Tech-News & Views

September, 2012

LOST SUPPRESS! FOUND!

Surrey, B. C. - The long lost June 2009 issue of Suppress! (as it turns out it’s also the LAST issue), has been found and posted on our special ASTTBC page.  Enjoy!

NEW CEO FOR APEGBC!

Vancouver, B. C. - Mark November 13, 2012 on your calendars.  That’s the date APEGBC’s new CEO, Ann English, PEng, takes office.  We wish her every success in her new role!

ARC FLASH INJURY TO UNLICENSED ELECTRICAL WORKER IN ONTARIO RAISES CONCERNS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA OVER NEW ASTTBC INITIATIVE!

Vancouver, B. C. - In a September 4th Press Release, the Electrical Contractor’s Association of British Columbia’s (ECABC) President, Deborah Cahill expressed the concern (shared by many in the industry) over inadequate training and a move towards the relaxation of the rules heralded by the BC Safety Authority’s introduction of a limited electrical licence to be administered by ASTTBC.  The release is a follow-up response to a ruling by the Province of Ontario’s Supreme Court, which levied a $70,000 fine on ThyssenKrupp Industrial Services Canada Inc.  They were convicted for violating Ontario’s Electricity Act in allowing an unlicensed worker to remove conductors from what was supposed to have been a de-energized electrical panel.  The worker was severely injured by arc flash.

The new licence category BCSA has introduced will form part of the requirement for ASTTBC’s new VI (Fire Alarm Verification) discipline.  In the Press Release, Ms. Cahill states, “From the beginning, ECABC and its members have been very concerned with this initiative and the effect it will have on both workers and public safety.  The result of this agreement would have workers who are not red seal certified electricians performing work on electrical installations under these restricted licenses.  This includes installations of thirty amps, three phase and up to 250 volts, it also includes work on critical life safety systems.  This decision is unacceptable to us and the recent accident in Ontario is evidence for what could happen in BC.”

Ontario recently adopted an amendment to the Electrical Act that allows a fire alarm technician to perform work on a fire alarm system (most jurisdictions in Ontario also require the technician to be CFAA certified).  This includes replacing a non-functional component and terminating wiring in an existing common control, but doesn’t extend to running new wire, adding components to an existing system or installing a new system.  The last three criteria I mentioned must still be performed by a qualified electrical contractor.

CALGARY CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPER FINED $58,592!

Calgary, Alberta - Heritage Station Inc., which owns the London Towers project located in this city’s

southwest, pleaded guilty to numerous safety code violations and was fined a whopping $58,592 as a result.  The primary focus of the violations was the lack of proper fire alarm verifications for the various buildings in the complex.  You can read more about it in the story featured in the Calgary Herald.

TOWN OF BANFF FINES LAWYER $23,000 FOR SAFETY CODE VIOLATIONS!

Banff, Alberta - A Calgary lawyer’s failure to comply with several orders issued by the Banff Fire Department following a string of false alarms at the Muskrat Court Condominium Project resulted in a Canmore Provincial Court Judge imposing a fine of $23,000 fine against him.  Some of the orders dated back as far as 2010.  Additional information is available at The Banff and Grand Canyon News website.

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