During the summer of 2023, a potential explosion was averted at an industrial facility in Southern Ontario. A new printing press, not approved for use in Canada, was installed and started to signal operational issues during testing. Further complicating the matter, an unauthorized individual tampered with the gas meter set, creating an unsafe environment and posing a significant risk of explosion or fire if gas components failed. The unauthorized alteration to the gas supply caused
damages to many components that were exposed to the elevated gas pressures, resulting in some costly replacements.
TSSA Analysis and Actions
The incident was reported to TSSA after a safety partner detected an alarming level of gas pressure. TSSA’s investigation revealed that the printing company and the overseas manufacturer of the machine were unaware of compliance requirements in Ontario and hired unauthorized personnel for the installation work. TSSA issued orders to the non-compliant contractors and worked with safety partners to mitigate immediate risks, including resetting gas pressures and deactivating affected appliances.
Recognizing the need to educate the printing company, TSSA provided clear guidance to plant management and contractors regarding permissible repair and replacement work, while emphasizing the importance of following Ontario’s safety regulations. Subsequent inspections, conducted after the field approval by TSSA’s engineering team, ensured that the printing press met Ontario’s safety standards.
Source: https://www.tssa.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/TSSA_Public%20Safety%20Report_Apr%204%202025.pdf