Federal hazardous-substance rules scheduled for January 2027
Canada's adopted SOR/2026-10 amendments introduce hazardous-substance and industrial-hygiene duties for federally regulated workplaces, generally from January 30, 2027. Changes include inventories, record retention and sampling duties, with different requirements across the affected sector regulations.
This applies to federal workplaces. Duties differ across the five affected regulations, and the radon provision must not be applied identically to all sectors.
- Legal status
- adopted not yet in force
- Source check
- Sep 17, 2026
- Topic
- Exposure assessment, records, radon, thermal stress and nanomaterials
- Technical review
- Jiaxi · 2026-09-23
What changed
Previous requirement
COHSR sampling records generally retained three years; its radon limit was 800 Bq/m3 annual average.
New requirement or current position
Adds contractor substances to inventories, 30-year retention, revised sampling duties, and thermal-stress/nanomaterial controls. COHSR radon maximum becomes 200 Bq/m3 annual average.
Who it affects
- Federally regulated workplaces
Dates and milestones
Commencement and compliance dates can differ. Read the conditions beside each date, including any stay or local adoption requirement.
- Announcement or publication
- Feb 11, 2026
- Recorded effective date
- Jan 30, 2027
Substantive SOR/2026-10 amendments
Calculated directly from January 30, 2026 registration and section 77's first-anniversary clause.
Selected exposure values
These values need the scope, limit type and averaging period shown below. A proposed or advisory value is not a binding limit.
Radon
200 Bq/m3| Averaging period | Annual average |
|---|---|
| Limit type | future_maximum |
| Scope | COHSR workers other than nuclear energy workers; separate oil and gas provision also added |
What this could mean for your IH program
Plan record retention, sampling documentation and applicable controls before commencement.
Confirm applicability with a qualified practitioner before changing your program.
Questions and qualifications
- ESDC summary says February 2027. The legal registration date and section 77 support January 30, 2027.
- Detailed duties differ among general, maritime, aviation, on-board train, and oil/gas regulations. Radon is not imposed identically across all five.
Source evidence
- SOR/2026-10: Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Canada Labour Code
Canada Gazette · Registration; sections 5, 9, 10, 12 and 77; RIAS Harmonization of the radon requirement
Registered January 30, 2026; substantive changes take effect on its first anniversary. Radon, sampling and record obligations change.
- Introducing amendments to regulations under Part II of the Canada Labour Code
Employment and Social Development Canada · Key revised obligations 1 to 8
Confirms inventory, sampling, nanomaterials, thermal-stress and radon subjects, but its February 2027 timing conflicts with the instrument.
- Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
Department of Justice Canada · AMENDMENTS NOT IN FORCE, SOR/2026-10; current section 10.19
Future amendments are separately displayed from operative provisions.
Managing your IH program
Explore how LEAP IH supports industrial hygiene data management and risk assessment.
Explore LEAP IHSee a missing update or a correction? Contact APT with this page and the official source.