Said is a licensed professional engineer and certified fire and explosion investigator with over 15 years of experience. He specializes in electrical and electronic failures, product liability and fire investigation, with particular expertise in codes and standards compliance. Said has overseen hundreds of investigations identifying the failure of equipment, installations and processes which contributed to electrical incidents, and has performed over 60 investigations to determine the root causes of electrical incidents which resulted in critical injuries, fatalities and/or large losses.
Electrical Forensic Engineer and Fire & Explosion Investigator, Origin and Cause
Ancaster, ON
September 2021 – Present
- Investigate structural and electrical equipment fires
- Investigate electrical and electronic appliance and equipment malfunctions
Senior Planner/Safety, Electrical Safety Authority
Mississauga, ON
July 2020 – September 2021
As an Administrative Authority under the Ministry of Government & Consumer Services, ESA is responsible for ensuring electrical safety of Ontarians through regulation of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC), licensing of electrical contractors, electrical product safety, and utilities by activities such as inspections and investigations.
- Providing safety electrical strategies using risk management principles, processes and techniques, assessing public electrical hazards, while providing advice and guidance in determining types of public electrical safety programs and initiatives to be put in place to achieve greatest impact on electrical safety
- Collaborating with our Analytics team, other government agencies and industry partners to establish and improve ESA’s ability to track, measure and report on safety information and incidents
- Establishing and coordinating processes within ESA by reviewing and assessing current work procedures, consulting with line management and auditing delivery of various safety services to help ESA fulfill its mandate
- Leading investigations and determining root causes of electrical incidents which result in critical injuries, fatalities and/or large loss fires using sound practices and attending incident scenes, conducting interviews obtaining statements from victims, witnesses or other related stakeholders as necessary
- Completing comprehensive incident investigation reports utilizing data, witness statements, pictures, charts and reviewing Regulations such as theOccupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) and standards such as CSA Z460, CSAZ462, and CSA Z463 for best practices and to reach a conclusion on the root cause of the electrical incidents through sound investigation techniques and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
- Coordinating inter-agency collaboration with other Authorities HavingJurisdictions (AHJs) such as Office of the Fire Marshal and EmergencyManagement (OFMEM), Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development(MLTSD), municipal and provincial police, fire departments and Office of the Coroner
- Reviewed and approved hundreds of incident reports identifying areas of concern, failure of equipment, installations and processes which contributed to the electrical incidents
Incident Investigation Specialist, Electrical Safety Authority
Mississauga, ON
January 2010 — May 2015, October 2015 — January 2017, May 2018 — June 2020
- Orchestrated and completed 54 investigations and determined root causes for high profile electrical incidents which involved critical injuries, fatalities and/or large loss fires utilizing data, witness statements, pictures, charts among other tools obtained to reach a conclusion identifying root cause of the electrical incidents
- Attended sites obtaining witness statements and collecting evidence to determine root cause of incidents
- Collaborated with Electrical Inspectors, Technical Advisors, and other internal and external stakeholders from different levels to obtain contact information and complete data and evidence collection related to the incidents
- Formed and led cross-functional team to produce recommendations upon review of investigation practices identifying gaps, maintaining integrity and consistency in ESA processes
Code Engineer – Rotation/Permanent, Electrical Safety Authority
Mississauga, ON
January 2017 – May 2018
- Provided OESC interpretations to ESA inspectors, contractors and members of the public for electrical wiring installations through Question and Answer forums, Bulletins and flash notices
- Developed and delivered OESC training to electrical inspectors and external stakeholders
- Led project to design a Question and Answer database and continued to maintain it, for internal discussions with the technical group regarding technical questions coming from the field
- Provided technical consultation by peer reviewing technical articles, and external support to the MLTSD, OFMEM and other stakeholders such as engineering forensic companies and electrical contractors
Safety and Technical Programs Advisor – Rotation, Electrical Safety Authority
Mississauga, ON
May 2015 – October 2015
- Developed and implemented specific programs and processes related to worker safety initiatives
- Completed a comprehensive analysis for ten trade colleges to deliver electrical safety training to apprentices
- Completed ‘Preventing Electrical Incidents’ presentation for delivery to colleges in preparation for rollout
- Coordinated Ministry of Labour (MoL) icebreaker pilot as part of an initiative to improve relations with MoL
- Attended technical meetings with the technical team discussing Code and electrical incident investigations
Project Engineer, HITE Engineering Corporation
Mississauga, ON
2008 – 2009
Engineering Consulting Firm for Industrial and Construction sectors, providing Pre-start Health and Safety Reviews (PSHR’s) through onsite visits and inspection of machines/structures
- Handled projects ranging from $200 to $50,000 with customers such as Sobey’s, Home Depot, and Norampac
- Completed PSHR’s for a variety of machines and industrial applications
- Ensured machines met the OHSA, Canadian standards (such as CSA Z432-04 –Safeguarding of Machinery) as well as the Canadian Electrical Code, relevant international codes and ANSI standards
- Modified control-reliable safety circuits using safety-rated devices to meet applicable standards
- Completed turnkey solutions for machines by collaborating with suppliers to produce the safest operating environment while meeting customer demands for a quality, cost-effective and efficient product run
- Presented signed and sealed reports, which identified non-compliances and corrective actions to meet the safeguarding codes and standards. Providedletters of compliance upon completion of recommendations
Product Designer, Test and Certification Engineer, GSW Water Heating/AO Smith WPC Canada
Mississauga, ON
2005 to 2008
International water heater manufacturer whose Engineering group produced innovative solutions in the water heating industry, through extensive laboratory testing, field trials in conjunction with CSA, UL, NRCAN and DOE (US).
- Developed, designed, tested, implemented (through Engineering ChangeNotices) and certified control and power circuits for a $300,000 project involving a new line of commercial electric water heaters
- Spearheaded a $100,000 project for Lowe’s, to produce an advanced electronic control which would provide a safer, tested, more efficient product to control residential electric water heaters
- Completed ISO 17025 compliance in conjunction with CSA, for the laboratory at the Fergus branch
- Conducted heat loss testing to certify new and update existing products meeting required standards for residential and commercial heaters including CSA, UL, NSF, ASME and ROHS (Europe), SCAQMD
- Supervised lab technicians conducting experiments, CAD operators drawing engineering diagrams, and co-op students completing special assignments all within the required timelines
- Provided support for design and upgrade of existing electronic controls for gas and oil water heaters. This included updating drawings, bill of materials, instruction manuals and product certifications
- Served as the primary point of contact for certification agencies such as CSA,UL, NSF, TSSA to coordinate audit visits and requirements to maintain high standards in production of the heaters
Electrical Technical Support, Nedpar Electric
London, ON
2003 — June 2004
A solutions provider, known for designing and building control systems for the steel and automotive industries, servicing customers such as Ralston Metals and Ideal Roofing. Projects included sizing transformers, fuses and contractors; drawn on AutoCAD and implemented by building panels, programming PLCs and installing them on site.
- Designed, planned and implemented back panels and electrical operating stations with fellow engineers
- Implemented AutoCAD schematics, programmed PLCs and assisted in enabling HMI into systems
- Installed operating station consoles and enclosures on site with internal and external technicians
Electrical Technical Support, Nedpar Electric
London, ON
Summer 2000
- Assembled Operating Stations and control panels for heavy machinery in the steel and automotive industries
