April 17, 2013 – On September 1, the Government of Ontario will repeal section 12.(3)(a) of the Professional Engineers Act, which means all professional engineering work on industrial equipment and machinery will need to be under the oversight of a licensed professional engineer.

This section previously allowed individuals to oversee or carry out certain professional engineering work without having a P.Eng. licence.

According to PEO (Professional Engineers Ontario), this change will bring Ontario in line with the rest of Canada, and “enhance the workplace safety programs of businesses”.

Ontario averages more than 100 workplace fatalities in the manufacturing sector each year, says PEO; compared to other provinces in 2011, Ontario recorded double the fatalities of Quebec, quadruple those of British Columbia and close to 10 times as many fatalities of Alberta.

PEO says it conducting province-wide information sessions to inform and assist Ontario-based manufacturers in adjusting to this change. These sessions are a part of PEO’s transition strategy, says the association, which includes a one-year transition period and an investment of $1.2-million in offsets to licensing fees for those affected in Ontario’s manufacturing industry.