Toronto, ON, October 6, 2025 — The Ontario Court of Justice has fined Jegatheeswaran Velautham $20,000, plus a 25% victim surcharge, for damaging a natural gas line and failing to report the strike. Mr. Velautham pleaded guilty to violating the Gaseous Fuels Regulation under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.
The incident occurred on one evening in August 2023, as Mr. Velautham was reversing a transport truck and trailer into a loading dock at a multi-unit industrial-commercial building in Scarborough, Ontario. While reversing, the trailer struck a natural gas riser pipe and two manifolded gas meters, rupturing the gas line and damaging the meters. Following the collision, the driver disconnected the trailer from the tractor and left the scene without reporting the incident to authorities.
The collision caused a continuous release of pressurized natural gas overnight, creating a significant risk of injury, fatality, or property damage had the gas ignited and caused a fire or explosion. The leak was discovered the following morning and the gas supply was shut off by the fire department. The building was evacuated and no injuries were reported.
“This incident was serious because it involved not just one but two safety non-compliances: damaging a gas pipe and then failing to report it. That compounded the risk to the public, though we are fortunate that, in this case, no one was hurt,” said Owen Kennedy, Director of Fuel Safety at the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. “Everyone has a responsibility to help keep our communities safe.”
TSSA reminds the public that any damage to gas facilities or infrastructure and/or subsequent release of gas should be immediately reported to the Ministry of Environment’s Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 or by contacting TSSA at 1-877-682-8772.
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, October 3, 2025 — Kushdeep Gill, owner of Keepright Home Comfort, has been fined $20,000 plus a 25% victim surcharge after pleading guilty to an offence under Ontario Regulation 212/01 (Gaseous Fuels) of the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000. Mr. Gill was found guilty of unsafe fuel works, which resulted in the carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning of three children.
Mr. Gill, a certified G2 gas technician and TSSA-registered contractor, had been hired in May 2024 to install a furnace at a residence operating as a rental vacation home in Burlington, Ontario. During their stay in the property the following November, the children experienced carbon monoxide symptoms, including lethargy, headaches, and vomiting.
Mr. Gill shut off and later restored the home’s gas supply as part of his work at the property. When doing so, he was required to ensure that all gas appliances in the residence were operating safely. However, the property’s pool heater, which was designed for outdoor use, was being used indoors. The investigation by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) found the pool heater was improperly vented and had a faulty safety valve that failed to shut it off when unsafe. The pool heater caused a gas leak that led to the CO exposure.
“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, which is highly poisonous, invisible, odourless, and tasteless. It is the responsibility of certified fuels contractors to ensure the safety of their work. Overlooking critical safety aspects can have serious consequences, like carbon monoxide poisoning, as we have seen in this case,” said Owen Kennedy, TSSA’s Director of Fuel Safety. “As the regulator, we will continue to uphold and enforce safety standards, which include prosecuting unsafe fuels work.”
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, October 2, 2025 – Quebec-based company Franc Metal & Frères has pleaded guilty to two offences under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 (TSS Act) in connection with the sale of an unapproved mobile food truck to an Ontario business. The Ontario Court of Justice has imposed a fine of $30,000, along with a 25% victim surcharge.
Franc Metal & Frères was found to have sold an unapproved 2010-built food truck equipped with propane-fueled appliances to a catering business in Carleton Place, Ontario. The vehicle had not been certified for propane use as required by the Ontario Regulation 212/01: Gaseous Fuels of the TSSA Act. The company also misled the purchaser by affixing a falsified field approval label to the truck, falsely suggesting it met all safety standards set by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).
“The use of propane in food trucks can pose risks to owners, operators, and customers due to movement, vibration, and the presence of ignition sources on board. That’s why these vehicles must meet provincial safety regulations,” said Owen Kennedy, TSSA’s Director of Fuel Safety. “Selling an unapproved food truck with a fake TSSA approval label is irresponsible, and those who cut corners will face legal consequences.”
TSSA reminds businesses that all food trucks built after February 13, 2006, are required to have a Field Approval from TSSA or be certified and labelled by a certification organization that is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. For those who wish to verify the Field Approval of a food truck, please contact TSSA at 1-877-682-8772 or via email at customerservices@tssa.org.
Approved food trucks must also be inspected annually by a TSSA-certified technician.
To learn more about food truck approval requirements, please visit TSSA’s website.
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
Accredited training providers of OBT 3 and OBT 2 must update training programs and study materials and submit them to TSSA for review
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has updated the Oil Burner Technician 3 (OBT 3) and OBT 2 curricula to align with the latest CSA B139 Code, which TSSA will adopt in the coming months.
Accredited training providers (ATPs) of the OBT 3 and OBT 2 programs are required to revise their program and materials to align with the updated curricula and submit them to TSSA by February 28, 2026, for approval.
Key changes include the addition of introductory modules from the Gas Technician curriculum and content related to portable generators and biofuel. The revised curriculum and a summary of changes are as follows:
TSSA will implement the new exams to align with these changes starting June 1, 2026. Training providers are required to implement the updated curricula to ensure their training programs prepare students for the new exams.
TSSA will send an invitation for a virtual meeting in the coming weeks to address any questions ATPs may have. If there are questions during the interim, please reach out to certificationandexaminations@tssa.org.
This news was shared with OBT 2 & 3 accredited training providers.