ESA Guidance Regarding Inspections During COVID-19 Outbreak – Updated June 4

June 4, 2020

ESA’s response team has been working diligently to address the emerging issues. We are moving into circumstances that will require us to focus on the highest safety and related priorities of the province, while protecting our staff and the public.

The following is based on the latest public health guidelines and recommendations.

Priorities for Inspections

1. 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

2. ESA will give priority to 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
• Community Housing for non-critical routine inspections

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

4. 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

Remote assessment/inspection

1. Remote assessment/inspection are the alternate means of fieldwork when a site visit cannot be made safely.

2. 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 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”

3. 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…

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