The front-line public safety inspectors working at the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) were forced on strike this summer while trying to bargain their first contract.
We are asking all unionized workers to check their workplaces’ inspections. If they’re not up-to-date, or to report incidents or problems, please:
The members of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 546 have been bargaining since November 2021 for their first collective agreement. They unionized to remedy a host of inequitable practices in their workplace (including understaffing, high workloads, wages that are below industry standard, and more).
On July 20, the TSSA walked away from the bargaining table, forcing safety inspectors on strike on July 21, 2022.
The striking TSSA members are responsible for keeping many of our workplaces safe, including schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, condo buildings, factories and much more.
You will find a full list below but some of the most common inspections involve: elevators; escalators; heating, cooking and laundry equipment; commercial cooking equipment; Backup generators serving businesses and hospitals; large HVAC systems to name only a few.
Let’s help the TSSA workers get a fair deal so they can get back to protecting us!
Behind the scenes in new construction and existing buildings, safety inspectors are ensuring that all of these systems are being inspected for compliance to the applicable regulations.
There are approximately 60,000 – 70,000 elevators, 2,000 ski lifts, and 2,000 amusement devices in the province. All of these devices are inspected for compliance to all the related codes, standards and regulations when first installed, prior to licensing and use by the public. Part of this process is to witness all required acceptance testing on same to ensure the devices are meeting all requirements and are safe to use by the public. Elevating devices include:
After licensing, all of these devices are inspected again periodically and whenever they are altered or modified (Minor or Major Alterations) and inspectors witness all related acceptance tests again to ensure the devices are meeting the codes, standards and regulations, and are safe to operate. All devices above, when first installed, are required to have a design submission sent to TSSA engineering for review, and once the design has been accepted and registered by TSSA engineering, inspectors get the design submission assigned to them, and use it at the initial inspection to determine if the device in question meets code (or not) and is/isn’t safe to operate. Inspectors regulate and inspect for compliance to approximately 38 codes and standards and the Technical Standards and Safety Act and Regulations of Ontario. They investigate accidents and incidents, attend court as expert witnesses when required. They also verify/check for valid certification of all mechanics in all the areas in their program.
There are 2,000 gas stations and approximately 1,000 propane filling stations in Ontario. Inspectors provide the following services/inspections:
Boilers and Pressure Vessels and Operating Engineers
Behind the scenes in new construction and existing buildings, safety inspectors are ensuring that all of these systems are being inspected for compliance to the applicable regulations.
There are approximately 60,000 – 70,000 elevators, 2,000 ski lifts, and 2,000 amusement devices in the province. All of these devices are inspected for compliance to all the related codes, standards and regulations when first installed, prior to licensing and use by the public. Part of this process is to witness all required acceptance testing on same to ensure the devices are meeting all requirements and are safe to use by the public.
After licensing, all of these devices are inspected again periodically and whenever they are altered or modified (Minor or Major Alterations) and inspectors witness all related acceptance tests again to ensure the devices are meeting the codes, standards and regulations, and are safe to operate. All devices above, when first installed, are required to have a design submission sent to TSSA engineering for review, and once the design has been accepted and registered by TSSA engineering, inspectors get the design submission assigned to them, and use it at the initial inspection to determine if the device in question meets code (or not) and is/isn’t safe to operate.
Inspectors regulate and inspect for compliance to approximately 38 codes and standards and the Technical Standards and Safety Act and Regulations of Ontario. They investigate accidents and incidents, attend court as expert witnesses when required. They also verify/check for valid certification of all mechanics in all the areas in their program.
There are 2,000 gas stations and approximately 1,000 propane filling stations in Ontario. Inspectors provide the following services/inspections: