Keeping an Eye on Technical Safety: The BC Safety Authority Reports Back

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(EMWNews – Aug. 18, 2008) – The BC Safety Authority has released its fourth annual State of Safety Report, which summarizes yearly incidents in the province related to the seven technologies it oversees. The report also includes analysis and future outlooks.

In 2007, there were a total of 483 incidents reported to the BC Safety Authority of which 329 were directly related to regulated equipment or operations under the Safety Authority’s jurisdiction. The number of incidents reported to the BC Safety Authority for 2007 has decreased 19% from 594 in 2006.

The seven technologies covered in the State of Safety are:

– Amusement devices (including amusement rides, ziplines, waterslides) and recreational railways

– Boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration systems (including ice arenas)

– Electrical equipment and systems

– Elevating devices such as elevators and escalators

– Gas appliances and systems

– Passenger ropeways such as aerial trams and ski lifts, and,

– Railways.

Harry Diemer, the Safety Authority’s President and CEO, said industry in BC is taking public safety seriously – but there’s always room for improvement. “We are still developing the relationships and systems that will give us a broader and deeper understanding of the accidents that have occurred.”

“It is very important to us that our industry partners increase their levels of incident reporting: this is what gives us the data we need to identify hazards, assess trends and develop the solutions that will prevent incidents from occurring in the future. To that end we are committed to strengthening our relationships with industry partners and working with them to improve public safety.”

John Watson, Chair of the Safety Authority Board of Directors, said the report is an essential element of the organization’s commitment to openness and transparency.

The British Columbia Safety Authority is an independent, self-funded corporation that inspires safety excellence in British Columbia by partnering with business, industry, institutions and the general public to enhance the safety of technical systems, products, equipment and work.

The State of Safety Report can be viewed and downloaded through the Safety Authority website at www.safetyauthority.ca.