Is Your Health and Safety Program Bill C30 Compliant?
Don’t be lead astray by a health and safety “professional” that tells you what you need without some explanation and justification!
Yes - there are new requirements and Yes - they will VERY LIKELY affect your company and operations.
HOW they may affect you is determined by many factors. Broad sweeping statements like “you need a program” or "you have to have a committee” simply do not apply to all employers. The new Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act contains a few “grey” areas that are still being interpreted. Examples include:
The current economic climate, coupled with these new requirements will bring all kinds of people out of the woodwork that SAY that are health and safety professionals. Make sure they are what they say before you make any commitments and have them show you the legislation that says “this is what you must do!”
The Alberta Construction Safety Association is a recognized and leading training provider for the construction industry. They have already put together the framework for training and knowledge requirements in some of these areas and are awaiting clarification from the Alberta government on many items before offering these to industry.
NOTE: the information provided is not a complete version of the new Act and the summary may not address the specifics of YOUR workplace. It is intended for general information only and is not offered or to be taken as advice specific to your workplace setting. Please review the official document for complete information.
There are some new requirements that apply to most or all of us including…
SPECIFICALLY, what do I do??? It depends… and the comments are general. There are MANY variables that may affect YOUR company. Click the links below depending on the size of your company…
Click if you have more than 19 workers.
Click if you have 5-19 workers.
Click if you have less than 5 workers.
Note: “workers” includes EVERYONE in the company, full time, part time, manager, supervisor and of course worker.
For more information go to:
www.alberta.ca/ohs-changes.aspx#toc-1
www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/ohs-changes-highlights.pdf
Yes - there are new requirements and Yes - they will VERY LIKELY affect your company and operations.
HOW they may affect you is determined by many factors. Broad sweeping statements like “you need a program” or "you have to have a committee” simply do not apply to all employers. The new Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act contains a few “grey” areas that are still being interpreted. Examples include:
- training for committees
- how these committees will function (in a meaningful way) on sites that have “rotating trades” like residential construction
- Prime contractor is not yet clearly defined
- Who is the “person in control”. Is this the owner of the site (by default as previously)?
- Is it the person ordering work (or the person with an “ownership interest” as previously)?
The current economic climate, coupled with these new requirements will bring all kinds of people out of the woodwork that SAY that are health and safety professionals. Make sure they are what they say before you make any commitments and have them show you the legislation that says “this is what you must do!”
The Alberta Construction Safety Association is a recognized and leading training provider for the construction industry. They have already put together the framework for training and knowledge requirements in some of these areas and are awaiting clarification from the Alberta government on many items before offering these to industry.
NOTE: the information provided is not a complete version of the new Act and the summary may not address the specifics of YOUR workplace. It is intended for general information only and is not offered or to be taken as advice specific to your workplace setting. Please review the official document for complete information.
There are some new requirements that apply to most or all of us including…
- Having competent Supervisors (exactly what that means is not yet clear, but supervisors are now a defined role, like employers and workers and must be “deemed competent”).
- Specific duties relating to supervisors.
- Ensuring the workers: Right to Know (about hazards and controls); Participate (in health and safety activities and expressing concerns); Refuse Dangerous Work.
- Employer / prime contractor must consult/work with the Joint worksite health and safety committee (committee) or representative (Rep).
- Provide names of employers and supervisors to contractor or prime contractor (if applicable).
- Cooperate with others on site to ensure health and safety.
- If an unsafe work refusal occurs, the employer must not assign another worker until the condition has been investigated and the results reported to the first worker and the committee or rep as applicable.
- Reporting of Serious Injuries and Incidents has been modified as follows:
- Hospitalized more than 2 days changed to “admitted” to hospital. “Admitted” does not include assessment in emergency room or urgent care centre.
- Report "potentially serious" incidents which are incidents that had potential to cause serious injury to a person, but did not.
- Added any injury or incident… as specified in the regulations.
- Hospitalized more than 2 days changed to “admitted” to hospital. “Admitted” does not include assessment in emergency room or urgent care centre.
SPECIFICALLY, what do I do??? It depends… and the comments are general. There are MANY variables that may affect YOUR company. Click the links below depending on the size of your company…
Click if you have more than 19 workers.
Click if you have 5-19 workers.
Click if you have less than 5 workers.
Note: “workers” includes EVERYONE in the company, full time, part time, manager, supervisor and of course worker.
For more information go to:
www.alberta.ca/ohs-changes.aspx#toc-1
www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/ohs-changes-highlights.pdf