Toronto, ON, May 26, 2026 – For five years in a row, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has been honoured with the 5‑Star Safety Culture Award from Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) magazine. Presented annually, the award recognizes Canadian organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to building and sustaining a strong culture of safety. 

“Receiving this award for five straight years speaks volumes about the unwavering commitment of TSSA’s 450 employees to protecting Ontarians and advancing our vision as an outcome‑based regulator,” said TSSA President and CEO, Bonnie Rose. “Safety is TSSA’s top priority, and our approach is to focus on where our efforts matter most, guided by data we have collected and analyzed. Internally, we continue to build a strong, safety‑minded team that works to ingrain and celebrate safety in their day‑to‑day work.” 

Upheld as one of TSSA’s core values, safety is central to the work employees carry out every day. To further embed safety into its workplace culture, TSSA has recently launched new employee‑focused initiatives, including the introduction of an online peer‑to‑peer recognition platform. Designed to promote a culture of appreciation, this initiative empowers TSSA employees to acknowledge each other’s contributions to safety and celebrate other values. 

The 5‑Star Safety Culture Award is presented to organizations that exemplify excellence in fostering robust workplace safety cultures and demonstrate a steadfast commitment to proactive risk management, comprehensive training, and employee engagement. Nominated by COS magazine, TSSA was shortlisted as a finalist following a detailed submission outlining its internal safety initiatives. In the next qualifying round, a cross‑section of TSSA employees participated in a safety culture satisfaction survey, resulting in an overall satisfaction rating exceeding 80 percent. 

To learn more about the 5-Star Safety Culture Award and the organizations recognized this year, view the special report here. 

For more information about TSSA’s outcome-based regulatory model and how it supports risk-informed safety oversight, visit www.tssa.org.

About TSSA 

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is one of Ontario’s public safety regulators mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety. Throughout Ontario, 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 and consumer information, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support and enforcement and prosecution activities. The organization’s vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety. 

For more information, please contact:

Alexandra Campbell 
Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
Telephone: 416-734-2728
Email: media@tssa.org

TORONTO, ON, May 14, 2026 –– Seasons “may” change, but safety remains the same. It’s been a long time coming but the May long weekend is finally upon us and with it the return of many favourite seasonal activities. Your safety partners at the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and Ontario Poison Centre (OPC) are teaming up to shed light on some of the biggest poisoning risks in and around our homes; often the ones we don’t think of, expect – or even notice. 

The good news is that many of these poisonings are preventable. 

Make your space a safe place. 

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Safety 

CO – a household poison like many others - can make its way into popular summertime activities such as cottaging, camping, BBQing or RVing.

• Have all fuel-burning appliances inspected annually through the services of a TSSA-registered fuels contractor. 
• Have working, certified, CO alarms installed; regularly test and replace them in accordance with manufacturer’s instruction.  
• Never use indoors any fuel-burning equipment that is specifically designed and approved for outdoor use only such as generators, portable heaters, BBQs and camping stoves. 
• Always keep external exhaust vents – including those at the cottage or your trailer or RV – free of debris or blockages.  
   

If you suspect CO poisoning, get outdoors immediately and call 911. 

For additional CO Safety information visit COsafety.ca  
 

Other Poisons  
 

Whether indoors or out, don’t let other potential poisoning hazards that may be in your environment dampen your spirits on these summer days.

• Keep all cleaning products in their original containers. Never put cleaners in containers used for drinking, like water bottles or pop cans.  
• Keep harmful products and medications “locked up tight and out of sight” in a cupboard or container.  
• Do not leave weed killers, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers or other lawn or garden products unattended.  
• Know the names of all the plants and trees inside and outside your home. 
• Be prepared when hiking or visiting an area where rattlesnakes live. If you hear a rattle, move away from the sound of the snake. Do not try to touch it.  
   

If you, your child or anyone in your midst is experiencing suspected poisoning, call OPC toll-free at 1-800-268-9017 or 911 immediately.  
 

For additional poison prevention information visit ontariopoisoncentre.ca

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 includes public education, authorization, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.  
 

www.tssa.org  
 

About Ontario Poison Centre  
 

The Ontario Poison Centre (OPC) is a telephone toxicology consultation service that provides expert poison advice 24 hours a day to the public, emergency service personnel and health-care professionals across the province. The OPC supports in the ongoing care of the poisoned patient by following the clinical course of hospitalization, assessing the effectiveness of treatment recommendations and providing additional antidote recommendations. Our toxicology experts also work collaboratively alongside other healthcare professionals to support safe, evidence-informed, and patient-centered care for poisoned patients. The OPC is operated and supported by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.  
 

www.ontariopoisoncentre.ca  
 

For more information, please contact:  
 

TSSA:  
 

Ammara Khan 

Director, Communications Technical Standards and Safety Authority Telephone: 416-734-2728 

Email: media@tssa.org 

For more information on TSSA visit www.tssa.org 

OPC: 

Chad Larabie 

Knowledge Translation Program Manager, 

Public Ontario Poison Centre 

Email: chad.larabie@sickkids.ca 

For more information on OPC visit ontariopoisoncentre.ca

Annual award program recognizes Ontario leaders in public safety

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Safety Awards, which celebrate outstanding leadership in Ontario’s public safety.

Each year, TSSA Safety Awards honour individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Ontario’s public safety in TSSA’s regulated sectors: Fuels; Boilers and Pressure Vessels and Operating Engineers; Elevating and Amusement Devices and Ski Lifts.

Access the online nomination form on TSSA’s website to nominate an individual or organization working in TSSA’s regulated sectors. Nominations are open until June 1, 2026 (Monday).  

There are two award categories:

• Impact Awards recognize notable contributions, initiatives or projects that deliver positive safety outcomes and go above and beyond regulatory compliance.
• Legacy Awards honour individuals or organizations with a longstanding commitment to safety and a demonstrated history of safety impact. 

TSSA will announce the 2026 Safety Awards recipients at its annual public meeting in the fall. 

The recipients of TSSA’s Safety Awards in 2025 are as follows: 

2025 Impact Safety Award Recipient: Jamie Kovacs

Jamie Kovacs, Executive Director of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, received the Impact Award for his dedication to advancing fire safety and prevention. Partnering with fire departments across Ontario, Jamie leads a team that helps make fire safety and prevention a community priority. 
As a volunteer firefighter with Central Elgin Fire Rescue since 2018, Jamie responds to more than 100 fire and carbon monoxide calls each year — living out his commitment to protecting others well beyond his professional role. He also works diligently with the Central Elgin communities to promote fire safety messages and educate the public on the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Watch the video; read the story.

2025 Legacy Safety Award Recipient: Canadian Elevator Industry Educational Program (CEIEP)

The Canadian Elevator Industry Educational Program was honoured with the Legacy Award for its safety leadership and delivery of safety education and apprenticeship programs for elevator constructor apprentices and mechanics since its establishment in 1967. As the sole training provider offering a foundational apprenticeship program and continuing education for certified elevator mechanics, CEIEP plays an instrumental role in developing in-school curriculum standards for apprenticeship training and creating the initial TSSA-approved curriculum and workbooks focusing on safety and maintenance. Its comprehensive approach to safety education, which focuses on both technical competencies and human well-being, positively impacts worker safety within the elevating devices industry. Watch the video; read the story.

About TSSA

Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) enforces 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 includes public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.