often is Environment Canada's Domestic Substances List/Non-Domestic Substances List (DSL/NDSL) database updated?

The database is updated as amendments are published in the Canada Gazette and are reflected in the next quarterly release of the product. Changes to the inventory are made through the New Substances Program under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA, 1999), a shared responsibility between Environment Canada and Health Canada.

How often is the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) updated?

The NPG database is updated whenever updates are received from NIOSH. Changes to IDLH values, exposure limits or to specific fields across all records are often made each quarter. The current version reflects changes as of February 2009. When a significant change is made (to a large number of chemicals or fields) or when the next print version is released the electronic version will be updated on CHEMpendium™.

What kinds of substances are in RTECS®?

Generally RTECS® includes drugs, food additives, preservatives, ores, pesticides, dyes, detergents, lubricants, soaps, plastics, extracts from plant and animal sources, plants and animals which are toxic by contact or consumption, and industrial intermediates and waste products from production processes. Users will not find Trade Name products representing compounded or formulated mixtures (pure chemical trade name products are listed).

There is a lot of detailed data in RTECS®. Is there a guide to the database where I can learn more about how to use and interpret this information?

The HELP system includes a publication called "RTECS® - A Comprehensive Guide". This document provides information about format, content and policies of the Registry. It can help users to understand the meaning behind the content of each record (eg. the "Mild" category for the Skin Irritation tests means a well defined erythema and slight edema (edges of area well defined by definite raising) and the reason for its inclusion.

What is the difference between RTECS® and HSDB?

RTECS® contains toxicity and regulatory information on over 150,000 chemicals, while HSDB has a wider range of subject coverage (over 100 fields) such as medical surveillance, first aid, emergency response, safety measures, health hazards, etc. for 4,500 chemicals. RTECS® is a better choice if you need toxicity information on a very large number of chemicals, but HSDB is better if you need safety and other related details.

Direct databases provide discrete information on a specific substance (e.g. for gasoline: physical properties, LD50, fire hazards, environmental effects, safety procedures, etc.).

Bibliographic databases list references and sometimes summaries of reports, journal articles, publications, on a particular topic. Sometimes the topic is a chemical. For example, a search on the subject of gasoline might provide a number of database records which reference printed sources on gasoline or topics related to gasoline (e.g. hazards of underground gasoline storage tanks, gasoline accident reports, incidents of gasoline poisoning).

How do I find out which journals are being reviewed for OSHLINE?

The OSHLINE list of journals is available on CCOHS' website and is periodically updated as new journals are identified and others cease publication or change name. To make suggestions for journal titles to include contact us.

How do you decide which documents to include in OSHLINE?

Selection of documents for OSHLINE is derived from the criteria policy used for the NIOSHTIC database. The general selection principles are as follows:

• materials must be relevant to occupational health and safety;
• articles should be from peer-reviewed/similar journals representing the subject coverage of occupational health and safety;
• materials should be English-language or translated into English;
• materials should have a practical applicability to OH&S (i.e. they should report on research, studies, surveys, methodologies as opposed to fundamental research);
• not included are: opinions(editorials), promotional articles, equipment descriptions, statistical reports which do not offer conclusions, aquatic, plant & invertebrate toxicology unless related to worker exposure, data sheets; items without permanent value;

What is the focus of the different OSH databases in OSH References?

Each bibliographic database has a different emphasis in coverage:

OSHLINE® provides current references to international literature with an emphasis on peer-reviewed research literature

NIOSHTIC® is an archive database which provides references to international literature spanning over 100 years.

NIOSHTIC-2 provides references to NIOSH published or sponsored reports.

Canadiana provides references to occupational health and safety documents published in Canada, about Canadian subjects, or by Canadian authors.

HSELINE provides references to international references with an emphasis on publications from Europe, including the UK Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive.

CISILO is a bilingual database which provides references to international literature with an emphasis on training and policy materials in many different languages.

INRS Bibliographie provides references to international scientific and technical literature with an emphasis on French-language materials.

PubMed Subset offers current references derived from the National Library of Medicine's PubMed service with a focus on biomedical and related topics.

The Legislation series includes a wide range of topics affecting the environmental and workplace health and safety of Canadians. Topics include environmental protection, hazardous products, workplace health and safety, WHMIS, transportation of dangerous goods, workers' compensation, pesticides, noise levels, Canada Labour Code, etc.

The series saves valuable time to identify the information you require, to remain current and in compliance with the most up-to-date, consolidated text of acts, regulations and guidelines for all Canadian jurisdictions. The Legislation series provides information on the legal requirements for your workplace. Information on one or all jurisdictions is available instantly to you; as well, you can print or read the complete text of every document. The Legislation series is invaluable for preparing for critical audits and due diligence.

A number of provincial governments along with the federal government now make their legislation available on the Internet for free or at low cost. However, the CCOHS service makes environmental and OH&S legislation from all jurisdictions available in one spot. Users can hypertext link between documents, view/print graphics and tables and easily capture data for downloading. Cross-jurisdictional comparisons are very easy. As well, CCOHS updates legislation as soon as amendments and new legislation are available and you can easily identify "new" and "amended" documents.

Since the enviroOSH Legislation service includes the full text of environmental legislation from all jurisdictions across Canada, it helps organizations meet the requirements specified in section 4.3.2 of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Standard. The Monthly Report, which is included with the enviroOSH subscription, helps you to monitor changes made to the legislation so you can implement them in your workplace.

Legislation from the various Canadian jurisdictions includes Acts and Regulations. Acts are bills which are passed by the various parliaments (i.e., receive "Royal Assent"). Acts can either be new (original) Acts or amendments of existing ones. Regulations are laws under Acts, but do not require parliamentary approval (they are executive instruments of the governments). Like Acts, Regulations can be new (original) documents or amendments of existing Regulations.

ACTS

Typically Canadian jurisdictions cite Acts in the same way, by assigning a year and chapter number. Chapter numbers are assigned in the order in which statutes receive Royal Assent in a given year. For example, "S.C. 2001, c. 34" stands for "Statutes of Canada 2001, chapter 34" and indicates that this statute was the 34th statute to be enacted in Canada in 2001.

Some jurisdictions still issue "revised statutes" which simply consolidate the changes made by any amendments since the last revision. Revised statutes are also assigned a year and chapter number, however, the chapter number will often take the form of a letter and number combination based on the Act title and where it falls in the revision. For example, the Canada Labour Code, last revised in 1985, would be cited as "R.S.C. 1985, c. L-2" or "Revised Statutes, 1985, chapter L-2".

REGULATIONS

Regulations follow a similar pattern to Acts. Annual regulations are assigned a Regulation number in the order in which they are filed that year. For example, "Alta. Reg. 28/2012" was the 28th regulation filed in Alberta in 2012.

Revised or Consolidated Regulations are typically cited in a manner similar to revised statutes, with the year or volume of the Revision and a Regulation Number reflecting where the document falls in the revision. Alternatively, some jurisdictions cite their regulations using the chapter number of the statute that they fall under, instead of a revision year. For example, "R.R.S. c. E-10.2, Reg. 9" stands for "Revised Regulations of Saskatchewan, chapter E-10.2, Regulation number 9".

In enviroOSH documents the original document citation appears directly under the name of the document.

Example (Statutes of Ontario):
ENVIRONMENTAL BILL OF RIGHTS, 1993 --> Act title
S.O. 1993, c. 28 --> original citation

Example (British Columbia Regulations):
Waste Discharge Regulation --> Regulation title
B.C. Reg. 320/2004 --> original citation

When you search using the search window on the enviroOSH home page you are searching the entire legislation collection. To search for documents from a particular jurisdiction, click on the jurisdiction flag on the home page and it will take you to the page for that jurisdiction. Search using the search window on that page to narrow your results to documents only in that jurisdiction. Or, you can use the Advanced Search page. Just check off the specific jurisdiction(s) you want to search.

When an act or regulation is amended, an amendment history is provided at the top of the document after the citation, for example "As amended by: S.C. 2012, c. 19". An amendment history to an individual section or schedule is also indicated immediately after the amended section or schedule.

The latest amendment to the document is highlighted in purple in the amendment history at the top of the document. As well, the amended text is highlighted in purple to indicate where amendments have been applied. To locate the amendments you can scroll down the document looking for purple text, however, for large documents it is easier to perform a "Find" on the document (Ctrl + F) for the amendment number. For example, if the latest amendment is "S.C. 2012, c. 19", click Ctrl + F to search "2012, c. 19" and it will take you to the end of each section or schedule where this amendment takes place. Scroll up to see the purple amended text. Note that amendments to tables are not highlighted in purple.

Legislation in the field of health, safety and environment is identified by monitoring official gazettes, legislative web sites and news services of Canadian jurisdictions. Selection is based primarily on whether the legislation has a core occupational health, safety and environmental characteristic. Legislation with peripheral relevance is added on a case by case basis, depending upon the jurisdiction and perceived need.

Legislation relating primarily to fees, or with limited geographic scope is not generally included.

CCOHS provides the complete text of all acts, regulations, guidelines and codes of practice in the series. As such, the user is able to determine the context of his or her requirements and be certain of comprehensive coverage. In a very few cases, we may include excerpts of the legislation if only one or two sections are relevant to health, safety and the environment. The complete text of such legislation will of course always be available through Client Services.

At present, over 4,000 acts, regulations, codes and guidelines are available. Client Services can provide you with a list of legislation in the collection or you can visit the Legislation web site at www.ccohs.ca/legislation for a complete listing. If the legislation or guideline you are looking for is not in the collection but you feel it is relevant to health and safety in Canada, please contact Client Services with a complete citation and we will add the document as soon as we can.

Although these documents are critical to many of the users of the Legislation series, we have been unable to make an arrangement yet with the National Research Council to reproduce them. You must contact the National Research Council directly for print or electronic versions.

The Legislation series is also available by geographic area - Ontario, Eastern Canada and Western Canada. Each regional collection also contains all the federal legislation since it applies to all jurisdictions in Canada.

CCOHS staff review the latest gazettes from the jurisdictions for the most recent legislation and amendments. Legislation on the Internet is updated daily. Subscribers to the Legislation series receive a free monthly update service listing the progress of proposed legislation, amendments incorporated in the previous month, recently repealed legislation and documents to be added to the collection. Amended text is indicated in purple.

Web Tip: when viewing a list of documents in each jurisdiction you can choose flags to highlight the documents amended or new since:

• Your last visit
• 1 month
• 3 months
• 6 months
• 1 year.

A full list of document titles will display - simply scroll through the list to find the NEW and AMENDED flags.

The Legislation PLUS Standards service includes all of the legislation in the Legislation series as well as the full-text of standards referenced in the legislation. To date, over 1,000 standards from the CSA Group, the BC Workers' Compensation Board (BC WCB), and the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) are included.

Yes, standards are also available with the regional collections.

All CSA Group and Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) standards referenced in the legislation are included in the collection along with any amendments. Standards from the BC Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia have also been incorporated.

Standards are cited in legislation in various ways:

• reference to a standard generally, for example the Canadian Electrical Code,
• a specific version, "as amended from time to time",
• or a specific version of a standard in legislation, for example, CSA Standard Z91- M1980 although there may be a newer version.

CCOHS acquires the cited versions as well the most recent version to ensure that all users have access to the most recent information.

A CSA standard marked as Withdrawn indicates that the product has been withdrawn from active sale on CSA's online store.

This status is used if:

• The standard is withdrawn and not replaced
• There has been a change in the product designation, e.g. if CSA A123-1990 is superseded by CSA 2345-2012
• It is no longer supported by a CSA committee (interpretations, amendments or new edition)
• CSA makes no claim as to its relevancy with regards to current technologies or practices

Note: CSA makes withdrawn standards available for informational purposes as special orders

The human brain processes video faster than it does text. The video course mode of learning effectively enhances self-learning and engages learners’ attention throughout courses. Learners can convert information to knowledge at their own pace, in manageable units, and re-watch and review material that is new to them.

A session is a full viewing or run-through of a v-course. If a trainee is not able to complete their course in one sitting, they may log-out and log back-in as many times as they like. However, once the trainee clicks Submit at the end of the course to register the training session as completed, the session expires.

Sessions are valid for a 12-month period, once they have been assigned to a trainee.

Trainees can start their course anytime by logging in from a computer or downloading the mobile app for their smartphone or tablet. They have 90 days to complete their course, beginning from the time they first click on Start Now in the course.

Courses will typically take between 30-60 minutes to complete, depending on the topic.

You will be able to take a v-course or assign it to someone else from your CCOHS e-commerce account immediately after you complete your purchase. If you are purchasing 100 or more v-course sessions, you will be provided with a Learning Management System (LMS), where you assign and manage all your v-courses. Please allow up to 72 hours for your LMS to be activated.

The trainee will receive an e-mail with their username and password, usually within a few minutes. You will receive an e-mail confirming your v-course assignments but note that the username and password is provided directly to the assigned trainee.

Yes. When you assign trainees without an e-mail address, you will receive their login information. You can then give that information to the trainee.

The system will generate certificates of completion for trainees who successfully complete their course. Certificates can be accessed by the trainee via their own dashboard or by the administrator from the Learning Management System.

Flash Requirements: Adobe Flash Player 11.4 or above. We recommend 11.5 or above for optimal use.

Browsers:

• Internet Explorer 8 and higher
• Safari 5.0 and higher
• Mozilla Firefox 14 and higher
• Google Chrome 22 and higher

Bandwidth: Minimum of 512kbps down stream
Java Script and browser cookies must be enabled

Trainees can log-in and log-out of the course as many times as required. They do not have to complete it on one sitting. From the time the course is started, they will have 90 days to complete it.

If a course has been assigned and not yet started, please contact us if you need to re-assign the course to someone else. If you order more than 100 sessions, you can reassign it to another trainee via your Learning Management System.

Trainees can access their courses from their smartphone or tablet by downloading the free ETraining-TV mobile app for both Android and Apple devices.

If you order more than 100 v-course sessions, you get access to a Learning Management System (LMS) – an online dashboard for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of your training sessions.

Please allow up to 72 hours to gain access to your LMS and courses, although in many cases access is processed much quicker. Once your organization has been setup, the purchaser will receive an e-mail with the login details and further information.

The LMS is built with a robust reporting and tracking engine that will maintain effective records for your training program, generate certificates and provide advanced analytics. You will be able to see employee scores and be able to drill down even further to see the exact testing questions they answered, how much time they spent on each question and whether they answered correctly. You can filter records by various criteria, export to Excel CSV, and even upload external training records.

Yes, records can be exported manually into an Excel CSV format.

Yes, the system has a built-in scheduler that will track completion of training and automatically assign courses to trainees that need to redo courses.

Sessions are valid over a 12-month period and expire if not consumed within that timeframe. Add a 100 session top-up and you will regain access to those expired sessions.

You can purchase as little as a single v-course, but to gain access to the Learning Management System with reporting and tracking capabilities, a minimum 100 session purchase is required. Subsequent session top-ups also carry a 100 session minimum.

You can upload as many administrators and trainees as you need.

No contracts are required. Sessions are valid for a 12-month period.

Yes, the Learning Management System can be set to remind your trainees to complete their training courses. The Master Administrator will have the ability to set the frequency of the reminder.

Your system will generate certificates for each course that an employee completes. Along with that, you can pull advanced records of training based on various filters. These records can be exported or emailed directly from the system in an Excel CSV format anytime.

Yes. You can select the video only version of the course, which can then be used in a group or classroom-style training session, toolbox talks, and lunch and learn events.

You will have access to the Video Support Page with step-by-step videos on each system function. You can also contact a Vocam support representative for further assistance.