Regulatory Framework

Regulatory Framework

Acts, Regulations, and Agreements

Technical Safety BC operates within a legislative and regulatory framework that includes:

  • Safety Authority Act
  • Safety Standards Act and Regulations
  • Railway Safety Act and Regulations
  • Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
  • Workers Compensation Act
  • Ombudsperson Act
  • Offense Act

Safety Authority Act

The Safety Authority Act is the foundation of our organization. It describes why we exist, how we govern ourselves and what we must do to achieve a safer British Columbia. You’ll see that we’re an independent, not-for-profit organization with a commitment to fostering safety by regulating technical products, equipment, systems, and railways.

For more information on our legal context, please review the Administrative Agreements below and the Safety Standards Act.

Safety Standards Act and Regulations

The Safety Standards Act sets out the general requirements for regulated work performed by contractors. It also includes information on the legal requirements for permits and qualifications. The Safety Standards Act authorizes Technical Safety BC to take enforcement actions if we discover a non-compliance with the Act or Regulations.

Also see Safety Standards General Regulation.

The Safety Standards Appeal Board is created by the Safety Standards Act. It is this appeal board that can review certain Technical Safety BC decisions when clients request a review.

Regulatory Notices

Safety Orders

Safety orders are regulatory instruments issued by a Technical Safety BC provincial safety manager to prevent or reduce the risk of personal injury or damage to property. Compliance is mandatory and enforceable by Technical Safety BC. See here to search for safety orders by industry.

Directives

Directives are regulatory instruments issued by a Technical Safety BC safety officer or safety manager that clarify or provide new interpretation, application, or operation of a regulation or code. Compliance is mandatory. See here to search for directives by industry.

Information Bulletins

Information Bulletins provide helpful information and clarification on safety, administrative requirements, or other matters that affect a particular technology. See here to search for information bulletins by industry.

Railway Safety Act

The railway group operates under the Railway Safety Act. This is what grants Technical Safety BC over provincially regulated railways.

For regulations that fall under these Acts, see the appropriate technology's Regulations webpage.

Administrative Agreements

Technical Safety BC has two Administrative Agreements with the Province, one for the railway group and one for all other technologies. The Administrative Agreements set out our obligations to the Province to administer the Safety Standards Act and Railway Safety Act.

Information Sharing Agreements

As part of our efforts to gain greater technical safety insights and in service to clients and the public we have information-sharing agreements with select municipalities, utilities, and out-of-province authorities.

Memoranda of Understanding

Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) are agreements between Technical Safety BC and other agencies with overlapping jurisdictions. The MOUs describe the procedures we use to share information and cooperate to fulfill both agencies’ mandates.

We currently have MOUs with the following organizations:

Permit to Practice 

Technical Safety BC performs some work that relies on professional engineers.  This requires us to hold a Permit to Practice issued by the Engineers and Geoscientists BC, granting us legal authority to practice engineering.