Release of TSSA BPV Reporting Flowchart

November 10, 2025

The ORFA continues to monitor all governing agencies that have inspection and compliance obligations associated with our industry. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) recently released a BPV Flowchart for reporting BPV high-risk incidents on their website. This resource outlines the process for reporting the 11 high-risk orders and 9 other reportable violations and reflects the latest updates to ensure clarity and alignment with current practices. 

The ORFA strongly recommends that the flowchart be reviewed by industrial refrigeration registered guarded ice sheet plant owner, user, operator, Chief and/or responsible person for awareness. In addition, the chart should be added to the plants required operational, maintenance, training manual as required under section 46 of the Operating Engineers Regulation (OE). The ORFA offers the 12 Steps to Developing an Effective Ice Arena Registered Refrigeration Plant Procedure Manual to assist all registered plant stakeholders in developing a plant manual that reflects industry best practice. 

The ORFA remains committed to providing industry leadership through education, awareness, and professional accreditation pathways to ensure that Ontario's refrigeration ice industry ice sheets remain safe and serviceable through proper operations and asset management. Industry best practice continues to suggest that all ice sheet refrigeration plants be under the care and control of an ORFA Certified Arena Refrigeration Plant Technician (CARPT) professional designation or equivalent. To better understand how to manage a registered ice sheet refrigeration plant, the designated responsible person who oversees operator selection, service contractor supervision and asset management responsibilities associated with these investments should consider attending the ORFA Advanced Refrigeration Facility Operator course (or equivalent) to be aware of compliance obligations and industry best practices. 

A reminder that the responsibility to ensure compliance of the OE in unattended registered guarded ice sheet refrigeration plants is the responsibility of the plant "owner". The "owner" is obligated to provide direction and support to frontline staff who are acting on their behalf as set out in O. Reg. 219/01 OPERATING ENGINEERS.

The ORFA further reminds all ice sheet refrigeration plant stakeholders that "unattended plants" as defined in OE Reg. 219 requires these assets be under the care and control of well-trained responsible people in a self-directed compliance pathway that meets industry best practices of safe operations and management of these assets. As much of Ontario's ice sheet refrigeration equipment enters its senior phase of a life cycle, these responsibilities will require more investment and operational diligence to ensure worker and public safety.