Regulatory Framework

Statutes

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Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation and Offshore Renewable Energy Management Newfoundland and Labrador Act, RSNL1990, c. C-2

Regulations made under the provincial Accord Act

Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation and Offshore Renewable Energy Management Act (S.C. 1987, c. 3)

Impact Assessment Act, S.C. 2019, c. 28, s. 1

Hibernia Development Project Act S.C. 1990, c. 41

The Atlantic Accord

Regulations

Regulations are developed by the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to further define requirements specific to petroleum and renewable energy-related activities conducted in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area.

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Offshore Area Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

Offshore Area Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations

Offshore Area Registration Regulations

Offshore Petroleum Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations

Offshore Petroleum Cost Recovery Regulations

Offshore Petroleum Financial Requirements Regulations

Substitutions or Exemptions

Substitutions or Exceptions Application Process

The Chief Safety Officer (CSO) and/or the Chief Conservation Officer (CCO) may issue substitutions or exemptions from regulatory requirements in accordance with the Accord Acts and associated regulations. An applicant may submit an application for a substitution/exemption using the following form

Regulatory Query Application

Once the applicant has been notified of the decision, the decision will be posted to the full RQ Database in the Excel document below

Regulatory Query Decisions

Public Submissions – Part III.1 Substitutions

Any application to the CSO for a substitution in lieu of any requirement under Part III.1 of the Accord Act – Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) and regulations under that Part is available to the public for a period of 30 days, or such shorter time as determined by the CSO with the agreement of the Workplace Committee.

All applications currently out for public consultation related to Part III.1 or regulations under that Part are listed below. There is no obligation to publicly post applications received relating to any other regulations.

The public is invited to provide comments in relation to an application by submitting them to information@cnlopb.ca. Please include the reference number in all submissions. Any submissions received will be forwarded to the applicant without the name and contact information of the submitter. The applicant will be requested to provide a written response to the CSO. The submissions and applicant’s response will form part of the CSO’s deliberations of the application.

Chief Safety Officer Approvals

The following references in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Occupational Health and Safety Regulations have an allowance for the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) to provide direct approval of an alternate means:

  • Subsection 30(3) – Annual lifeboat launching drill
  • Paragraph 63(3)(a) – Request to exceed two persons in sleeping quarters
  • Subsection 107(e) – Use of self-propelled or mobile elevating work platforms
  • Section 110 – Non-conformance with International Code of Practice for industrial rope access (IRATA) standard
  • Paragraph 153(1)(c) – Amount of explosives

Applications

With respect to applications for CSO Approval, the following is expected:

  • The request should be made formally in writing to the CSO and accompanied with all required supporting documentation.
  • Information should be suitable for posting on the C-NLOER’s website. If there is any information to be redacted prior to posting, both a redacted and un-redacted version is to be provided to the C-NLOER at the time of submission.
  • The Offshore Workplace Committee should be consulted and their concerns addressed, prior to submission. Evidence in the form of signed Offshore Workplace Committee meeting minutes (or Offshore Workplace Committee concurrence) should be provided with the request.
  • If the request impacts the design, inspection, testing or maintenance of equipment listed on the schedule of regulations to be verified by the Certifying Authority on an installation or vessel which requires a Certificate of Fitness, it should be accompanied by the Certifying Authority’s review and concurrence. With respect to subsection 30(3) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, this should include:
    • lifeboat integrity assurance activities in lieu of conducting regular launching which should specify additional activities above what is already required by Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the manufacturer; and
    • written concurrence from the lifeboat manufacturer along with any conditions associated with their concurrence.

Approval

Once an application for CSO Approval is approved:

  • The application, supporting documentation and associated approval letter will be posted on the C-NLOER’s website.
  • Any supporting documents to support the request, including maintenance plans, will become controlled documents of the approval and should not be modified without concurrence of the CSO.
  • The application and associated approval letter should be provided to the Offshore Workplace Committee and posted publicly at the workplace.
  • Any conditions noted in the associated approval letter should be implemented to the satisfaction of the CSO.

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ApplicantApplicationDate of Decision

ExxonMobil Canada Properties

Volume of Stored Explosives

July 8, 2022

ExxonMobil Canada Properties

ExxonMobil Canada Properties

Guidelines and Interpretation Notes

The authority to issue Guidelines and Interpretation Notes is prescribed by sections 151.1 and 205.067 of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, S.C.

The authority to issue Guidelines and Interpretation Notes is prescribed by sections 151.1 and 205.067 of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1987, c.3 and sections 147 and 201.064 of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Newfoundland and Labrador Act, RSNL 1990, c. C-2. The Accord Acts also state that Guidelines and Interpretation Notes are not deemed to be statutory instruments.

Guidelines and Interpretation Notes are developed to provide clarification and create consistency for those with statutory responsibilities (including operators, employers, employees, supervisors, providers of services, suppliers, etc.) under the Accord Acts and regulations. These instruments provide clarification of how legislative requirements can be met and compliance achieved. In certain cases, the goals, objectives and requirements of the legislation are such that no guidance is necessary. Typically, Interpretation Notes have a narrower application than guidelines, by providing clarification of the C-NLOER’s interpretation of the meaning of a particular word, phrase or provision in a statute or regulation.

Guidelines or Interpretation Notes may reflect lessons learned through compliance verification and monitoring activities, review and issuance of authorizations and approvals, advancements in technology and improvements to industry best practices.

Any questions or comments related to guidelines, please send to information@cnlopb.ca

Note: Some documents are jointly issued with other regulatory agencies.

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Codes of Practice

A Code of Practice is a set of written rules respecting occupational health and safety established by either the operators/employers or by the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) for the operators/employers to adopt, approved by the CSO, which contains information in respect of occupational health and safety. Section 205.016 of the Accord Act (federal version) gives the CSO the authority to mandate that an operator establish and adopt a Code of Practice for a workplace or for transportation of employees to or from a workplace. Similarly, section 205.021 of the Accord Act (federal version) gives the CSO the authority to mandate than an employer establish and adopt a Code of Practice for a workplace in relation to a workplace under the employer’s control or any work or activity carried out at any of those workplaces. The CSO can also revise a code they impose, or require an operator or employer to revise a code it has established for itself.

  • Atlantic Canada Offshore Petroleum Industry Safe Lifting Practice Respecting the Design, Operation and Maintenance of Materials Handling Equipment, 2023
  • Atlantic Canada Offshore Petroleum Code of Practice for the Training and Qualifications of Offshore Personnel, July 2025
  • Code of Practice for Newfoundland and Labrador – Offshore Adverse Weather Communications Protocol, August 2022
  • Code of Practice for Transportation of Employees by Helicopter to or From a Workplace in the Offshore Petroleum Industry – May 2025
  • Code of Practice – Transportation by Vessel to or from a Workplace, June 2025
  • Fatigue Management in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Industry, February 2025

Safety Notices

The C-NLOER issues Safety Notices to an intended audience of offshore oil and gas and/or renewable energy operators, other regulatory and non-regulatory agencies, employers, employees, and other industry stakeholders. Safety Notices contribute to global awareness of health and safety issues, encourage a prudent safety regime, and promote a positive safety culture, all with a view to preventing similar incidents.

  • Helicopter Operations # 2016.03
  • Aviation Occurrence – Risk of Collision # 2016.02
  • CSB Investigation Report Refinery Explosion & Fire # 2007.01
  • Diverter Valve Failure # 2023.01
  • Use of Hydraulic Jacks #2023.02

Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator Safety Notices

Health & Safety Executive Offshore Safety Notices

BSEE Safety Alerts

Transport Canada Marine Safety Ship Safety Bulletins

Enform Safety Alerts

IADC Safety Alerts

Step Change in Safety

International Maritime Organization Safety Bulletins

Petroleum Safety Authority Norway Safety Forum

National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority Safety Alerts

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