Ontario government reverses repeal of Industrial Exception rule

The Ontario government recently passed the decision to withdraw a proclamation for the repeal to the Industrial Exception that was scheduled to be enacted September 1, 2013.

This "industrial exception", passed in October 2010 by the same provincial government, allows for certain acts of engineering to be carried out by non-licensed engineers in a manufacturing workplace.

In a bid to improve worker safety, the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) has been working towards a provision to repeal section 12(3)(a) of the Professional Engineers Act, which would require engineering work to be carried out by licensed engineers. Should the proclamation been enacted on September 1, 2013, Ontario manufacturer's would've been given a 12 month transition term to adjust.

The PEO's push to change the legislation arose over concerns in their ability to regulate acts of engineering by potentially unqualified persons.