1. Slide 1
Raymond Roch
May 29, 2013
Presentation to
Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC
Copy of presentation provided to conference organizers.
Notes have been added beneath most slides to provide more detail.

2. Slide 2
Agenda
 What is FIPI?
 Structure
 Goals
 Regulator Focuses
 Employer Letter
 Impact on Local Governments/Fire Dept.
 Impact on LAFCs
 FIPI Support for LAFCs
 Questions
2 FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013

3. Slide 3
What is FIPI?
3
WorkSafeBC funded/Provincial Government
supported initiative
Vision:
 Enhance worker safety and improve Fire Code
compliance in high-hazard, complex industrial
facilities
Scope:
 High-hazard complex wood processing facilities
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013
British Columbia experienced worker fatalities in two separate combustible dust explosions in early 2012 at BC
sawmills. These explosions killed 4 workers and injured another 42 workers, many suffering horribly painful and
life-altering injuries.
Since then, WorkSafeBC inspections of similar operations revealed many had unacceptable levels of combustible
dust accumulation supporting the notion that many workplaces are not as safe as they think. Simultaneously, a
closer examination of fire inspection processes in the province revealed inspectional and jurisdictional gaps related
to Fire Code Inspections:
• small municipalities may lack expertise and resources to conduct these inspections
• inspections less likely in unincorporated areas
• industrial operation s on First Nations Lands may not get consistent inspections
Last October, in response to those findings, the provincial government announced the creation of the two year Fire
Inspection and Prevention Initiative (FIPI) to be funded by WorkSafeBC. Through FIPI, the regulators intend to
improve their cross-agency communication and collaboration with respect to ensuring high-risk complex facilities
minimize the risk of low frequency, high consequence fire and/or explosion events from combustible dust
accumulation.
Scope:
High-hazard complex wood processing facilities, for the purposes of FIPI, are classified as Type F in the BC Building
Code and are:
•Facilities identified in the WorkSafeBC Combustible Dust Strategy Phase 1& 2 (sawmills and other
primary wood manufacturing operations), or
•Facilities referred to the FIPI office by WorkSafeBC or BC Safety Authority field officers (e.g., secondary
wood manufacturing operations), other manufacturing operations creating other types of combustible
dusts, (e.g., plastic, fabric).

4. Slide 4
FIPI Structure
4
 Steering Committee * †
 Representation from industry and regulators
 FIPI Office
 Working Groups
 Referral Working Group * †
 LAFC Inspection Working Group * †
 Workplace Fire Prevention Working Group †
 Communications Working Group *
* FCABC represented
† FPOABC represented
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013
Steering Committee – Representation from industry and regulators:
• Office of Fire Commissioner (OFC)
• Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC (FCABC)
• Fire Prevention Officers’ Association of BC (FPOABC)
• BC Building and Safety Standards Branch
• Local Government Management Association (LGMA)
• BC Safety Authority (BCSA)
• WorkSafeBC (WSBC)
•Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)
•Justice Institute of BC (JIBC)
• Manufacturing Advisory Group (MAG)
• Council of Forest Industries (COFI)
• United Steelworkers (USW)
Referral Working Group – Representation from regulators
• OFC / FCABC / FPOABC / BCSA / WSBC / AANDC / FIPI Office
LAFC Inspection Working Group – Representation from regulators
• OFC / FCABC / FPOABC / LGMA / FIPI Office
Workplace Fire Prevention Working Group – Representation from industry
• MAG/ USW/ FNESS / OFC / FPOABC / FIPI Office
Communications Working Group – Representation from FIPI Steering Committee
• COFI / FNESS / LGMA / OFC / FCABC / FIPI Office
FNESS – First Nations Emergency Services Society

5. Slide 5
FIPI Work Plan Goals
5
1. Compliance with BC Fire Code
 Fire Safety Plan
 Minimize Combustible Dust Fire & Explosion
Hazard
2. Legacy training materials for:
 Building owner/occupier/employer
 LAFCs
3. Information Sharing MOU & Inspection Referral
System
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013
FIPI Work Plan Goals:
• Increased compliance with BC Fire Code in high hazard complex wood processing facilities
with respect to fire and explosion hazards from accumulation of combustible dust through
production processes or facility design.
• Legacy training materials for workplace fire prevention education and Local Assistant to the
Fire Commissioner (LAFC) Inspections.
• MOU for information sharing and participation in an Inspection Referral System between
WSBC, BCSA and Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC)/Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
inspectorates.

6. Slide 6
Regulator Focus
6
Collaboration between 3 inspectorates responsible
for:
 Fire Services Act and the BC Fire Code
 BC Safety Standards Act and the Safety Standards
General Regulation
 Workers’ Compensation Act and the Occupational
Health and Safety Regulation
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013
• The OFC and the municipal/regional AHJ through their fire departments and LAFCs – focus is
on Fire Safety Plans as required by the BC Fire Code, including controlling combustible dust
fire/explosion hazard both within the combustible dust collection system and in the general
work area.
• BC Safety Authority through their Safety Officers – focus is on regulated electrical and gas
equipment installed within a classified (combustible dust) hazardous location that could
spark or propagate an explosion.
• WorkSafeBC through their Prevention Officers (Occupational Safety Officers and
Occupational Hygiene Officers) – focus is on the functionality of the dust collection
ventilation systems at preventing workplace dust accumulation and general workplace
combustible dust accumulation.
An unintended consequence of the three regulators fulfilling their obligations is that many, in
industry, perceive that coordination and consistency is not present, that compliance
requirements are unreasonable, and that training is of little value or too difficult to access.

7. Slide 7
Letter to Employers
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative7
 Informs employers of need to comply with BCFC
 Informs employers of Referral process
 Includes 5 Attachments to assist them meet their
obligations
 Issue letter week of June 1
 Copies to Local Governments and Fire Chiefs
Letter will inform employers of need to have a current and effectively implemented fire safety
plan addressing combustible dust and other fire and explosion hazards that may exist.
Letter will inform them that all 3 regulators will soon be inspecting for compliance with the
requirement to have a current and effectively implemented fire safety plan.
To provide assistance to the employers, 5 attachments will accompany the letter:
• Selection of Subject Matter Expert – Due Diligence
• OFC Fire Safety Planning – Buildings Containing Wood Dust Producing Operations (this is a
new OFC Document)
• Strategies for Dust Mitigation and Ignition Source Control
• Additional Sources of Information
• FIPI Backgrounder
Letter to employers will be issued during the week of June 1, 2013.
LGMA and FCABC will ensure that the letter and attachments are posted and available for access
by CAOs and Fire Chiefs.

8. Slide 8
Impact on Local Governments & Fire
Departments
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative8
 Referrals
 Areas with no Local government
 Office of the Fire Commissioner
 Within Municipal boundaries
 Authority Having Jurisdiction
 OFC assistance to smaller communities upon request
Referrals will be sent to the Authority Having Jurisdiction, i.e., the local government required to
do inspections in accordance with the Fire Services Act.
Upon request, the OFC will assist the local government especially in those smaller communities
that don’t have a lot of experience in inspections.
In the rural areas where there is no local government required to do inspections the OFC will
coordinate inspections for those facilities.

9. Slide 9
Impact on Local Governments & Fire
Departments (cont’d)
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative9
 AHJs most affected:
 Surrey (32), Abbotsford (23), Maple Ridge (14),
Quesnel (14), Chilliwack (12), Langley Township
(12), Prince George (12), Port Alberni (10), Williams
Lake (10)
 AHJs with 5-9 sites: Central Kootenay Region,
Municipality of N. Cowichan, Kamloops, Mission,
Delta, Burns Lake, East Kootenay RD, Houston Vol.
FD, Vanderhoof, Kelowna, Mackenzie, Richmond
With the exception of a few AHJs, AHJs should not see significant increase in workload.
•33 AHJs have only one site
•27 AHJs have only two sites
•13 AHJs have only three sites
•11 AHJs have only four sites
WorkSafeBC and BC Safety Authority are not blitzing this industry sector. They will visit these
sites in the normal course of their business.
Employers are being provided with information to help them comply.

10. Slide 10
Impact on LAFCs
10
 BC Fire Code Compliance not part of BCSA or
WSBC mandate – officers not trained to enforce
 Referrals from BCSA and WSBC when their
officers “suspect” Fire Safety Plan not compliant
 Expectations of AHJ/LAFCs and FSAs
 Act on referrals
 Submit completed Referral Form
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013
Fire hazards are, first, a fire prevention and control issue and, secondarily, an occupational
safety issue.
WorkSafeBC and BC Safety Authority officers will review the workplace’s Fire Safety Plan. If the
workplace cannot produce a documented plan or the officer is unsure that the plan is sufficient
to meet the provisions of the BC Fire Code, a referral, through the OFC, will be made to the
Authority Having Jurisdiction, for their action.
The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is expected to determine whether or not the building
fire safety plan is compliant with the BC Fire Code and, if not, to take the appropriate action to
gain compliance.
BCSA and WSBC officers will advise workplaces that they are submitting a referral to the AHJ to
conduct an inspection of the building’s fire safety plan.

11. Slide 11
FIPI’s LAFC Support
11
 FIPI LAFC Inspection Working Group
 Developing training for LAFCs – preliminary ideas
 Combination of e-learning, class room and field visits
 Equivalent training time – 3 days classroom & 1 day field
 Developing training delivery options
 Self-study (Internet, computer)
 Regional classroom sessions
 Field trip
 Identification of Trainers
 Experienced FSAs & LAFCs
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013
LAFC Inspection Working Group:
Purpose: To develop an LAFC training program which will enhance the LAFCs ability to conduct
inspections in high risk complex industrial facilities, particularly with respect to preventing
combustible dust accumulation.
FIPI LAFC Inspection Working Group will review and update Fire Prevention Officer training with
respect to high hazard, complex facilities and combustible dust and work with the AHJs to
deliver that training to their LAFCs. Ownership of the LAFC training material is likely to go the
OFC for on-going use and currency maintenance at the conclusion of FIPI.
Training Material expected to be ready by September 1, 2013.
To be determined: Implementing Delivery options

12. Slide 12
12
Questions
FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013

13. Slide 13
Feedback Appreciated
email: info@fipibc.ca
13 FIPI - Fire Inspection and Prevention Initiative FCABC – May 29, 2013