Everything you need to know about our Voluntary Disclosure Program

Complying with the law is imperative for maintaining a healthy technical safety system. Technical Safety BC also understands that at times people do not make the best informed decisions. That is why we are offering this opportunity for contractors and asset owners to step forward on their own and correct their non-compliance(s) and comply with the regulations without incurring enforcement or penalties.

Introducing the Voluntary Disclosure Program

Launched in August 2019, our Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP) offers contractors an opportunity to voluntarily disclose any work they may have performed which is not compliant with the Safety Standards Act and its associated regulations.

Voluntary participation in the program will keep the contractors enforcement history off of the public registry, which helps preserve their reputation.

“When I became branch manager for our company’s Vancouver Island location, I was surprised to learn that the previous individual in charge had not been ensuring permits were taken out for all work, and that sometimes the permits were being undervalued. Basically, I inherited a mess. I am excited to hear about the Voluntary Disclosure Program as it will help people in industry understand their regulatory obligations and improve overall safety.”
          --A gas contractor whose company was audited by Technical Safety BC last year.

Do you need to apply?

The program was constructed to help conscientious contractors correct any of their oversights. As a result, while a contractor is an active participant in the VDP, they will be exempt from enforcement and will be able to review, declare, and make compliant all regulated non-compliant work.

The VDP was not, however, designed to enable negligent parties to circumvent enforcement when they are caught.

In recent years Technical Safety BC has become ever more sophisticated at identifying and locating work that has been conducted outside of the safety system. We have the technology, methodology, and the expertise to identify contractors who are failing to fulfill their legal responsibilities.

For these non-compliant contractors it is not a question of if they will be caught, but when. This VDP provides contractors the opportunity to change their behaviour so they do not end up receiving enforcement action.

How to apply

Contractors interested in the Voluntary Disclosure Program can easily apply online.

If accepted into the program, they must then perform a self-audit of all regulated work for the previous two years and then rectify all non-compliances.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Performing work without a required permit;

• Performing work without the correct scope of work and/or declared value; and

• Using unqualified workers.

More information

If you have any questions or require further information get in touch with us as 1 866 566 7233 or email enforcement@technicalsafetybc.ca