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State of Safety 2017 - Regulatory Instruments and Amendments

Regulatory Instruments

Technical Safety BC uses regulatory instruments to assist with the administration of the Safety Standards Act and the Railway Safety Act. Safety orders are issued to prevent or reduce the risk of personal injury or damage to property. Directives are instruments that clarify or provide an interpretation of a regulation or code. Information bulletins provide helpful information and clarification on existing regulations or codes. 


In 2017 Technical Safety BC issued a total of 61 Safety Orders, Directives, and Information Bulletins. The higher quantities in Electrical and Gas reflect that those technologies make up a larger part of our business. 

Amendments

In 2017 Technical Safety BC proposed the following regulatory amendments to the Provincial Government:

Regulation Description
Electrical Safety Regulation

Electrical safety refinements:

  1. Extra low voltage permitting changes – eliminate permit requirement for specified low risk security alarm work (component removal and replacement).
  2. Combustible dust (i.e., wood dust) safety order contents moved into regulation – for clarity and certainty.

Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation

Power engineering enhancements:

  1. Certification: power engineer renewals – expiry dates to certificates of qualification.
  2. Plant registration – require plant operating permits for 5th class and above boiler plants, which would link individual units into their larger configuration as a plant.
  3. Internationally Trained Worker Power Engineers - enable the recognition of power engineering qualifications acquired abroad.

Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation

Boiler code analysis and pressure welding enhancements:

  1. Housekeeping changes to ensure internal consistency of regulation.
  2. Pressure Welder Program Redesign – new regulatory framework needed to provide for redesigned welder requirements by the Industry Training Authority. 
Elevating Devices Safety Regulation

Elevating device code package 2017:

  1. Adoption of 2016 edition of Canadian Standards Association/American Society of Mechanical Engineers A17.1/B44 Safety Code for elevators and escalators.
  2. Maintenance control program – this requirement may or may not be adopted in BC.
  3. Clarifying roles and responsibilities of elevating device mechanics/mechanics-in-training based on lessons learned.
Railway Safety Act Amendment giving Technical Safety BC the authority to conduct railway incident investigations