September/October 2024 |
JUMP TO SECTION: What’s NewInsider Insights Industry NewsBy the NumbersDid You Know?Subscribe Now TSSA Celebrates Safety Excellence at 2024 Safety Awards The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) presented its 2024 Safety Awards to Andreas Tanzer and Modern Niagara Group Inc. during its Annual Public Meeting on September 19. TSSA’s annual Safety Awards, a nomination-based program, honour individuals and organizations in TSSA-regulated sectors that have made significant contributions to public safety in Ontario. “It is important to recognize and celebrate the contributions of individuals and organizations within our regulated industries who tirelessly raise the safety bar to keep Ontarians safe,” said Bonnie Rose, President and CEO of TSSA. “I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Andreas Tanzer and Modern Niagara Group Inc. for their commitment to safety excellence and demonstrated leadership in pushing safety to the next level.” Read moreTSSA Introduces Late Payment Fee & Inspection Appointment Cancellation FeeTSSA is responsible for administering technical safety regulations and providing oversight for elevating devices, amusement devices, ski lifts, boilers and pressure vessels, fuels and operating engineers. As part of our commitment to enhancing safety outcomes and operational efficiency, TSSA regularly reviews its fee structures to reflect the true cost of maintaining public safety services. In pursuit of these goals, effective November 4, 2024, TSSA will introduce two new fees: a Late Payment Fee for licences and other authorizations and an Inspection Appointment Cancellation Fee. These fees aim to encourage timely compliance, reduce regulatory costs, and optimize resource deployment for inspections. Read more  TSSA Continues to Report Positive Safety Results in 2024Fewer permanent injuries and decreased incident rates were reportedamidst Ontario’s population growthWhile Ontario’s population continues to grow, TSSA has reported improvements in safety outcomes over the past decade. The latest safety results, highlighted in TSSA’s Public Safety Report 2024, underscore decreased permanent injuries and incident rates within TSSA’s regulated sectors. Released during TSSA’s Annual Public Meeting alongside its 2024 Annual Report, the safety report highlights  an improving safety environment across the province.“Ontario’s population has seen significant growth in the past 10 years, and our regulated industries have been working hard to improve safety. TSSA is committed to ensuring public safety continues to be a priority by partnering with regulated parties to reduce the risk of harm for people in Ontario. This year’s safety results demonstrate this continued commitment is delivering its intended outcome,” said Viola Dessanti, Director of Strategic Analytics, TSSA. Read moreSign Up and Transact on the TSSA Client PortalSign up and use the TSSA Client Portal – your one-stop shop to do business with TSSA. Access the highest-volume applications and perform online transactions through the Client Portal’s automated self-service functions. First, sign up as a new portal user to:Create and update accountsSubmit an exam requestView exam resultsView issued orderSubmit and pay for applicationsView inspection reports and permits, licences or certificatesPay a TSSA invoice (account setup not required)Download a copy of their invoice Note:All customers are required to sign up as new users.Newclients need to create a new account.Existing clients should not create a new account; they must link to their existing TSSA account.For organizations, unique email addresses are required for each user. Access to the Portal is prohibited for users sharing a single email address.Refer to the Training webpage for instructions on navigating the Client Portal. SeeFAQs on the TSSA Client Portal. For further assistance, contact TSSA’s Customer Contact Centre at 1-877-682-8772.  TSSA Observed National Day for Truth & Reconciliation TSSA observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 to honour and remember the lives impacted by residential schools in Canada. Many employees marked the day by wearing orange shirts as they learned the truth about our history from Indigenous peoples and acknowledged the ongoing impacts of residential schools as an important part of reconciliation.  Elevating, Amusement and Ski Devices Fuels Boilers and Pressure Vessels Elevating, Amusement and Ski DevicesEnsure Elevator Machine Room Keys are Available for Emergencies From March 1 to August 31, 2024, TSSA issued 212 orders to building owners or operators for not having the keys to an elevator’s machine room. Machine room keys must be readily available to an inspector, police or fire department, or other persons who may be involved in an emergency and need access to the elevator. Compliance standards for traction and hydraulic elevators require building owners and operators to ensure these keys are always available onsite so that passengers can be rescued expeditiously in an emergency. The availability of keys will also ensure the inspection of elevators is performed promptly. For more information, read Compliance Standards: Hydraulic Elevators and Traction Elevators.  Back to Industry News FuelsDirector’s Order: Propane Storage Tanks Designed for 200 PSIGTSSA has posted a Director’s Order on propane storage tanks designed for 200 pounds per square inch gauge (PSIG).Pursuant to section 14(2) of the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, the Director orders any tank that has a maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of less than 250 psig to be taken out of service. This requirement is effective as of October 1, 2025. While all new installations require 250 psig tanks, there are existing propane storage tanks designed for 200 psig installed and in service. With the aging of these tanks, it is unsafe to allow their continued operation. Given the limited number of propane storage tanks designed for 200 psig installed in the field, most provinces have agreed that 200 psig propane storage tanks should be taken out of circulation as they are not in accordance with the code. Please read the Director’s Order for details. Ontario Safety Partners Unite to Say Your Line Might Not Be FineSewer Safety Week, which ran from September 16-20, 2024, aimed to enhance public awareness and ensure the safety of communities across the country.  Ontario One Call, Enbridge Gas, TSSA, Utilities Kingston, and Kitchener Utilities partnered to tell homeowners and plumbers that when clearing sewer pipes, your line might not be fine.Homeowners can safely address blockages within their homes, but when it comes to blockages outside the home, it is vital to consider the risk of a sewer cross bore. A sewer cross bore occurs when underground natural gas pipes are unintentionally installed through sewer pipes. While rare, the situation can remain undetected until the sewer becomes blocked, posing a significant safety risk if not handled correctly. Read more Back to Industry News Boilers and Pressure VesselsBPV Code Adoption Document Amendment Took Effect on October 1The Boilers and Pressure Vessels (BPV) Code Adoption Document (CAD) Amendment published on August 15, 2024, took effect on October 1, 2024. Read the latest BPV CAD Amendment and the Consultation Summary on TSSA’s website. FAQs on BPV Engineering Applications Available Online Following the webinar that TSSA held on July 30, 2024, to support Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) clients in submitting engineering applications through the TSSA Client Portal, a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) from attendees is available on TSSA’s website. FAQs are grouped according to topics, including account creation, applications, expedited service requests, third-party submissions and supporting documents. Click to read the BPV webinar FAQ. A recording of the webinar is also available. Verifying the Status of Unverified Boilers & Pressure Vessels  This is a reminder that TSSA has kicked off an initiative requiring owners of boilers and pressure vessels (BPVs) to verify the operating status of devices that were certified at one time but do not currently have a valid Certificate of Inspection (COI).TSSA has designed a simple process to allow owners to access a list of unverified BPVs and report on them through the BPV Certificate of Inspection (COI) Portal for Owners. BPVs may be in different operating statuses (such as Actively Operating, Removed from Service, Changed Ownership, or Exempt from Inspection). Read more Back to Industry News  ~1.6 millionThe number of visitors who attended the Canadian National Exhibition in 2023 was the highest ever, dating back a quarter century. Pre-pandemic attendance averaged 1.42 million from 2010 to 2019.Source:The Canadian National Exhibition  Minister Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, joined TSSA’s Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) safety tour on August 29, 2024. From inspecting popular rides to licensing food trucks, TSSA is at the CNE before and during each event to ensure visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit.  Recording of Annual Public Meeting 2024 Now Available The recording of TSSA’s 2024 Annual Public Meeting (APM) and Safety Awards Presentation on September 19 is ready for viewing. Chair of the Board of Directors, RJ Falconi, remarked on TSSA’s transformative journey over the past six years. Falconi also welcomed Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, Todd McCarthy, who addressed the audience and thanked the TSSA team for its dedication “to upholding Ontario’s peace of mind.” The meeting concluded with the presentation of TSSA’s Safety Awards 2024, honouring Andreas Tanzer and Modern Niagara Group Inc. as recipients of the Legacy and Impact awards, respectively. Read more Back to the top Get in touch We would like to hear from you. Please send your comments or story ideas to media@tssa.org. Click the “Subscribe” button and get safety updates delivered to your inbox. You can access the issues online. Subscribe Now |
