You are receiving this email because the Technical Standards and Safety Authority completed an engineering application for you in the past three months.
Kindly take a few minutes to complete a brief survey on your experience with the engineering application process. Your feedback is invaluable in helping TSSA improve our engineering submission process.
Thank you for your participation.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority
Annual award program recognizes Ontario leaders in public safety
April 1, 2025 — The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is now accepting nominations for its 2025 Safety Awards honouring Ontario leaders in public safety.
Access the online nomination form on TSSA’s website. Nominations of individuals and organizations working in TSSA’s regulated sectors will be accepted until June 2, 2025 (Monday).
TSSA presents Safety Awards every year to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Ontario’s public safety in TSSA’s regulated sectors: Fuels; Boilers and Pressure Vessels and Operating Engineers; Elevating and Amusement Devices and Ski Lifts.
Nominations can be made in two award categories recognizing acts and initiatives of organizations, teams or individuals that enhance public safety for Ontarians:
- Impact Awards highlight significant contributions to safety or significant initiatives or projects that have positive safety outcomes and go above and beyond regulatory compliance.
- Legacy Awards recognize the impact over time for persons or organizations that have demonstrated a history of safety conscientiousness.
Bonnie Rose, President and CEO of TSSA, emphasizes that safety is a shared responsibility, and collaboration with industry partners is integral to TSSA’s collective efforts to keep Ontarians safe. “It is important to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to enhance safety outcomes in Ontario. TSSA’s Safety Awards celebrate best practices and promote a culture of safety in the workplace."
TSSA will announce the 2025 Safety Awards recipients at its annual public meeting in the fall.
The following were recipients of TSSA’s Safety Awards in 2024:
2024 Impact Award Winner, Modern Niagara Group Inc.
As one of Canada’s largest mechanical contractors responsible for building much of the country’s infrastructure, Modern Niagara Group Inc. goes above and beyond industry regulations to prioritize safety. Its commitment to safety excellence and proactive approach to fostering a culture of compliance has earned it the TSSA Impact Award for 2024. Watch the video; Read the writeup
2024 Legacy Award Winner, Andreas Tanzer
Water has always been a recurring theme throughout Andreas Tanzer’s life. As the son of master sailboat builder Johann Tanzer, Tanzer inherited his father’s passion for facilitating fun in the water. Over a 38-year career, he has become a leading figure in professional water-ride design and developing industry standards and safety regulations for the waterpark industry. Tanzer, who recently retired as Director of Research, Designs and Standards with ProSlide Technology Inc. in Ottawa and continues to provide consulting services to the amusement and waterpark industry as president of AJT Consulting Ltd., is the recipient of the TSSA Legacy Award for 2024. Watch the video; Read the writeup
About TSSA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) enforces provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services includes public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.
This news item was sent to all TSSA clients.
Thomas Cavanagh Construction Fined $100,000 for Gas Line Strikes in Ottawa
Toronto, ON, March 19, 2025 – Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited (Cavanagh Construction) has been fined $100,000 after pleading guilty last week to five safety violations under the Technical Standards and Safety Act. Cavanagh Construction’s violations resulted in damage to multiple gas lines in and around Ottawa, causing gas outages for six homes and a retail mall. The Ontario Court of Justice also imposed a 25% victim surcharge.
Between March 28, 2023, and July 24, 2024, while under contract with the City of Ottawa for tunnel and pipeline upgrades, Cavanagh Construction caused 11 gas line breaks. The company had proper locates and maps identifying gas lines and was aware that regulations prohibit using mechanical excavators within one metre of a gas line. Despite this, Cavanagh Construction used mechanical excavators instead of the required hand digging or hydro excavation methods near pipelines, leading to breaks and gas supply disruptions for homes and businesses.
“Using heavy machinery for excavation near pipelines is unsafe, as reflected in our safety regulations, and this case has proven that,” said Owen Kennedy, Director of Fuels at the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). “It is important to be cautious when digging because unsafe practices can put many people at risk of losing heat, hot water, and the ability to prepare meals. In the most serious cases, it can lead to explosions that cause property damage, injuries, or even loss of life.”
TSSA reminds individuals and businesses to contact Ontario One Call before digging to locate underground infrastructure, including gas, hydro, cable, and phone lines. Any damaged pipelines or gas leaks should be reported immediately to the Ministry of the Environment’s Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 or TSSA at 1-877-682-8772.
About TSSA
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is one of Ontario’s public safety regulators mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce provincial safety regulations and enhance public safety. Throughout Ontario, TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education and consumer information, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support and enforcement and prosecution activities. The organization’s vision is to be a valued advocate and recognized authority in public safety.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Alexandra Campbell
Vice President, Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Service
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
Telephone: 416-734-6227
Email: media@tssa.org
February 28, 2025
As Ontario’s public safety regulator, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is committed to enhancing safety across the province. With TSSA operating as a not-for-profit regulator, we set our fees on a cost-recovery basis that reflects the true cost of providing public safety services.
TSSA has made significant progress in achieving cost recovery across its lines of business while pursuing efficiencies within the organization. This allows TSSA and our regulated communities to focus on what matters most—reducing the potential for harm. Over the past decade, despite a growing population, we’ve seen a decline in permanent injuries and incident rates within TSSA-regulated sectors—a positive outcome that highlights the success of our collaborative approach to enhancing public safety.
TSSA reviews fees annually to ensure we can adequately fulfill our regulatory responsibilities. TSSA determined that an inflationary fee increase is required across all sectors to continue recovering costs incurred to deliver TSSA's safety mandate, while considering service delivery value for stakeholders.
Fee increase of 3.8% for all safety programs
Effective May 1, 2025, TSSA will increase the fees for the Elevating Devices, Amusement Devices, Ski, Fuels, Boiler and Pressure Vessel and Operating Engineers programs by 3.8%. This level of adjustment aligns with the 3.8% average Consumer Price Index inflation rate for Ontario reported for 2023. Over the last several years, TSSA's fee increases have been less than the average rate of inflation.
TSSA Client Portal: Our services at your fingertips
TSSA continues to drive improvements to enhance our services and deliver greater efficiencies. The TSSA Client Portal, launched last year, was developed for this purpose. Through this digital platform, customers can easily create and update account information, view exam results, pay outstanding invoices, submit applications online, and more. Additional functionality and services will be added to this platform to further enhance your experience with us. Visit our portal at clientportal.tssa.org.
General reminders: The steps to minimize your fees
TSSA has already adopted a streamlined fee structure that charges fixed fees for safety administration and oversight. Additional billing for inspections occurs when more than one follow-up inspection is required due to non-compliance. Customers with a good safety record can avoid additional charges for repeated follow-up inspections. To comply with regulatory obligations and save costs, customers are encouraged to take the following steps:
- Follow all safety regulations and codes.
- Make sure your workers have the appropriate training and the certifications or licences that apply to them.
- Provide ongoing safety training and education for your workers.
- Make sure all required documentation is in order.
- Provide any support needed for the TSSA to complete a field inspection.
- Plan so you do not pay additional fees for rush services.
- Keep your authorizations (licences, permits, registrations, certificates) current and pay for them before the expiry date to avoid late payment fees.
- Provide at least three business days' notice to TSSA when cancelling or rescheduling an inspection you initiate to avoid cancellation fees.
- Keep your contact and device information up to date.
Paying your fees
TSSA accepts credit card payments for invoices through TSSA's Client Portal.
Applications must be submitted and paid for in advance through TSSA's Prepayment or Client Portal depending on the type of application.
Sign up for paperless invoicing at www.tssa.org/paperless-invoicing.
For more information, please visit www.tssa.org/fees.
TSSA appreciates your continued partnership and understanding. Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact us at 1-877-682-8772 or customerservices@tssa.org.
Please note the TSSA Client Portal will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on:
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM to 11:59 PM
During this period, the portal will be temporarily unavailable. To ensure uninterrupted service, please complete transactions initiated on January 31, 2025 before 4:00 PM.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause as we make these system enhancements.
TSSA clients should continue to pay invoices & download authorizations through the Client Portal.
Canada Post resumed operations on December 17, 2024. The delivery of paper invoices and mailed authorizations may be delayed as the postal service works through the mail and parcels trapped in the system since the strike began on November 15 on a first-in, first-out basis.
Regulated clients should continue to log into the Client Portal to pay invoices on time to maintain licenses and registrations and download statements and authorizations.
Clients can also:
- Sign up for paperless invoicing through the TSSA Client Portal; and
- Log into the TSSA Client Portal to pay invoices and download licenses, certificates and other authorizations,
- Use the TSSA Client Portal to submit most applications, including most BPV engineering applications. Please use the Prepayment Portal for elevating and fuels engineering applications or services not offered on the Client Portal.
For more information, visit www.tssa.org or contact TSSA by email at customerservices@tssa.org.