Building Operators Association

1. Building Operators Association John Siggers, CET Manager Examination & Certification Department ABSA ABSA the pressure equipment safety authority

2. Why do you have to report unsafe conditions, accidents and fires? What are unsafe conditions, accidents and fires? What is to be reported? Timelines for reporting? What are we going to talk about?

3. Why do you have to report?

4. Section 59 – Accident Notification If there is an unsafe condition, accident or fire that involves a thing, process or activity to which this Act applies, the owner or person designated in the regulations shall, if required by the regulations, forthwith report it to an Administrator, or to the accredited municipality, the accredited regional services commission or the Authority, as the case may be, if the thing, process or activity is under the administration of the accredited municipality. Why do you have to report?

5. Why do you have to report?

6. Section 35(1) – Unsafe condition, accident or fire The owner of pressure equipment must forthwith report to the Administrator under section 59 of the Act any unsafe condition, accident or fire that occurs with respect to that pressure equipment. Why do you have to report?

7. Historically, there has been no definition of ‘Unsafe Condition’, ‘Accident’ or ‘Fire’ in the legislation. The ABSA website only defined an Unsafe Condition, which stated: What is an Unsafe Condition or Accident? • An “unsafe condition” relating to pressure • equipment is a condition of that equipment • that could result in an accident leading to injury, death, or property damage.

8. Unsafe conditions include (for example): pressure components found to be faulty in design or manufacture malfunction of safety devices improper operation of the pressure equipment inappropriate components or materials unauthorized repair or alteration loss of containment cracking corrosion improper repairs “near misses” (events that could have caused injury or damage). What is an Unsafe Condition?

9. Information Bulletin IB18-004

10. Loss of containment due to misoperation of pressure equipment. “Misoperation” means operating the pressure equipment in a manner that is inconsistent with its intended use and/or design which requires immediate action to shutdown the equipment. Definition of Unsafe Condition

11. The discovery of pressure equipment components in-service whose construction, repaired or altered condition do not conform to the pressure equipment design. A condition of pressure equipment installation or operation having high potential to cause injury that requires immediate action to shut down the pressure equipment or would prevent the pressure equipment from being started and/or placed into service. Definition of Unsafe Condition

12. Circumvention of critical safety devices or controls, or maintenance practices or procedures, with a high potential for injury to personnel or damage to the pressure equipment that requires immediate action to shut down the pressure equipment. Definition of Unsafe Condition

13. Pressure equipment failure or operation that results in an Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) reportable accident. Note: See the Alberta WCB website for information regarding WCB reportable accidents Definition of an Accident

14. An event that is not associated with the operation of the pressure equipment which results in damage to the pressure equipment. Definition of an Accident

15. A fire that has caused any damage to the pressure equipment, or was caused by the unintentional release of fluid from the pressure equipment. Definition of a Fire?

16. All unsafe conditions must be reported. Any WCB reportable accident, fatality, or injury must be reported. What to report?

17. Any pressure equipment integrity failure must be reported if: The failure results in the release of more than 10 litres of fluid, or property damage exceeding $500 What to report?

18. Any damage to pressure equipment caused by action unrelated to the operation of the pressure equipment must be reported if the resulting damage exceeds: $500 for owners who do not hold a Pressure Equipment Integrity Management System certificate of authorization permit, or What to report?

19. All fires must be reported. What to report?

20. Unsafe conditions are to be reported in a timely manner that is deemed appropriate to the circumstances, but in all cases within 30 days of the discovery of the unsafe condition. Accidents should be reported the same day, and must be reported no later than the following business day. Fires should be reported the same day, and must be reported no later than the following business day. Timelines for Initial Reporting

21. Section 35(2) of the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation requires the owner to provide a written report “as soon as possible” after the accident. The report must include the items specified in Subsection 35(2) and is to include the cause (or probable cause) of the accident “as far as may be ascertained”. With respect to submitting this report, “as soon as possible” shall be within 21 days of the accident. Timelines for Further Reporting

22. Section 48 of the Safety Codes Act provides the authority for safety codes officers to investigate unsafe conditions, accidents and fires. ABSA safety codes officers shall review and assess all reported unsafe conditions, accidents and fires as defined above and determine the level of investigation required. Investigation and Follow Up

23. The purpose of an ABSA safety codes officer’s investigation of an unsafe condition, accident or fire is to identify the cause in order to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Investigation and Follow Up

24. Questions?