May 26 Update:

Over the last few weeks we have connected with you in new ways to continue serving the safety needs of the oil and gas industry. Now we are looking forward to reopening our doors. Energy Safety Canada is following all provincial guidelines, and is taking a slow and measured approach. To create a safe environment for students and staff we are:

• Opening classrooms to offer critical courses.
• Asking students to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before start of class.
• Conducting  an active daily screening questionnaire before classes begin.
• Increasing the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing.
• Sanitizing all classroom equipment.
• Providing hand sanitizing stations throughout the building.
• Taking steps to allow for social distancing of two metres throughout the building.
• Limiting the number of people in the classroom and the building.
• Strictly limiting use of the lunchroom area. Alternative options include outdoor tables and several restaurants nearby that offer take-out and drive-through service.

Anyone who is feeling unwell is asked to stay home and we will assist with re-scheduling your course. Please take the Government of Alberta COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool or provincial self assessment to determine whether you need to be tested for COVID-19.

Your health and safety is our priority and we look forward to continuing to serve you.

In recognition that COVID-19 will prevent some workers from renewing their certificates, Energy Safety Canada will be offering a certificate extension for the following courses:

• H2S Alive
• First Line Supervisor Blowout Prevention
• Second Line Supervisors Well Control
• Well Service Blowout Prevention
• Coiled Tubing Well Service Blowout Prevention
• Oilfield Driver Awareness
• Detection and Control
• OSSA Fall Protection
• OSSA Confined Space
• OSSA Elevated Work Platform

For these courses, any Certificate of Completion previously issued by Energy Safety Canada or the Oil Sands Safety Association (OSSA), that has an expiry date between January 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020 will be deemed by Energy Safety Canada to have not expired and will remain valid up to and including September 1, 2020.

OSSA Certifications must bear the holographic OSSA security label and may be validated with the provider that issued the certificate.

Certificates will not be re-printed and no action is required to qualify for the extension. Worker profiles will be updated and can be verified using ESC’s online Certificate Validation tool.

Energy Safety Canada has been actively engaged with our stakeholders to discuss solutions to support workers and industry. The extension period and certifications included will be reviewed frequently. Regardless of the status of training certifications, employers remain the stewards of their worksites and maintain responsibility for assigning tasks to competent workers capable of performing the work safely.

Energy Safety Canada recognizes the challenges facing both Auditors and Employers from the impacts of COVID-19. Normal business has been significantly impacted globally as things continue to move fast and change quickly.

We continues to work with our stakeholders and have discussions with Provincial Governments to discuss solutions for Auditors and COR Holders. The COVID-19 Auditing Guidelines  will assist in clarifying auditing in the various provinces during COVID-19.

• Audit Process Change – Documentation Only Audits
  Effective March 17, 2020, documentation only audits will be accepted for COR certification, maintenance or recertification purposes. This will be in effect until December 31, 2020
  • •  Prior permission to conduct documentation only audits is not required.
    • Auditors are encouraged to conduct documentation only audits remotely. Interview and observation questions must be scored as “non-applicable.”
    • The passing score for documentation-only certification audits will be 80 per cent overall and will result in a one-year COR.
    • The passing score for documentation-only maintenance audits will be 60 per cent overall and will be accepted for COR maintenance purposes in 2020.
    • For audits where data gathering was completed prior to March 17, standard processes apply.
      
      
• Auditor Certification Expiry
  All existing auditor certifications that were set to expire during this period will be extended to December 31, 2020. Energy Safety Canada is exploring a virtual refresher training solution. The number of audits required to qualify for auditor recertification will be reduced from two to one audit during this period.
  
  
• Auditor Candidates
  All auditor candidates, as of March 17, 2020, will be granted an extension period to complete their qualification audits until December 31, 2020.
  
  
• Alberta Employer Action Plans
  The deadline for employers already approved to submit Action Plans for 2020 COR maintenance audits will be extended to June 30, 2020. The application process into the Action Plan Program has been re-opened for employers to apply.  The deadline to apply is June 15, 2020.  For the application form and program criteria visit COR Maintenance Options.

Update to BC COR Program

Energy Safety Canada is actively engaged with stakeholders to explore solutions that support workers and industry during the COVID-19 crisis. This update is for employers who hold a BC Certificate of Recognition (COR).

In acknowledgement of the impact to business operations as a result of COVID-19, WorkSafeBC has implemented unique measures for 2020 audits:

1. BC Audit in Progress
   All audits in progress should follow good hygiene practices (e.g. physical distancing) and continue as they normally would. Some employers may be scaling back operations, and auditors need to be flexible in their ability to conduct observations and interviews.
   
   
2. BC Certification Audits Not Started
   For any certifications expiring up to August 31, 2020 and where there is no active work, employers should contact Energy Safety Canada to discuss options.
   
   
3. BC CORs Expiring Between September 1 and December 31, 2020
   Currently, there are no program changes.
   
   
4. BC Maintenance Audits
   Audits that cannot be conducted safely at this time should be deferred until the fall and
   completed before December 31, 2020.
   
   
5. Brand New Certification BC Audits
   Audits that cannot be conducted safely at this time should be deferred until COR
   certification requirements can be satisfied.

The situation is changing rapidly, and we will continue to provide updates. We are monitoring Health Authorities in areas where we operate to ensure we are following the latest guidance.

The Safety Audits and Certification team is available to answer your questions: email CORInfo@EnergySafetyCanada.com or call 1 800 667 5557 extension 3.