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 now 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. 

A recording of a TSSA webinar held on July 30, 2024, to support Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) clients in submitting engineering applications through the TSSA Client Portal is now available on TSSA's website. 

The webinar gave attendees a forum to ask questions and provided a live walk-through of topics that included the purpose of the personal profile, when to create an account, how to link to organizational and client accounts, and why it is important. Click to watch the video below.

Click to watch the webinar recording.

TSSA hosted a virtual training for the inflatable industry on May 3, 2024. 

The training covered a gamut of topics that included incident reporting, inflatable design (ASTM requirements, flame tests for new devices, and evacuation), renewals (attestation and operational inspections), mechanic requirement, and training requirements for operators and events.

Click to view the presentation slides.

Under the revised Heating Contractor Audit Program, Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) inspectors now focus on the contractor’s business operation as it pertains to the regulation(s) instead of conducting field inspections for code compliance. This allows the contractor to be responsible for regulatory compliance, including checking their fuel technicians’ work in the field. 

The program will continue with enhanced processes incorporating learnings since it was first launched a few years ago.

The Propane, Gaseous and Fuel Oil Regulations have seven primary requirements that are a contractor’s responsibilities. They are as follows:

1. Only install approved equipment
2. Technicians shall be certified for the work
3. Call for initial inspection by the distributor where fuel is being used for the first time
4. Ensure employees comply with the regulation(s) by verifying employees’ work in the field
5. Incident Reporting
6. Identification, action as required and reporting of non-compliances (unacceptable conditions)
7. Requirement to tag (pressure test tag/installation tag) equipment upon installation completion (in the Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code and the Fuel Oil Regulation)

TSSA’s audit will require the contractor to demonstrate compliance with these requirements through the contractor’s processes, procedures and records.

Regarding item 4 listed above “Ensure employees comply with the regulation(s) by verifying employees’ work in the field”, TSSA expects contractors to check their employees’ (technicians’) fuels work. The Safety Dispatch newsletter issued on August 15, 2023 indicated contractors must have a Quality Assurance Program. While this is not a requirement, it is one method to achieve compliance and is a best practice in the heating contractor industry. If there is no process to verify technicians’ work, TSSA will perform field verifications. In the event that non-compliances are found during TSSA’s verification, orders will be issued to address the non-compliances, including a directive for the contractor to develop a program to demonstrate that every reasonable precaution has been taken to ensure employees comply with O. Reg. 211/01 (Propane Storage and Handling) s. 5 or O. Reg. 212/01 (Gaseous Fuels) s. 11 or O. Reg. 213/01 (Fuel Oil) s. 5. as applicable.

Please review these advisories for further details on the Heating Contractor Audit Program:

• Revision of TSSA’s Fuels Heating Contractor Audit Program
• Validation Programs associated with TSSA’s Fuels Heating Contractor Audit Program, Advisory FS-248-20

About TSSA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) administers provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education, authorization, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s (TSSA) Boilers & Pressure Vessels Safety Program is hosting seminars in Toronto and Sarnia in June and July 2023 to help industry professionals understand the regulatory requirements relating to the voluntary Alternate Piping process.
 
TSSA recently issued an advisory outlining a voluntary, alternate process to the existing inspection process for eligible piping fabrications and installations. The alternate process — available from May 1, 2023 — allows eligible piping contractors to inspect eligible piping systems and complete an “Alternate Piping Data Form” as an alternative to a TSSA inspection. Read the advisory
 
TSSA’s Regulatory Requirements Training Course (Module 1), designed for professionals who provide alternate piping inspections for organizations, will cover the following topics: 

• The Ontario Boiler & Pressure Vessel Regulation 220/01
• TSSA Code Adoption Document
• Piping Registration requirements
• Quality Program Supplement review
• Responsibilities of the “Organization” and “Qualified Persons”
• Completion and filing of the “Alternate Process Piping Form”
• Reporting requirements

Click here for details or register now.
 
Boilers & Pressure Vessels Safety Program
Technical Standards and Safety Authority 

WHEN: April 3, 4 and 5, 2023 
• April 3, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Reception and check in
• April 4, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Training (8 hours of continuing education credits or CEU)
• April 5, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.: Training (8 hours of CEU)
 
WHERE: Niagara Falls, Ontario 
Double Tree Fallsview Resort & Spa
6039 Fallsview Boulevard, Niagara Falls, ON, L2G 3V6

Register now for the 21st Annual TSSA Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum. This two-day forum provides specific training on ride inspection, codes and standards, employee safety and ride manufacture. Attendees will receive 16 hours of NAARSO continuing education credits. 

Continuing education for NAARSO-certified inspectors comprises the following in-class and hands-on workshops:
• Waterslide Manufacture/Repair
• Incident Investigation
• Welding CWB Requirements
• Industry Best Practice
• Ride Manufacture Bulletins
• ESA and TSSA Update
• Wire Rope Requirements
• ASTM 2783

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: (Friday) March 24, 2023
Registration includes the following: 
• April 3rd Reception
• April 4th (Breakfast and Lunch)
• April 5th (Breakfast and Lunch)

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Double Tree Fallsview Resort & Spa

Register for Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum

IAAPA Meetup: Great Wolf Lodge

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is partnering with TSSA for the IAAPA Meetup at Great Wolf Lodge. If you are already registering for the TSSA Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum 2023, please make sure you select to attend the IAAPA Meetup. If you cannot attend the forum but would like to attend the IAAPA Meetup, please register below.

Register for IAAPA Meetup

Compliance Standards for Elevators & Escalators Launching on March 1, 2023

TSSA is hosting a live webinar on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 11 a.m. to noon (Eastern Time) to provide attendees with information about the new Compliance Standards for elevators and escalators.

Effective March 1, 2023, elevators (hydraulic and electric/traction) and escalators will be subject to TSSA’s new Compliance Standards:

• Electric/Traction Elevators
• Hydraulic Elevators
• Escalator Contractors
• Escalator Owners and Operators

Compliance Standards define high-risk items for specific devices. They are formatted like a checklist and are intended to drive consistency in TSSA periodic inspections, making it easier for regulated parties to understand their responsibilities. TSSA will only conduct follow-up inspections on high-risk orders found on a periodic inspection.

By focusing the efforts of TSSA and regulated parties on addressing high-risk non-compliances promptly, Compliance Standards for elevators and escalators are designed to help improve the safety of these devices across Ontario.

Join the Compliance Standards Webinar

Webinar attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about:

• How Compliance Standards on high-risk items were developed
• Items that will be examined during periodic inspections
• Checklists that will be used by TSSA inspectors starting March 1, 2023
• The difference between high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk non-compliances
• New inspection reports
• The process that will be followed if a non-compliance is noted on a periodic inspection report

Moderator: 
Roger Neate, Director, Elevating & Amusement Devices Safety Program

Speakers:
- Dean McLellan, Regional Supervisor, Elevating & Amusement Devices, Inspection
- Sandra Cooke, Manager, Compliance, Legal

Register here to save your spot now.

Mark your calendars for the 2023 TSSA Amusement Ride Training Seminar. 

The seminar provides in-class, hands-on training on ride inspection, codes and standards, employee safety and ride manufacturing. Attendees will receive 16 hours of continuing education credits (CEU) from the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials. 

The seminar will take place on April 4 and 5, 2023. Details on registration for the seminar's location will be made available. Stay tuned for more updates. 

TSSA Launches Online Operating Engineers Alternate Rules Path 1 Self-Assessment Tool to Help Plant Owners Make Informed Safety Decisions

TSSA is pleased to offer plant owners a new tool they can use to self assess their plant’s risk rating so they can make informed decisions about staffing levels required to mitigate risk.

The tool was created to help plant owners who are considering applying for authorization to operate under Path 1 of the Operating Engineers Alternate Rules. Introduced in November 2020, Alternate Rules are applicable to specific requirements in the Operating Engineers Regulation, including plant staffing, certification time, and electronic logbook requirements. They provide a risk-based approach to achieving safety compliance at Ontario’s plants and exist in parallel with the Operating Engineers Regulation. 

Launched in February 2021, Path 1 rates plants based on a risk calculation that considers multiple variables, including a plant’s configuration, occupancy and type of exposure; the type of technology operating within a plant; as well as a plant’s power rating. A risk rating is assigned to a plant and used to determine staffing requirements (subject to the Chief Officer’s right to adjust the plant staffing requirements as necessary). 

TSSA’s digital self-assessment tool provides plant owners with the option to go online and input their plant data to get an estimate of the risk rating of their plant under Path 1. Plant owners use the online tool to enter information about their plant equipment, and then the information is calculated using TSSA’s risk formula to produce an estimated plant risk rating. Plant owners can use this information for planning purposes. They are still required to follow the formal Path 1 application process. 

To complete the form, users will need access to the equipment information at the plant. Once the form is completed, the results will be displayed at the top of the web page and the page is printable. Users are encouraged to keep a record of the results because none of the information entered is retained, nor is it retrievable once the web page is exited.

For more information about Path 1, please consult the Path 1 Guidelines or refer to the FAQs on Alternate Rules for Plants and Plant Registration. 

Plant owners can use TSSA’s Self Assessment Tool to obtain an estimate of their plant’s risk score. Please note that use of the tool does not constitute a formal application to TSSA. For more information, please consult the Path 1 Summary of Plant Rating Calculations document.