Compliance

State of Safety 2025

Supporting Safe Work Across British Columbia

We each have a role to play in keeping British Columbia safe. Licensed contractors play a critical role in the safety system. They are responsible for working within the scope of their licence, hiring the right qualified workers, obtaining the right permits, and installing and maintaining equipment to the latest codes and standards.

We provide education and promote safety knowledge so that British Columbians can comply with codes and standards. By increasing participation in the safety system, we influence safety-minded decisions and are able to gather data that helps us understand risks and hazards more clearly. We share our analysis with our clients and the public and use it to inform how we conduct assessments.

When duty holders are unable to achieve compliance, we are committed to a fair, progressive, and proportionate approach to enforcement. Learn more about our regulatory audits and our approach to compliance and enforcement.

3,109

Undervalued Electrical Permits Identified

1,456

Permits Amended

Addressing the Grey Market

One of our primary goals is to address grey market activity taking place across the province. The grey market refers to individuals or companies who perform regulated work outside of the safety system.

Safety In Focus

How We're Addressing the Grey Market

Compliance Success Story: Monitoring That Works

A regulatory audit conducted in 2025 initially identified unauthorized work performed by a duty holder with several outstanding code violations. A compliance order was issued, but further concerns, including additional unauthorized work, led to a broader review of the duty holder’s licence. During an in‑person meeting, the duty holder received a clear summary of their compliance status and was informed that their performance would be actively monitored. They were also required to develop a compliance plan addressing outstanding safety issues, high‑risk findings, inspection results, and overdue invoices.

With monitoring in place, the duty holder steadily corrected code violations, addressed high‑hazard findings, improved inspection outcomes, and resolved administrative obligations. By the end of the monitoring period, they had met all requirements of their compliance plan and returned to good standing, with no unauthorized work, no outstanding code violations, and no overdue invoices.

This outcome reflects how transparent expectations and consistent oversight can support duty holders in achieving and sustaining compliance.

Non-Compliance Trends from Assessments with High Hazards

In 2025, several non-compliance patterns were identified in assessments involving high hazards:

Gas non-compliances were primarily related to manufacturer’s instructions and venting/air supply requirements.
Electrical non-compliances were often related to the use or marking of approved equipment.
Boilers, Pressure Vessels, and Refrigeration (BPVR) non-compliances were related to support and perimeter clearances for horizontal tanks, testing and service intervals for pressure relief devices, and design requirements for cushion tanks.
Elevating Devices non-compliances identified in the elevating devices technology were related to inadequate lighting and ventilation.
Amusement Devices trends were identified in equipment already in operation. High hazards on operating equipment were primarily found at waterslides such as the structure, frame, stairwell, risers, bolted sections of flume, and flume surface requiring repair or replacement.
Passenger Ropeways non-compliances on existing equipment were related to missing or outdated records in relation to maintenance, personnel, and testing.