PLUGGED REDESIGNED... To Meet Your Needs. Plug In Safely campaign results pg 2. New Code Update pg 3 A P R I L Message from the President...

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1 IN A P R I L PLUGGED Message from the President....2 Licensing Update New Code Update Technically Speaking Health and Safety Corner REDESIGNED... To Meet Your Needs Inspector Training setting a standard for excellence Closing the Gap on Unsafe Electrical Products Product Safety Recalls & Alerts Enforcement Update Inspection & Service Delivery...8 Upcoming Events esa-safe Plug In Safely campaign results pg 2 New Code Update pg 3 Licensed Electrical Contractor Ynze Flietstra meets with ESA senior inspector Jim Thomsen

2 Message from the President I am pleased to re-introduce Plugged In, Electrical Safety Authority s new and improved contractor newsletter. ESA is committed to providing contractors with timely and pertinent information to support you in running your businesses successfully. To help us understand your information needs and newsletter expectations, we recently invited contractors to participate in an electronic survey to tell us how we can improve Plugged In to better meet your needs. We thank all of you who took the time to complete the survey, and we have incorporated your suggestions in the redesign of this publication. Survey feedback told us that the top five areas of interest to contractors are: the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, which the majority of survey participants indicated is most important topic area; worker/trade safety; product safety and recalls; inspection activities and statistics; and upcoming events. In response to this feedback, we have created permanent sections for each of these topic areas and will report on Licensing Update On January 1 st, 2007 the rules for operating an Electrical Contracting business changed when provincewide licensing was introduced. Electrical contractors now require a provincial license issued by the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency of the Electrical Safety Authority. them in every issue. Key to the success of Ontario s provincial licensing initiative is ensuring that the general public is made aware of this requirement, understands why the new law has been introduced, and knows the benefits associated with hiring a Licensed Electrical Contractor. In 2007 ESA worked with Brandworks International and Apex Public Relations to launch a consumer awareness campaign that reinforced the message Hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor. A significant number of survey respondents told us they want Plugged In published more frequently so we are committed to publishing the newsletter bi-monthly. The campaign incorporated feedback gathered from the ECRA Board, ESA advisory councils, and consumer focus groups. Using their input, a symbol and tagline were created to reinforce the campaign s primary message. The awareness effort included a two-month multimedia campaign incorporating newspaper and radio ads, and public service announcements reaching four The survey response was fairly evenly split about how contractors prefer to receive Plugged In. Slightly more than half would like to receive it electronically, and slightly fewer than half expressed a preference to receive it by mail. At this time, we are going to continue mailing a copy to every business licensed through ECRA/ ESA, as well as posting a PDF version on our website at under Newsletters in the Contractor section. We will continue to explore options for sending this newsletter electronically. Our goal is to use this vehicle to grow your knowledge and awareness of ESA services and business direction, and I trust you will find this new and improved version of Plugged In helpful. We d like to know what you think about the redesign. Please send your thoughts to: plugged.in@electricalsafety.on.ca. million Ontario residents. Robert M. Stelzer, President & CEO Plugging Consumers into Using Licensed Electrical Contractors The media push was complemented with a public relations campaign made up of 13 television interviews and 33 newspaper stories that extended the program for a further three months and reached 9.6 million Ontario residents. Dedicated sections have been introduced on ESA s corporate website at and on the ECRA website at to share campaign information with Licensed Electrical Contractors and consumers. ESA has also prepared a summary video providing an overview of the campaign. This video is enclosed with this issue of Plugged In. New Code Update 24th Edition of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code The Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) is regulation passed by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. The 2009 Edition is the first edition to the Code issued in seven years. The OESC includes administrative rules and Ontario-specific technical rules, and is produced in conjunction with the Canadian Electrical Code. The 2009 OESC is currently under development and will be launched following the 2009 Canadian Electrical Code. In reviewing the need for changes to Code requirements, focus is placed on: Electrical Incident Reports New electrical technology or enhancements Societal Safety Value (public, homeowners, workers, industry, etc.) Financial impact Modifications to the Canadian Electrical Code and Ontario Amendments are also considered when proposing changes to the OESC. The proposed changes are identified following active review and discussion with a number of industry stakeholder groups and the Ontario Provincial Code Committee (OPCC). Ted Olechna, Ontario s Provincial Code Engineer, manages this Committee. The OPCC includes representation from consumers to contractors to standards organizations and electrical manufacturers - this diversity offers many interesting yet cohesive perspectives about electrical safety and ensures the most reasonable and effective changes in the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, states Olechna. Proposed changes must be reviewed and accepted by the OPCC, ESA s Regulatory Affairs Committee, and the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. At the last review meeting of the OPCC there were 300 proposed changes to the Code, and approximately 200 of those were technical. ESA recognizes that the New Code will significantly impact electrical contractors and the electrical industry. Efforts are underway to define implementation support. A schedule for implementation has been completed, a detailed communication plan is in place, and as in past years, New Code training will be developed and offered across the province. The new Code will be implemented in early 2009 with enforcement starting in spring. MEMBERS OF THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL CODE COMMITTEE Ted Olechna ESA John Gryffyn Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Gabriel Mansour Professional and Critical Services Ross Sutherland IAEI c/o ESA Maurice Tucci Electricity Distributors Association Brian Savaria Eaton Electrical Canada Doug Reith Nexans Canada Inc Ken Brightwell ESA Greg Galbraith G. E. Galbraith Electric John Salmon A.R. Milne Electrical Ltd. Sam Bell Professional Engineers Ontario Chris Magnusson General Motors of Canada Ltd. Tony Poirier Durham College Peter Olders IBEW Construction Council of Ontario Bill Burr CSA International Eerik Randsalu Office of the Fire Marshal Michael Nusenbaum ULC Ed Garraway Garraway s Electrical Services 2 3

3 Technically Speaking Health & Safety Corner Electrical Safety Authority Inspector Training Program Introducing ESA s Kurt Budau, Technical Advisor for the Eastern Territory Safety Issues with Copper Theft in HV Stations The theft of bonding and grounding conductors in and around electrical stations is increasing due to the rising price of copper. Stations that have had earth electrodes removed or compromised become a safety concern for both workers inside the station and the public who can approach and touch the fence. Grounding systems at high voltage substations are designed to ensure the correct performance of power system protection and control, while also ensuring the safety of personnel. A ground grid is comprised of interconnected grounding conductors and ground rods, installed below the surface. The failure or theft of any of these interconnected components creates a safety issue that requires immediate corrective action as step and touch potentials under fault condition could be fatal. Until the station electrode has been restored, the following shall be adhered to in instances when the earth electrodes are removed or compromised: The station gate shall have a warning conspicuously posted directing workers not to enter unless de-energized; and The station fence shall have a warning conspicuously posted that reads: CAUTION: Do not touch fence, electrical shock hazard may be present. Since 2001, the Electricity Safety Authority (ESA) has published Electrical Safety in Ontario, an annual report on the state of electrical safety in the province. Using data provided by numerous agencies, the purpose of the report is to: Identify injuries, fatalities and property damage of an electrical nature Identify trends and areas of concern in electrical safety and potential deficiencies in the electrical safety infrastructure, and Provide conclusions and recommendations on how electrical safety can be improved in Ontario. Provided below are just some of the many statistics reported in the 2006 Electrical Safety in Ontario report. ESA wishes to remind contractors about the risks associated with working in the electrical trade. Repair and maintenance are the most prevalent type of work occurring when a worker is electrocuted. Ontario averages 2.5 critical injuries annually as a result of working around an electrical panel. In late 2005, ESA modified its approach to staffing for inspectors. This approach introduced an Inspector Training Program that included an annual campaign to hire inspectors in anticipation of the changing needs of the business. To support the hiring process, the established selection criteria for the electrical inspector position were reviewed and modified to reflect the importance of key skills other than technical competency. Increased importance has been placed on decisions making, customer service orientation, leadership and the use of judgment and discretion. The 12- week training program that has been developed was designed to introduce new hires to all aspects of the inspection job, and to provide them with the background and practical skills to deliver a level of service required by a safety agency. Training design combined both classroom-style training along with five one-week field training assignments where the new employees were exposed to the various inspection functions across the business such as residential, commercial and industrial, high voltage and low-voltage plan reviews, field evaluations and ESA s safety programs. The Inspector Training Program is now entering its third year and the success of the program is evident in all aspects of the business. A total of 54 inspectors have graduated from the program. In early 2008 the third 12-week inspector training program began with 16 inspectors enrolled. They are set to graduate in May This new group of inspectors will be placed on an as-needed basis across the province. Ralph Van Haeren, General Manager, Metro Territory who oversees the ITP program for the business says, This unique training program has provided ESA with the opportunity to build and improve upon a highly skilled employee base to meet business growth and new strategic initiatives. The centralization and documentation of this hiring and training initiative has significantly improved the overall effectiveness of the business. Moving forward this training could form the basis for an inspector certification or accreditation program, and could be expanded to include existing inspectors who did not have access to this training when they were initially hired. Owners of stations that have been habitually vandalized may wish to consider a long term solution to this serious safety issue such as installing something other than copper. Rule (2) of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code permits the use of materials other than copper for grounding and bonding purposes within a station environment such as galvanized steel, copper-weld, or other conductors, provided there is supporting data to meet the equivalent-to-copper requirement. Human error continues to be the most probable cause of electrocutions. The probability of sustaining a fatality when an injury occurs in the electrical industry is ten times higher than the average occupational-type injury. 4 5

4 Closing the Gap on Unsafe Electrical Products The majority of electrical products used in Ontario present no hazard to the public or workers. However, despite the best efforts of the industry, some unapproved, uncertified, defective, unsafe or counterfeit products reach the Ontario marketplace. In recent years, Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) has been tracking the number of unsafe product complaints and investigations. In the last year, the number of complaints about unsafe or unapproved electrical products has grown by approximately 41%. Month September October November December January February March April May June On August 1, 2007 the Ontario Government filed Ontario Regulation 438/07, Product Safety. This new regulation enables ESA to address the safety of electrical products and equipment sold and used in Ontario. Starting last October, ESA launched a consultative process with stakeholders to support a phased-in Task Preparation & Setup of Process Development of Guidelines & Consultation Period Finalize Documents & Approval Transition Period & Operational Readiness Regulation 438/07 Implementation Timeline Product Safety Working Groups implementation to provide for sufficient time to develop technical guidelines to support the regulation. The outcome of the consultation process will result in: Practical guidelines that are supported by all stakeholders, and An overall product safety strategy reflecting international best practices incorporating: Prevention - Detection - Response The consultation involved 55 working group members representing 29 separate organizations After four months of dedicated effort by the stakeholder representatives, the draft guidelines document is being circulated for final comment. Upon review by ESA s Regulatory Affairs Committee, ESA s Board of Directors, and the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, the final guidelines will be presented back to the main stakeholder committee at a meeting in March, Utilizing the 55 members of the main consultation committee, stakeholders volunteered to participate on one or more of the six working groups, providing input and validating documents. Working Group 6 is currently exploring funding and resource options with the intention to roll out the full implementation of Regulation 438/07 in July, Product Safety Recall & Alerts The most recent product safety alerts and recall notices are also posted on the front page of ESA s website at RCL08-07 Eaton/Cutler-Hammer Recalls Rotary and Toggle Disconnect Switches rated 600V, 60A and 80A A user could move the switch or the disconnect handle to the OFF position and if the switch is defective, the contacts could remain in a closed condition. This condition could result in death, serious personal injury or property damage. RCL08-05 Campbell Hausfeld Recalls Air Compressors Due to Fire Hazard Protective covers on the compressor s motor are not made from proper flame retardant material and can ignite, posing a fire hazard to consumers. There are approximately 135,000 units in Canada. RCL08-03 Venmar Ventilation Implements a Safety Retrofit Program for Heat Recovery Ventilators Due to Fire Hazard The thermal protector in some of these units may not be effective, posing a potential fire hazard. The affected units are produced between October 2006 and August This notice is subsequent to news releases issued in 2007 regarding similar issues with models manufactured between 1991 and Enforcement Update The sections related to compliance under Regulation 570/05 came into effect on January 1, Part of ECRA/ESA s licensing implementation plan included the introduction of a compliance program. Compliance consists of two components: 1. Enforcement directed at persons operating an electrical contracting business or acting as a master electrician without a licence. 2. Discipline directed at persons holding the requisite Electrical Contractor or Master Electrician licence but who are not meeting licensing obligations. Per the recommendation of the ECRA Board, ESA focused its efforts on the enforcement of the underground economy trunk slammers in the residential market for the first year of licensing enforcement, which included the issuance of Notices of Violation (administrative penalties) to unlicensed persons who were found to be doing electrical work, and where it was warranted, laying charges in instances where safety hazards were identified. From January 1, 2007 to February 29, 2008, ESA processed 2,249 complaints at our Customer Service Centre, of which 1,084 were related to enforcement. Complaints come from ESA inspectors doing marketplace surveillance, from licensed contractors, and sometimes from the public. 1,084 Enforcement Complaints have been processed at the CSC 996 Complaints have been resolved 88 Complaints are still in process Working Group 1 Risk Assessment Methodology Working Group 2 Accident & Incident Reporting Guidelines Main Committee All stakeholders Working Group 3/4 Corrective Action & Public Notification Guidelines Working Group 5 Revocation of Approval & Recognition Services Working Group 6 Funding Option Development RCL07-58 Black & Decker Brand Toasters Recalled By Applica Canada Corporation Due to Fire Hazard An electrical component in the toaster can overheat and ignite the circuit board, posing a fire hazard. There are approximately 23,000 units distributed in Canada, 4, 000 have been sold to consumers AL Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems is notifying distributor channel partners, contractors and enduser customers to stop shipping and installing all Commercial Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Receptacles and products that utilize GFCI s as a component of a finished product. The manufactured date range affected by this notice is July June Various activities occur in response to an enforcement complaint: 737 inspections have been performed 348 complaints were invalid 529 Notice of Violations (administrative penalties) issued 23 prosecutions initiated 8 convictions have been recorded, to date there have been no not guilty pleas entered $5,250 in fines have been levied (paid to the province) 6 7

5 Inspection & Service Delivery Upcoming Events ESA tracks a variety of statistics that tell the story about our inspection and service delivery activity. Provided below are some numbers that might be interesting to contractors, compiled to the end of our 3rd quarter at December 31st, 2007: # of Licensed Electrical Contractors 6,075 registered with ECRA/ESA # of calls answered at the 353,197 Customer Service Centre # of inspections 367,557 # of defects recorded 159,417 # of Hazard Investigation requests 1,416 # of General Inspection requests 3,503 # of contractors participating in 2,317 the Authorized Contractor Program % of notifications created electronically 19.7 through the On-Line Application system Electrical Safety Authority hosts and participates in a number of events throughout the year. Currently we are hosting Face-to-Face meetings between contractors and inspectors. By March 31 st, 2008, ESA completed 849 of these sessions across the province, involving 3,130 contractors. In the fall of 2007 ESA hosted 27 Regional Contractor Meetings with 1,025 in attendance. We are pleased to announce that plans are underway to host more of these meetings in the fall of Look for your invitation from ESA closer to the time. ESA regularly facilitates safety, technical and Pre- Masters training programs across the province. Check the Contractor section of our website, under Safety & Technical Training for more information about sessions scheduled for your area. Get On-Line with ESA! ESA reminds contractors about the benefits of using our self-serve On-Line Application system. This program provides contractors with 24/7 access to electrical inspection records associated with your account. You can submit new notifications electronically, confirm the status of your existing notifications, or if you re an ACP contractor, reschedule your ACP notifications. The On-Line program works off a webbased client connection to our server, and all account and application information is password protected. If you haven t already done so, talk to one of our customer service representatives about signing up to use our On-Line Application system. Telephony Upgrade at the Customer Service Centre The CSC is upgrading the hardware and software components of its telephony system as they are nearing the end of their life cycle. The changeover will be seamless to contractors and we do not anticipate any disruption of service. We expect to have the new phone system up and running by the end of April, ESA representatives will be participating in a number of trade shows and conferences in 2008 including PM Expo, the AMO, and the IAPA. We will be introducing our newest Don t Work Live trade safety campaign at this year s IAPA, focusing on Arc Flash. Look for your copy of the associated Arc Flash materials distributed with the next issue of Plugged In. Next Issue New Code Worker Safety Risk Awareness Fee Changes We d like your input. Please send us your comments to: Plugged.In@electricalsafety.on.ca esa-safe 8