Guidance from ESA Regarding Inspections During the COVID19 Outbreak

April 13, 2020

ESA’s response team has been working diligently to address the emerging issues posed by COVID-19. Below is their release regarding how their operations have changed, released March 24.

What ESA is doing:

1. Priorities for Inspections

Emergency and public safety infrastructure equipment.

This includes electrical work for in-home medical equipment installed to release capacity in the hospitals for the expected influx of COVID19 patients

Connection authorizations, organized through Licensed Electrical Contractors so people can receive electrical service from their Local Distribution Company

Disconnect and Holds, organized by Licensed Electrical Contractors and known in the industry as a “Disconnect and Hold”. This will allow Local Distribution Companies to facilitate service upgrades, emergency panel changes and service repairs

Non Contractor Disconnect and Hold notifications will be pushed out 30 days to a point in time in the future where any health concerns at that location may have subsided

2. Access Arranged appointments – ESA will notify these customers/clients directly that dedicated appointments will not be available and the Inspector will visit sometime through the day, provided the site does meet the exclusions set out below.

3. At the Inspector’s discretion, they will use a wide range of options and discretion to both allow business to continue, exercise their authority and conduct inspections in the coming days and weeks.

Pass without a visit as directed and guided by our Best Business Practices

Sampling tools in ACP, and the soon to be implemented RBO

Photos

Videos – live or recorded

Instead of visiting a facility or dwelling, our Inspector will meet the LEC performing the work at a safe location to review pictures, videos and any other available evidence to give the Inspector comfort regarding the state of electrical safety for the site or installation

When entering an installation, only view or access the areas needed to complete the notification. Touch as little as possible and maintain a safe social distance

If an inspector is unable to physically view an installation but has accepted pictures, videos or other evidence, they will record what was accepted or what they were/were not able to view in the notification comments, preceded with “COVID19”

4. Technical Advisors are available to assist with answers to technical questions, code interpretations, as well as assistance with concerns over of any video or picture.

What ESA is not doing:

1. ESA is not inspecting workplaces excluded from the Essential Business List, as defined by the Province of Ontario.

2. ESA will inspect workplaces included on the Essential Business List, however, will not enter occupied areas of the following facilities due to the vulnerable nature of these populations, except for critical or emergency services as approved by the ESA General Manager and/or Senior Inspector.

Long Term Care Homes and Seniors residences

Hospitals

Retirement Homes

Day Care facilities

Personal Dwellings – including homes, apartments and condos

Community Housing for non-critical routine inspections

ESA staff will not be attending external meetings of large groups (OEL nights, Conferences) until further notice.

All Training Sessions and all Master Exams are canceled until the end of April 2020.

Inter ESA office travel is restricted

Source