Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources issued and published the Occupational Safety and Health (Noise Exposure) Regulations 2019. The Regulation contains provisions involving:
 

• Interpretation;
• Identification of Excessive Noise;
• Noise Risk Assessment;
• Information, Instruction, Training, and Supervision;
• Noise exposure limits;
• Personal hearing protection;
• Hearing Protection Zone;
• Audiometric testing;
• Duty of employer when audiometric testing is carried out; and
• Records to be kept.

 
The 2019 Regulations come into force June 1, 2019. Interested parties should note the saving and transitional provisions which concern validity of the provisions with regards to audiometric testing, record keeping, and training programs.
 
Additional information: http://www.federalgazette.agc.gov.my/outputp/pua_20190301_pua60.pdf.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted the Resolution on the Draft law of Ukraine on Ozone-Depleting Substances and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases. A Ukraine legislation Committee, which generally focuses on issues of environmental policy, nature management, and liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, will meet to finalize the bill. The Committee will take into account the comments and proposals in order to submit it for consideration by the legislative body of Ukraine in the second reading.
 
Additional information: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2699-19.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russian proposed a draft law on Quotas of Harmful Emissions into the Atmosphere in 12 Cities. The approach will be tested in the following cities:
 

• Bratsk;
• Krasnoyarsk;
• Lipetsk;
• Magnitogorsk;
• Mednogorsk;
• Nizhny Tagil; Novokuznetsk;
• Norilsk;
• Omsk;
• Cherepovets;
• Chelyabinsk; and
• Chita.

 
The draft law allows regions to organize summary calculations when rationing emissions. Summary calculations will be taken into account when developing plans and implementing measures to curb emissions. Interested parties should note that in these designated cities, industrial enterprises may eventually be limited to the amount of emissions and should implement measures to meet their respective restrictions. Further, operational inspections within these cities may occur unscheduled, under certain conditions. 
 
Additional information:
http://www.mnr.gov.ru/press/news/zakonoproekt_o_kvotirovanii_vrednykh_vybrosov_v_atmosferu_v_12_krupnykh_promyshlennykh_tsentrakh_str/. 

Colombia’s Ministry of Labor issued Resolution Number 0312 of 2019, by which the Minimum Standards of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System are defined.
 
The purpose of this resolution is to establish the Minimum Standards of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (SG-SST) for the natural and legal persons indicated in Article 2. Accordingly, this resolution applies to public and private employers, contracting personnel under civil, commercial or administrative contracts, dependent and independent workers, organizations of solidarity, economy and the cooperative sector, etc.
 
Additional information:
https://diario-oficial.vlex.com.co/vid/resolucion-numero-0312-2019-767735313. 

The Republic of Argentina issued Resolution 75/2019 prohibiting, as of January 1, 2020, the manufacture, import, and export of products with added mercury. The Resolution was issued for purposes of compliance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Through Law No. 27.356, the Minamata Convention on Mercury was approved in aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
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Additional information: https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/#!DetalleNorma/201713/20190215.

Thailand's Ministry of Labor issued the Ministerial Regulation Prescribing Standards for the Management and Operation of Safety, Occupational Health and Working Environment Regarding Confined Spaces.
 
Under the prescribed standard, “confined space” is defined as a place where access is limited and not designed for a location of continuous work on a regular basis. These spaces include, for example, tunnels, caves, wells, vaults, oil tanks, fermentation tanks, silos, pipes and other things similar. Requirements generally relate to informative reports prepared by employers that must be posted clearly and visibly, prohibitions on children working in these spaces, and those individuals known to have certain diseases from working in these unsafe or confined areas.
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Additional information: http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2562/A/018/T_0012.PDF.

The Health and Safety Executive of England made an announcement that it will no longer permit any welding to be undertaken without suitable exposure control measures in place. This announcement was made in response to scientific evidence suggesting that any exposure to welding fume, including mild steel welding fume, has the potential to cause lung cancer. Limited evidence also suggests a link to kidney cancer. This information is relevant to all business who undertake welding activities.
 
There is no additional information available at this time.

Mexico has published the draft Official Mexican Standard PROY-NOM-008-NUCL-2019, Limits of radioactive contamination and criteria for its control. The standard aims to limit radioactive contamination and establish controls to minimize exposure of personnel and the environment. Once the final version is published, the standard will enter into force after 60 days, and repeal NOM-008-NUCL-2011.
 
Additional information: http://diariooficial.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5558057&fecha=17/04/2019.

The Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionizing Radiation) Regulations 2019 were issued
by Ireland's Ministry for Communications, Climate Action and Environment on February 4, 2019.
 
The Regulations transpose Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM of December 5, 2013. The Directive establishes the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of individuals subject to occupational and public exposures against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation. The Regulations also transpose provisions of the Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM of July 19, 2019 (The Nuclear Waste Directive) which established a community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.
 
The 2019 Regulations revoke the following legislation:
 

• European Communities (Radiological Emergency Warning to Public) Regulations 1993 (S.I. No. 209 of 1993);
• Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation) Order 2000 (S.I. No. 125 of 2000);
• Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Control of High-Activity Sealed Radioactive Sources) Order 2005 (S.I. No. 875 of 2005); and
• Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Responsible and Safe Management of Radioactive Waste) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 320 of 2013). 

 
Additional information: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/si/30/made/en/pdf.