Licensed electrical contractors play an important role in keeping people and property safe across BC. From making sure workers are qualified for the work they perform to obtaining the right permits and requesting inspections, the responsibilities that come with your licence are an important part of BC’s electrical safety system.
Understanding these responsibilities can help you perform work safely, reduce hazards, and maintain your licence in good standing.
Before performing regulated electrical work, make sure your business holds the appropriate contractor licence and that it remains active.
You must renew your licence before it expires, and you are responsible for understanding its scope and any terms and conditions attached to it. You should only perform regulated electrical work that falls within the scope and limits of your contractor licence and your designated Field Safety Representative's (FSR) certificate of qualification.
If your business performs regulated work in other technologies, such as gas or boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration, you will need additional contractor licences.
In this incident, a sign contractor replaced a restaurant’s neon sign with an LED sign but left high-voltage conductors energized and unprotected. The contractor was not licensed and did not use qualified workers to perform the regulated electrical work.
Moisture ingress and failure to properly decommission the conductors resulted in an electrical fire within the wall above the restaurant entrance. The incident may have been prevented by using a licensed contractor, qualified workers, and the required electrical permit.
Every licensed electrical contractor must have a designated Field Safety Representative (FSR). Your FSR plays an important role in providing code and regulatory guidance and overseeing regulated electrical work performed under your licence.
To fulfill this role, your FSR must hold a valid certification from Technical Safety BC. As part of the certification renewal process, FSRs must also complete continuing education to keep their knowledge of current codes and safety requirements up to date. As a licensed electrical contractor, you must have a certified FSR designated on your licence to obtain electrical permits.
An FSR’s responsibilities include providing code and regulatory support to the licensed contractor, physically examining regulated electrical work, making required declarations, and requesting inspections at each phase of work. These declarations confirm that the work has been examined and meets applicable safety requirements. Technical Safety BC uses a risk-based approach to determine whether additional oversight, such as a remote or physical inspection, is required.
While the FSR has specific responsibilities, the licensed contractor is responsible for ensuring workers have the appropriate qualifications and supervision in accordance with SkilledTradesBC requirements. Maintaining a strong working relationship with your FSR helps ensure appropriate safety oversight throughout a project.
Electrical codes and safety requirements change over time as technologies, industry practices, and our understanding of safety evolve.
As a licensed contractor, you are responsible for maintaining current knowledge of the Safety Standards Act and regulations, the BC Electrical Code, and applicable directives, information bulletins, safety orders, and other regulatory notices.
Staying informed helps you apply current safety requirements to your work, identify potential hazards, and reduce the risk of incidents.
Tip: Check Technical Safety BC’s Regulatory Notices regularly for updates that may affect your work.
Safe electrical work starts with having the right people doing the work.
As a licensed electrical contractor, you are responsible for ensuring workers have the appropriate qualifications and supervision in accordance with SkilledTradesBC requirements, whether or not the work requires an electrical permit. This includes following applicable certification requirements and supervision ratios.
Your designated FSR also has an important role in ensuring you understand how to meet applicable qualification and supervision requirements Appropriate supervision is particularly important when apprentices or other workers who require supervision are performing regulated work.
Making sure workers have the right qualifications, knowledge, and oversight helps prevent mistakes and reduces the risk of electrical hazards.
Permits are an important part of the safety system. They provide information about the regulated work being performed and help ensure appropriate safety oversight throughout a project.
Before starting regulated electrical work, make sure to get the correct permit and that its scope and value accurately reflect the work being performed.
If a project changes, the permit may need to be amended to reflect the updated scope or value. Permits also need to remain in good standing throughout the project.
Making sure your permit accurately reflects the work being performed helps support effective safety oversight from the beginning of a project through to completion.
If you witness an incident or find regulated equipment that is in unsafe condition or beyond repair; it is important to report the issue to Technical Safety BC. Incidents and hazards can be reported to us through our Report an Incident/Hazard tool. Read our information bulletin to learn more about incident and hazard reporting. Some examples of electrical incidents that are expected to be reported include:
Technical Safety BC tracks and investigates incidents and hazards that are reported to inform awareness and prevention initiatives. Technical Safety BC does not follow up on all reported incidents unless there is an intention to investigate.
These are just some of the key responsibilities for licence holders in BC. To learn more, review our full list of requirements.