Short Time Delay
Is 'short time delay' defined in WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation as a fixed number of seconds or minutes?
Not in the sources provided. The regulatory language uses context-specific timing requirements such as 'without delay', 'without undue delay', or a specific 30-minute post-blast waiting period where applicable.
Can a short time delay be used to satisfy hazard control requirements?
Only if the delay is part of a documented, risk-assessed procedure and does not replace mandatory controls. WorkSafeBC’s framework emphasizes prompt correction of hazards and written procedures based on risk assessment.
In blasting, what does the delay mean operationally?
The supplied WorkSafeBC blasting material indicates a 30-minute waiting period after certain initiation conditions before the next step can occur, unless particular circumstances prevent it; this is a safety-critical delay to reduce exposure to unexploded or unstable conditions.
A short time delay is a brief, intentional lag between initiating an action and the next required action, used in industrial safety to allow stabilization, safety steps, or correct sequencing. In WorkSafeBC contexts, it appears as specific timing requirements like a 30-minute post-blast waiting period, but is not a standardized regulatory term with a fixed numeric definition.
On the shop floor, a short time delay is a controlled pause built into processes such as machine control/PLC logic to ensure guards close or sensors clear before motion, maintenance lockout sequencing to verify zero-energy state, and blasting operations where a 30-minute wait is required after initiation. It is also relevant in emergency response, where WorkSafeBC mandates that unsafe conditions be remedied without delay, meaning any short delay must be operationally justified and not defer required action. The delay must be part of a documented, risk-assessed procedure and cannot replace mandatory controls like guarding or lockout.
Treating a timer as a safety control when it is only a convenience control, substituting for guarding, isolation, or verification.
Exceeding the intended delay window, leading to unsafe work practices if operators routinely wait longer or bypass the step.
Confusing 'delay' with 'without delay' obligations, where failing to act promptly on hazards creates compliance violations.