How Canada Regulates 3D Printing for Health and Safety

3D printing has evolved from hobbyist workshops to industrial production lines and classrooms across Canada. As the technology continues to evolve, it has changed how Canadians design and build. However, as this tech becomes more accessible, so does the awareness of its potential invisible hazards that can accompany it. Behind the hum of 3D printers in labs and factories, federal regulators are working to ensure that progress is not achieved at the expense of public health or worker safety. While 3D printing has long often been celebrated for reducing waste, enabling on-demand production, and increasing customisation, the process itself can expose users to fine dust, organic compounds, and reactive materials. Health Canada (HC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are now playing a key role in setting the expectations that guide safe additive manufacturing practices across the provinces and territories. We reached out to these government agencies to understand how they create and evolve their regulations and recommendations.

Addressing a New Kind of Industrial Risk

Canada’s interest in regulating 3D printing health and safety began as the technology became more widely accessible and prevalent in workplaces and classrooms. Early research showed that some printers, such as FDM and powder-based systems, have the potential to emit hazardous dust and vapours. As such, government scientists and policy advisors began to recognise the potential risks this poses to workers and consumers.

Health Canada defers most of its regulatory authority to the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), which holds suppliers of 3D printers responsible for ensuring their products do not pose adverse health risks. “It is the responsibility of the supplier, manufacturer, importer, or retailer to ensure that the consumer products they supply to the Canadian market comply with the CCPSA and its regulations,” a Health Canada spokesperson said in an email response.

This means that the department itself does not approve or certify 3D printers before they enter the market, but rather, it can take corrective action if a product is found to be unsafe. “The Act and its regulations apply to consumer products available to individuals for non-commercial purposes,” the spokesperson continued. “If Health Canada identifies that a consumer product poses a danger to human health or safety, it can take appropriate compliance and enforcement action.”

So far to date, Health Canada has not received a credible report of consumer injuries related to 3D printing; however, it continues to monitor developments as the technology continues to evolve. The department also says it continues to conduct research into ultrafine particles and volatile emissions, issues that remain continuously relevant as new printing materials and methods emerge within the market.

Consumer Safety to Workplace Protection

As 3D printing spread beyond hobbyists to large-scale industrial applications within Canada, the focus of regulation expanded from beyond consumer protections to workplace safety. This involved Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), another federal department at the forefront of policy and regulation discussions. ESDC, which enforced the Canadian Labour Code, outlines clear expectations for employers who use 3D printers.

In its response, the department emphasised that the technology “can lead to health problems such as asthma, lung inflammation, headaches, coughing, circulatory system problems, and skin illnesses.” These effects can result from exposure to fine dust, volatile organic compounds, and reactive powders, depending on the type of printer being used. Adverse effects particularly target those with preexisting conditions, such as asthma or those who are immunocompromised.

According to ESDC, the first step for employers is to conduct a mandatory hazard analysis. “Before using a 3D printer, the employer must conduct a hazard analysis and take action to control the hazard,” the department stated. Once risks are identified, the employer must ensure that “workers are made aware of the potential hazards, basic first aid, and prevention strategies.”

The department’s guidance treats 3D printers as industrial tools rather than simple desktop devices. “3D printers are more hazardous than paper printers, and must be treated with a similar level of care used for other industrial equipment,” ESDC said. That includes ensuring proper ventilation, limiting exposure times, and maintaining equipment to prevent leaks or emissions.

Canada’s Layered Safety Approach

The framework that governs 3D printing in workplaces draws heavily from the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (COHSR). These regulations establish rules for hazard identification (Part X), the use of personal protective equipment (Part XII), and the development of comprehensive hazard prevention programs (Part XIX).

In practical terms, this means a company using additive manufacturing must:

• Identify and assess hazards from dust, fumes, or chemicals.

• Install proper ventilation, ideally with HEPA filtration systems.

• Train workers in safe printer use, cleaning, and maintenance.

• Comply with the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) for labelling and managing hazardous materials.

• Provide protective equipment such as gloves or respirators when other controls are insufficient.

“The employer should choose 3D printers already equipped with exposure-limiting features such as covers, ventilation systems, and low-emission features,” ESDC explained. “If other control measures do not sufficiently control the hazard, gloves and respirators can also be used.” These steps are not optional. They reflect the broader duty under the Canada Labour Code for employers to “ensure that the health and safety at work of every employee is protected.” For ESDC, additive manufacturing may be new, but the responsibility to manage its risks fits squarely within existing workplace safety law.

Health Canada’s Role: Understanding Exposure and Emerging Risks

While ESDC governs workplace safety, Health Canada monitors health risks for the general public. The department continues to study how emissions from 3D printers might affect indoor air quality and human health. “Health Canada is conducting research to better understand the health effects of exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including those that may be released from consumer products like 3D printers,” the department said.

This work builds on a broader effort to assess air pollutants and develop exposure guidelines. “Although there are currently no specific exposure limits for UFPs in Canada, Health Canada’s research contributes to the growing international understanding of these particles,” the spokesperson added.

Health Canada also provides information to consumers on how to minimise exposure when using 3D printers at home. The department recommends using printers in well-ventilated areas, following manufacturer instructions, and selecting materials that produce fewer emissions. “Consumers should follow the safety data sheet of the plastic or other printing media used in 3D printing and always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions,” the department advised.

Protecting Canada’s Makers and Manufacturers

3D printing’s risks may not always be obvious to the naked eye. Especially with unseen hazards such as airborne dust, toxic resins, and reactive powders, which are invisible but can have serious long-term effects. Regulations like those in the COHSR help ensure that both industrial employers and casual users take the right precautions when approaching 3D printing. These protections help Canada take the lead in ensuring that additive manufacturing continues to be a safe industry.

According to ESDC, “Factors that can lead to an accident, death, or illness from using a 3D printer include airborne microscopic dust from all types of 3D printers, emission of VOCs from plastic 3D printing, and toxicity, flammability and explosiveness of fine metal powder.” These risks highlight the importance of preventive measures such as enclosed printers and air filtration systems, which are required for employers to install.

The department also underscores the importance of training. “Workers must be made aware of the potential hazards, basic first aid, and prevention strategies,” it said. For some facilities, medical monitoring may even be required. “If a qualified person recommends a medical exam for workers at risk of exposure to hazardous substances, then a health monitoring program may be required to screen and update workers’ files regarding changes to their health.” This approach is designed to stop accidents before they happen, and to track the long-term health effects that may emerge over time. In doing so, Canada’s safety framework protects both immediate well-being and future health outcomes.

Shared Responsibility: From Policy to Practice

Both Health Canada and ESDC emphasise that safety in additive manufacturing is a shared responsibility. The government provides the framework, but it is up to manufacturers, employers, and individuals to implement it. ESDC’s position is clear: “Workplace parties are best positioned to identify hazards and implement appropriate preventative measures.” To support them, the department points to resources such as hazard alerts and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), which publishes detailed guidance on 3D printing materials, ventilation, and worker protection.

Health Canada, meanwhile, encourages consumers to report safety incidents through its Consumer Product Incident Report Form, helping the department track potential problems and refine its guidance over time. Aside from continuing to support research of AM, it also continues to monitor international developments in additive manufacturing safety, contributing to global understanding of the technology’s impacts.

Regulating the Next Era of Additive Manufacturing

As 3D printing expands into new frontiers, from bioprinting and construction to aerospace applications, Canadian regulators are preparing for more complex questions about exposure, sustainability, and long-term health effects. The challenge is to balance innovation with safety in a rapidly evolving industry. “The applicable occupational exposure limits of the ingredients must be followed,” ESDC stated. “The employer is required to train workers in the usage, cleaning, and maintenance of 3D printers, as applicable.”

That emphasis on education, monitoring, and preventive action defines Canada’s approach. It ensures that even as additive manufacturing grows more advanced, the fundamentals of worker protection remain unchanged. Health Canada summed up the government’s view by saying, “3D printers are more hazardous than paper printers and must be treated with a similar level of care used for other industrial equipment.” The department’s research and outreach are helping ensure that everyone, from engineers to educators, understands how to manage that responsibility safely.

Building a Culture of Safe Innovation

3D printing represents a new era of creativity and manufacturing in Canada. It empowers individuals and industries to innovate faster and more efficiently than ever before. But as regulators remind us, the same technology that enables progress must be managed with care. Through coordinated efforts by Health Canada and ESDC, Canada has built a robust framework for the safe use of additive manufacturing. From workplace ventilation standards to consumer education, the country’s approach prioritises prevention and accountability. As the technology matures, so will the regulations, ensuring that Canada’s 3D printing revolution remains sustainable, responsible, and above all, safe for everyone.

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*Cover Photo Credit: Canva. All Other Photo Credits: ESDC & Health Canada