By Tom Mark

Vernon Ice Rinks Meet Upgraded Safety Regs

Jan 17, 2018 | 8:45 AM

New safety regulations come into effect Friday for facilities that use ammonia in refrigerants, such as ice rinks and curling rinks.

Among the requirements is a stipulation that the facilities have to be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with an ” appropriately qualified” person.

Rob Singer, Vernon’s Arena’s Operations Coordinator says Vernon is exempt from that ruling because it meets a special risk assessment.

“We’re visited by Technical Safety BC yearly, and that’s not just Kal Tire, that’s Kal Tire Place3, Civic Arena and Priest Valley Arena.”

Vernon has a 24/7 monitored system.

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Whenever the public is in the facilities, a certified staff member is on hand.

During off hours, an alarm system automatically notifies staff.

“Annually we go through a maintenance procedure. What we call planned maintenance or P-M program. We use a certified contractor for all of our work and our plants are always maintained to the highest degree of safety.”

The new rules are aimed at preventing a tragedy similar to that which occurred in Fernie where three men died after an ammonia leak.

by Tom Mark