Saskatchewan Uranium Mines Rules Updated

Summary#

This is a proposed amendment called the Regulations Amending the Saskatchewan Uranium Mines and Mills Exclusion Regulations. It updates which Saskatchewan laws and regulations apply to employment at uranium mines and mills and clarifies who counts as an employer; the notice was published on April 27, 2024 and the public can comment within 30 days.

What it does#

• Changes the definition of who counts as an employer to explicitly include the holder of a surface lease granted under The Provincial Lands Act, 2016 or The Forest Resources Management Act.
• Updates the list of Saskatchewan laws and rules that apply to work at uranium mines and mills. The list, as amended, includes:
  • The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act, 1999 and The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Regulations, 2017;
  • The Electrical Code Regulations;
  • The Saskatchewan Employment Act, with exceptions, and several regulations under it:
    • The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (with some exceptions),
    • The Radiation Health and Safety Regulations, 2005,
    • The Mines Regulations, 2018;
  • The Passenger and Freight Elevator Regulations, 2017.
• Repeals section 4 of the existing exclusion regulations.
• Says the amendments would come into force on the day they are published in Canada Gazette, Part II.
• This is a proposal open for comment (not final). Comments are invited through the Canada Gazette process within the stated 30 days.

Who's affected#

• Holders of surface leases for uranium mining or processing in Saskatchewan.
• Employers and businesses that run or support uranium mines and mills in Saskatchewan.
• Workers at those mines and mills, whose workplace rules and protections are affected by which provincial regulations apply.
• Provincial regulators and companies responsible for safety systems (boilers, elevators, radiation controls, electrical systems).
• It is unclear from the notice whether any other groups beyond these will be affected.

Why it matters#

• The changes clarify which provincial safety, technical and employment rules apply to uranium mining sites. That can affect who must follow which rules, who is responsible for safety, and what standards workers are covered by.
• For employers, the update may require changes to contracts, safety plans, training, or compliance steps to match the newly-listed Saskatchewan regulations.
• For workers, the changes can affect which health, safety and radiation protections apply on the job.
• Because this is a proposed change, stakeholders can still comment before it is finalized.