State of Safety: Gas

We oversee residential, industrial and commercial use of natural gas, propane, biogas, digester gas, manufactured gas, liquified petroleum gas, landfill gas and hydrogen throughout BC in accordance with the Safety Standards Act and the Gas Safety Regulation. 

Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure was ranked as the top safety risk in 2024, and gas line strikes continue to be ranked among our Top 5 Safety Risks. Seventeen gas line hits were reported in the year and incidents tied to gas line hits have caused severe damage to property. Through education and awareness, we are sharing the severity of consequences associated with these risks, strengthening BC’s safety system and promoting safer practices across the province.  

Work by Unqualified Individuals Lead to Explosion, Evacuation

An explosion inside a mobile trailer containing five gas-fueled clothing dryers injured the facilities manager with burns and contusions. This explosion occurred after unqualified individuals initially installed appliances in a fruit orchard and processing facility, converting them from natural gas to propane and leaving gas valve connections loose. Years later, a licensed contractor allowed a plumber, without gas certification, to finish the installation, but the apprentice failed to check for leaks downstream of the shut-off valves or purge the gas piping of air.

In another incident, a gas station employee without the required training removed the fill hose from a propane cylinder without closing the required valves, resulting in a propane leak. A poorly labeled emergency shut off and a safety that was rendered inoperative made it difficult to minimize the leak. This led to the uncontrolled release of approximately 1500 litres of liquid propane and required the evacuation of nearby homes.

These incidents show the importance of having the required training to perform regulated work. There are individuals in the province who deliberately choose to not to engage in the safety system by performing unpermitted and unlicensed work, putting British Columbians at unnecessary risk - we refer to these individuals as participants in the ‘Grey Market’. Not only does this illegal work increase risk, but it also causes frustration for those who are compliant and participating in the safety system. As part of our commitment to safety, we are shifting our focus to actively identifying, engaging with, and, when necessary, taking enforcement action against those who are not participating in the system.

Assessments

Our safety officers completed 12,379 assessments of gas equipment in 2024, a 9% decrease compared to the previous year. Of this total, 6,685 were in-person assessments and 5,694 were remote assessments. Depending on the nature of the work, we determine which type of assessment, whether in-person or remote, is most suitable.

The results of in-person assessments included: 4,575 “passed” and 2,110 “failed." The results of remote assessments included: 5,102 “passed” and 592 “failed.”

Learn more about how we define these assessment outcomes.