Alberta’s Workplace Health and Safety Rules: What Employers Have to Do

Alberta’s occupational health and safety framework, made up of the Act, the Regulation and the Code, was substantially updated in late 2021. Employers of every size have duties under it, and failures can lead to serious penalties.

Core employer duties

Employers must take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of workers and others at the worksite. That starts with identifying hazards, assessing the risks and putting controls in place, then training workers and supervising work.

Larger worksites may need a joint health and safety committee or representative, depending on the rules and the size of the workforce.

Worker rights

Workers have the right to know about hazards, to participate in health and safety and to refuse work they reasonably believe is dangerous, without penalty. Employers need a process for handling a refusal properly.

Serious incidents must be reported and investigated, and certain scenes must be preserved.

Enforcement

Inspectors can issue orders, and violations can lead to penalties or prosecution. Employers and their supervisors can be exposed, so documenting due diligence, through policies, training, inspections and corrective action, is an important defence.

Employer safety checklist

• Complete and update hazard assessments for each type of work.
• Document training and toolbox talks.
• Have a written process for work refusals and incident reporting.
• Keep inspection and corrective action records as proof of due diligence.