TSSA is integrating more core services into the Client Portal as part of our ongoing effort to streamline key processes, enhance accessibility, and improve client experience. Starting March 16, 2026, all engineering submissions — including design submissions, variances, and alteration applications — must be submitted through the Client Portal.
TSSA recently held training sessions for Elevating Devices (ED), Amusement Devices (AD) and Ski Lifts to help build familiarity with the new processes. These sessions demonstrated how to send design submissions, dossiers, variances, and alterations through the Client Portal.
If you missed the session or want a refresher, below are links to the recordings of the respective training sessions:
- Elevating Device Submitters: Portal Training, March 6, 2026
- Ski Submitters: Portal Training, March 6, 2026
- Amusement Device Submitters: Portal Training, March 9, 2026
The updated Application forms and specification sheets for the Portal Go-Live are here:
This news was sent to ED and Ski Lift contractors, AD owners and submitters, and web subscribers.
Attention: Operating Engineer Plant Operators
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is hosting a live webinar to inform attendees about the new Operating Engineer (OE) Compliance Standard which is expected to launch in spring.
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 1 - 2 pm (EST)
Join from the webinar link:
https://tssameet.webex.com/tssameet/j.php?MTID=mf74bddb899775b00ec1dbb941961fd47
Join by webinar number:
Webinar number (access code): 2337 991 2284
Webinar password: wMgtMHk6K23 (96486456 when dialing from a phone or video system)
REGISTER TO SAVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attendance is limited to the first 1,000 attendees.
The OE Compliance Standard seeks to enhance the safety of plants across Ontario by focusing the efforts of TSSA and regulated parties on addressing high-risk non-compliances promptly. The OE Compliance Standard identifies high-risk non-compliances that pose significant risks to safety. If high-risk non-compliances are found during a periodic inspection, TSSA will issue an order(s) and conduct a follow-up inspection to verify compliance. If compliance is not confirmed, the impacted equipment or plant will be shut down.
Other non-compliances, categorized as safety tasks (low- and medium-risk non-compliances), will be noted on the inspection report. TSSA will not conduct a follow-up inspection if only safety tasks are found during a periodic inspection.
Webinar attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about:
- How the OE Compliance Standard was developed
- High-risk non-compliances on the OE Compliance Standard
- The difference between high-risk non-compliances on the OE Compliance Standard and other non-compliances
- The process to follow when non-compliances are found during a periodic inspection
Speakers:
- Sandra Cooke, Manager, Compliance, Legal, TSSA
Sandra Cooke is one of the people leading TSSA’s transformation into an Outcome-Based Regulator. Since joining TSSA in 1999, she has held a variety of managerial roles in operations, fuels safety engineering, compliance and business development. She also serves as TSSA’s Ombudsman. Her experience before TSSA includes roles at Ontario Hydro, a gas appliance manufacturer and a certification agency. Sandra is an Ontario Professional Engineer with a master’s degree and a bachelor of applied science in engineering from the University of Toronto. Sandra is a member of the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) and is an IOA-Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner.
- Sue Hadley, Chief Officer, Operating Engineer, TSSA
Sue Hadley is a 1st Class Operating Engineer with 38 years of experience in the power‑generation sector. Her extensive career spans coal, oil, gas, energy‑from‑waste, and biomass facilities, and she has overseen the commissioning of three power plants. From 2012 to 2017, Sue served as an Operating Engineer Inspector with TSSA. She has also taught at BCIT and Lambton College for four years and contributed to organizations such as Achieve Anything and Women in Science and Engineering, supporting the advancement of women in technical fields.
Register for the 24th Annual TSSA Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum. This 3-day forum provides specific training on ride inspection, codes and standards, employee safety and ride manufacturing. Attendees will receive 16 hours of NAARSO continuing education credits.
When: March 24 – 27, 2026
Where: Springhill Suites Vaughan, 612 Applewood Crescent
Agenda: TSSA Amusement Device Training Agenda 2026 - NAARSO
Registration deadline: Friday March 13, 2026
Registration includes:
• March 24th Reception
• March 25h (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) (8 hours in class)
• March 26th (Breakfast and Lunch) (4 hours in class, 4 hours practical)
• March 27th (NAARSO level I and II Exams, optional)
SESSIONS: In-Class and Practical Workshops
• Ride Inspection and Audit
• Incident Investigation
• Industry Best Practice
• Manufacturing
• Evacuation
• ESA / TSSA Update
• Operation training
• ASTM 2783
To register or find out more details, complete the form and follow the instructions.
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:
- Oil Burner Technician 2 (OBT2) Curriculum
- Oil Burner Technician 3 (OBT3) Curriculum
- Summary of Changes to Oil Burner Technician 2 (OBT2) Curriculum
- Summary of Changes to Oil Burner Technician 3 (OBT3) Curriculum
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.
Online Training: Reporting Specific Violations in Client Portal
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is hosting a second online training session to demonstrate to insurer administrative personnel how to utilize the new ‘Violations’ page to enter information about failed inspections and Records of Inspection (ROI) for boilers and pressure vessels (BPVs) in the Client Portal.
We encourage all administrative personnel or users responsible for entering information about failed inspections and ROIs to attend the online training session on:
September 29, 2025 (Monday), 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST
2:00 - 2:30 p.m.: Training
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.: Enforcement of Non-Compliance
2:45 - 3:00 p.m.: Q&A
Link to join the online training:
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 218 376 758 828 6
Passcode: yS9YE7jL
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The requirement for insurers to report specific BPV violations in the Client Portal took effect on April 14, 2025. High-risk violations must be resolved by BPV owners before a Certificate of Inspection can be issued. Read more
Boilers and Pressure Vessels Safety Program
This news item was sent to BPV insurers and BPV web subscribers.
In Markham District Energy (MDE), power engineering students serve as a secondary line of defence in maintaining safety.
For 15 years, Craig Graham, MDE’s Chief Operating Engineer has been hiring students for four-month work terms. Currently, MDE employs five students per term - 15 students per year. Over the years, Graham has signed off on the Qualifying Experience Time for more than 100 students. This practical operating experience, gained while working in a registered plant, is a prerequisite for applying for higher-level Operating Engineer certifications.
Each student is paired with various operating engineers as they navigate the entire plant, learning from the operating controls, maintenance, and distribution teams. Each student is given three unique questions each week. They discuss their findings with operating engineers who share safety insights on troubleshooting and resolving issues in the plant.
Industry partners are often reluctant to hire Co-op students in their plants, as operating engineers work with high-energy equipment and complex critical systems where errors can have significant consequences.
But MDE takes a different approach by enlisting power engineering students as safety allies. The company attributes its safety track record of one lost-time injury in 25 years, and an operational record of less than three hours of service interruptions in 25 years to collaborating with power engineering students.
“Students don’t just take steam time; they give back by asking staff a lot of questions about processes and procedures, providing good review,” explains Jim Kee, Vice President of Operations. Having experienced engineers share the rationale behind safety protocols keeps their safety knowledge sharp and prevents complacency.
This supportive strategy has enabled MDE with the following advantages:
- Additional assistance with ongoing preventive maintenance, operations, and projects
- Experienced staff provide detailed, plant-specific training, constantly refreshing their knowledge as they mentor students who ask questions
- Operating engineers develop leadership skills through mentoring students
- A ready pool of trained candidates to fill Operating Engineer positions
TSSA will enforce the new requirement starting January 1, 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, Gas Technician 3 (G3) certificate holders who earned their certification through the challenge process must provide proof of 450 hours of G3 work experience before enrolling in a G2 program.
This new requirement seeks to ensure that candidates who obtained certification through a challenge process — specifically those who take an exam for a certificate without attending formal training — possess the necessary practical experience before pursuing higher G2 certification.
Accredited training providers of the Gas Technician and Oil Burner Technician Certification Program are responsible for obtaining proof of work experience totalling 450 hours from holders of G3 certificates. An acceptable form of proof includes a letter from the employer on company letterhead, confirming the candidate’s G3 work experience.
Background
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) administers the Gas Technician and Oil Burner Technician Certification Program. Following consultation with accredited training providers, TSSA revised the Gas & Oil Burner Technician Policies & Procedures (section 6.5) in March 2025 to reflect this new requirement.
TSSA deferred the enforcement of this requirement to January 1, 2026, to give accredited training providers of this certification program time to implement this new requirement in screening processes for candidates of the G2 program.
TSSA is identifying ways to help accredited training providers determine whether a G3 certificate holder obtained their certificate through the challenge process.
To communicate this new requirement to potential candidates, TSSA will:
- Post information on its website
- Indicate the new requirement on the G3 challenge application form on the TSSA Client Portal
- Remind G3 candidates of the new requirement during practical assessments
- Notify employers of G3 certificate holders through the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada
For details, please read the Gas & Oil Burner Technician Policies & Procedures.
More than 160 attendees from across the amusement ride industry gathered in Vaughan, Ontario for the Amusement Ride Safety Seminar held from March 25-27, 2025.
Hosted by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) in collaboration with the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO), the annual event brought together industry experts, regulators, professionals from Canada's Wonderland, manufacturers and third-party engineers for three days of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and hands-on training.
Participants earned 16 hours of continuing education credits while gaining valuable insights from industry leaders through both In-class and practical sessions. Topics covered ranged from ride inspection and auditing to incident investigation, evacuation, industry best practices, and Electrical Safety Authority training.
A key highlight was a field trip to Canada’s Wonderland where participants received a behind-the-scenes look at the park's safety practices, upcoming attraction and the latest technology used in the amusement park.
Event organizers Sonny Silva, Regional Supervisor for Elevating and Amusement Devices (EDAD), and Joelle Javier, EDAD Manager, gave an update on TSSA and ASTM regulations and standards.
Deep Dives into Specialized Topics
Andy Benko, Quality Assessment Specialist with TSSA’s Boilers and Pressure Vessels (BPV) Program, presented on BPVs in amusement rides. He emphasized the responsibility of amusement ride owners and operators to ensure that BPVs regulated under Ontario Regulation 220/01 are registered, inspected and maintained in safe operating condition.
Dr. Kathryn Woodcock, a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University in the School of Occupational and Public Health, delivered a presentation on device control interfaces in amusement rides. She highlighted the importance of designing operator controls that are within easy reach not just for comfort, but also for speed, accuracy of response and to avoid unintentional activation.
Dr. Woodcock said a task group is updating ASTM F2291-24’s clause 17 on ‘Operator Controls’ to provide more guidance on good interface design. The scope will apply to all user interfaces with safety implications, including riders, attendants and mechanics. “We want to make sure everyone understands what we mean by the principles we refer to in the standard,’ she said.
“Ideal controls will leave the user no uncertainty as to what will happen to the system when a particular control is moved a certain way,” Dr. Woodcock notes. “Meaningful displays will be user-centered, supporting accurate intuitive interpretation or the current state. Interfaces should be easy to use because the operators will do their tasks more accurately and faster.”
Devan Devalia, application engineer with SKF Group, presented on the bearings used in amusement rides and shared maintenance tips to optimize their performance and lifespan.
Other industry experts at the event include Cindy Sypher, Chair of TSSA’s Amusement Devices Industry Advisory Council; Vince Conforzi, Building/Plumbing Inspector at the City of Vaughan; and Jason Gordon, Director of Operations at Cobalt Safety East. They discussed building, fire and occupational health and safety in amusement buildings such as escape rooms, which are designed to disorient people or have reduced lighting and can make it challenging for people to find their way out in an emergency.
Concluding the seminar was a presentation by Chris Clarke, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Amusement Operators. Clarke’s presentation highlighted practical field issues with amusement rides and illustrated with before-and-after examples.
The session wrapped up with a final exam for some members who were sitting for certification.
The next seminar will take place in spring 2026. TSSA looks forward to continuing to strengthen safety, spark innovation, and support excellence across the amusement ride industry. Stay tuned.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is hosting an online training to assist insurer administrative personnel on how to use the new ‘Violations’ page to enter information about failed inspections and Records of Inspection (ROI) in the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Certificate of Inspection (BPV COI) Portal for Insurers.
Register for the online training that will take place on:
April 14, 2025 (Monday)
10 – 10:30 a.m. (EDT) : Training
10:30 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.: Q&A about the BPV COI Insurer Portal or training
Link to join the online training:
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 265 497 607 710
Passcode: eh3Kb36K
TSSA recently announced that insurers will be required to report specific violations through the BPV COI Portal for Insurers starting April 14, 2025. High-risk violations must be resolved by device owners before a Certificate of Inspection can be issued.
We encourage all administrative personnel or users of the BPV COI Insurer Portal who are responsible for entering information about failed inspections and ROIs to attend this online training.
Boilers and Pressure Vessels Safety Program
This news item was sent to BPV insurers and web subscribers.
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.