Fire Safety – 2023 Year in Review

ALBERTA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jul 15: Alberta issued new health and safety guidance on cleaning up burned debris and demolition of partially burned structures involved in wildfires.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sep 22: BC has stepped up funding to support local fire departments across the province, including $1.4 million to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for firefighting training and equipment, $1.75 million to the Fire Chiefs’ Association for rural and Nation fire departments and $1.6 million to the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit for marketing and public safety outreach.

CASES

Fire Safety: Railway Fined $8.956 Million for Causing 2015 Lytton Wildfire
A BC court ordered Canadian National Railway to pay the province nearly $9 million to cover its firefighting costs and damage to forest lands and other natural resources resulting from a June 2015 wildfire. The fire, which wasn’t extinguished until October of that year, began as a result of CNR rail cutting operations undertaken in extremely dry conditions [Canadian National Railway Company v British Columbia, 2022 BCSC 2263 (CanLII), December 28, 2022].
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace

NEW BRUNSWICK

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sep 22: New Brunswick assembled a joint task force to investigate the deadly fire that occurred at the American Iron and Metal terminal in Port Saint John on Sept. 14. The government has suspended AIM’s approval to operate and ordered it to cease all activities pending the results of the investigation into its compliance with the fire safety provisions of the lease.

NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dec 2: The government issued a Public Advisory reminding residents to guard against fire hazards created by Christmas trees and holiday lights.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.

NOVA SCOTIA

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jun 7: With wildfires raging across the province, a new safety alert helps employers protect workers from smoke exposure. Recommendations: moving work to areas or times with better air quality, providing cool drinking water, slowing pace of heavy exertion work, training workers to recognize smoke exposure symptoms and providing and requiring use of N95 particulate filtering masks.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.

Jun 20: Nova Scotia expanded the Small Business Wildfire Relief Program to include Halifax Regional Municipality and Shelburne County businesses outside of the mandatory evacuation zones that were still forced to close for at least 5 days due to the fires. The Program provides one-time grants of $2,500 to eligible businesses.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mar 30: Royal Assent for Bill 67, which amends the Fire Prevention Act to prevent money damages lawsuits against fire officials, authorize the Fire Marshal to delegate their duties and powers and create a new process for appealing the Fire Marshal’s plan review orders.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.

May 1: Bill 67, which amends the Fire Prevention Act to prevent money damages lawsuits against fire officials, authorizes the Fire Marshal to delegate their duties and powers and creates a new process for appealing the Fire Marshal’s plan review orders, officially took effect.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mar 1: Under newly effective regulations, burn permits are no longer required for domestic brush burning. However, outdoor burning is allowed only when the risk of fire is as low as possible. Forest fire risk in PEI is highest from March 15 to December 1 of each year.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.

SASKATCHEWAN

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Feb 24: Saskatchewan published new Fire Safety regulations to incorporate accessibility requirements contained in the 2015 version of The National Fire Code of Canada and other laws with regard to carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.
Action Point: Go to the OHSI Fire Safety Compliance centre for resources you can use to prevent fires and explosions at your workplace.