As of April 1st, 2023, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) will have the regulatory authority to issue Administrative Penalties. This authority is an important step forward in our efforts to address illegal and unsafe electrical installations across the province. 

Here are some quick facts:

• What are Administrative Penalties? They are an Order to pay a financial penalty for non-compliance with a specified requirement of the Electricity Act or its Regulations. 
• Who Could Get an Administrative Penalty? ESA will use these penalties as an additional tool to address the underground economy. Where appropriate, the penalties will also be part of our escalation response for other types of non-compliance.
• How is ESA Addressing Non-Compliances Now? Currently, ESA addresses non-compliance through tools such as provincial prosecutions, licence suspension, licence terms and conditions, warning letters, defects and other administrative actions. Administrative penalties will be used in addition to these tools and may replace them, in instances where a penalty is a more appropriate response.
• Who Will Issue Administrative Penalties? They will be issued by way of an Order by either a General Manager or the Director of Licensing. They will not be handed out by our inspectors. 
• How much are the Penalties? Each penalty can be up to $10,000 per infraction. There can, however, be multiple penalties per infraction. For example, someone who is outfitting a commercial space and installs lighting without an electrical contractor licence and a notification for the work could have two administrative penalties issued against them.
• What Contraventions may be Subject to a Penalty? Examples of contraventions for which ESA can issue an Administrative Penalty include: conducting electrical work without a licence, advertising electrical services without a licence, repeated failure to comply with licencing requirements, working without filing a notification (permit) with ESA, and hiring or sub-contracting an unlicensed contractor.

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As mentioned previously, The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) has established a heightened focus on hygiene requirements on construction sites which is now accompanied with a month-long inspection blitz.

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), employers, owners, constructors, and supervisors are legally required to protect the health and safety of workers, which includes protecting them from infectious diseases due to inadequate sanitation. We are certain you are in compliance or beyond, however, we would like to ensure all our contractor members are reminded of the legal requirements for sanitary conditions on construction sites. Please take a pause for a safety moment and re-establish a commitment to a clean worksite, including facilities for workers to clean themselves, contributing to improving sanitation issues and preventing the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace.

Read Here the full IHSA Notice

Changes will require women’s-only washrooms and make the skilled trades more accessible for everyone

The Ontario government is working for workers by making washrooms on construction sites private, clean and safe. There are nearly 600,000 construction workers in Ontario, but only one in 10 are women. These changes, if approved, would make the skilled trades more accessible to women by ensuring they have access to at least one women’s-only washroom on jobsites and properly fitting equipment such as uniforms, boots and safety harnesses.

“Access to a washroom is a basic human dignity and something every worker should have the right to,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Careers in construction offer six-figure salaries with pensions and benefits, and it is an injustice only 10 percent of them are filled by women. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government will continue to stand with these heroes. Everyone has the right to a safe and welcoming workplace.”

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Delayed payment is a critical issue in our industry, and the prompt payment and adjudication rules in the Construction Act are the solution. Raising awareness and educating your members will help make timely payment the norm. 

Please access the marketing tools developed for you on COCA’s Shared Files Server. These assets include an introductory word document, website banner, newsletter banner, social media posts and graphics. They will help you inform your members about the prompt payment and adjudication processes that ensure timely payment that came into force over three years ago. 

Thank you for your cooperation and support in this matter. By working together, we can make timely payment the norm in the construction industry and free up funds to grow the business!

• IHSA Safety Talk: Diesel exhaust
• Last call: Join IHSA for the Health and Safety Management Systems Conference
• Hygiene on construction sites
• IHSA COR^® Podcast a great resource

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May 24 - 26, 2023

Renaissance Nashville Hotel

Nashville, TN

Join ECAO as we are presenting at the NECA Safety Professionals Conference on May 26th at 9:30 am, on Inclusion and Diversity in Health and Safety

The ultimate goal of electrical safety plans is to create a safe working environment for employees and everyone involved in the project. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) is an area that has been lacking in most plans as it impacts mental health and safety within our workforce. This session aims to change the norms of health and safety through DEI&B cultural lenses. Ensure employees know the importance of and are trained in DEI&B incorporation regardless of culture, gender, ethnicity, birthplace and other differences that could impact health.

NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NSPC) is open to all NECA Members, IBEW and the electrical training Alliance! Attendees will experience three days of keynotes and breakout sessions from industry leaders and safety experts. Educational tracks include: Inside Electrical Construction, Leadership, NFPA 70E & Electrical Construction, Safety Management Regulations and Safety Management Risks. There will also be an exhibit hall with all the latest safety knowledge and gear with plenty of networking opportunities!



Learn More and Register Here

The NECA Project Excellence Awards were created to recognize member companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 13 different market sectors! We want to see the innovative and cutting-edge projects that your company completed in 2022. Get a chance to be celebrated on stage at our annual convention in September where the PEA awards will be presented!

The 13 different categories are:

• Commercial/Institutional
• Design-Build
• Educational
• Energy Solutions/Green Building
• Health Care
• Industrial
• Low Voltage/Technology
• Overhead Transmission
• Residential
• Street Lighting/Traffic Signal
• Substation/Interconnection
• Transportation & Infrastructure
• Electric Vehicle (EV)

The deadline to submit is June 30, 2023. Applications submitted must be based on projects completed in 2022. View more information and rules here.

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT TODAY