January 2022

OHS eNews

New and updated OHS resources

Visit the OHS Resource Portal for bulletins, infographics and webinars supporting workplace health and safety in Alberta.

New

Updated

 

A reminder – legislation change

The updated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and regulations took effect Dec. 1, 2021. The updates eliminate duplication and simplify language. This makes OHS laws easier to understand and follow, resulting in healthier and safer workplaces and supporting investment attraction and job creation. Workers continue to have the same rights and protections under the revised OHS laws.

Learn more, read: Changes to OHS laws

 

Potentially serious incidents program guide and 2020 reports 

The OHS Surveillance program has published the Potentially serious incidents (PSI) surveillance program guide. The guide outlines Alberta’s PSI surveillance program and explains how to submit a PSI investigation report. PSI investigation and reporting is required under the OHS Act.

As well, the program has published its 2020 PSI reports. These give statistical information on reported PSIs by two different industry classification systems: the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). Information includes incident types and sources, injury types, and injured worker occupations.  

Learn more, read: PSI surveillance program guide, PSI NAICS sector report 2020 and PSI WCB sector report 2020 

 

Working in the cold

Do you know how to work safely in severe cold? The infographic “Working in Extreme Temperatures: cold environments” and our best practice document “Working Safely in the Heat and Cold” can help you prepare.

Before working in an extreme cold condition:

  • understand how your body reacts to cold.
  • recognize when cold is too cold.
  • know the associated health risks.
  • understand weather information or how to take simple measurements.
  • know how to control exposure hazards.
 

Slips, trips and falls

Each winter, slips, trips and falls have a significant impact on Alberta’s workplaces and workforce. The OHS prevention initiative has developed resources to raise awareness of winter slips, trips and falls. These are available in two formats, to help encourage extra vigilance from employers, supervisors and workers: 

  • Bulletins – include slip, trip or fall hazards and suggested controls. 
  • Micro-learnings – short, single-focus information hits. Copy and paste, or print and post, to share in emails or at meetings and enhance your safety communications.

Learn more, read: Slips, trips and falls 

 

Change to reservists' protected leave eligibility

On December 2, 2021 the Reservists' Recognition Day Act came into effect, changing eligibility requirements for reservists’ job-protected leaves. Workers are now eligible for a leave if they are a reservist and have been employed at least 12 consecutive weeks with the same employer, instead of the previous 26 consecutive weeks.

Employers may still grant leave to workers with less than 12 consecutive weeks of employment. However, employment standards legislation doesn’t require them to do so. 

All other leave requirements or protections remain the same.

Learn more, read: Reservist leave

 

Incidents

Below are summaries of selected serious work-related injuries and incidents reported to Alberta OHS. Each incident resulted in a worker’s admission to hospital. Use these incidents as a way to start health and safety conversations in your workplace.

As these incidents are under investigation, OHS cannot share additional information.

Pinch point

A worker was testing equipment when their finger was caught between a guard and the equipment. The worker was attended to on site and transported to the hospital for further assessment. The worker had surgery for a fractured finger. Manufacturing, Processing and Packaging

Falling objects

A worker was lifting a metal object with an overhead crane when the load became unhooked, causing the materials to fall and land on top of the worker’s foot. Construction and Construction Trade Services.

Slip and fall

A worker was climbing a ladder, slipped and fell. The worker was assessed by EMS and transported to hospital. Transportation, Communication and Utilities.

Shard from hammering

A worker was moving materials under a cable when the operator tightened a cable crushing the worker’s hand. The worker was taken to the hospital with a serious hand injury. Oil and Gas – Upstream.

 

Quick links

Contact OHS


1-866-415-8690 (toll-free)

780-415 -8690 (Edmonton)

TTY: 1-800-232-7215

TTY: 780-427-9999 (Edmonton)


Report a workplace incident to OHS

Notify OHS of health and safety concerns

Copyright 2022 Government of Alberta

This material is solely for the user’s information and convenience and, while thought to be accurate and functional, it is provided without warranty of any kind. The Crown, its agents, employees or contractors will not be liable to you for any damages, direct or indirect, arising out of your use of the information contained in this material. If in doubt with respect to any information contained within this material, or for confirmation of legal requirements, please refer to the current edition of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code or other applicable legislation. Further, if there is any inconsistency or conflict between any of the information contained in this material and the applicable legislative requirement, the legislative requirement shall prevail. This material is current to January 2022. The law is constantly changing with new legislation, amendments to existing legislation, and decisions from the courts. It is important that you keep yourself informed of the current law. This material may be used, reproduced, stored or transmitted for non-commercial purposes. The source of this material must be acknowledged when publishing or issuing it to others. This material is not to be used, reproduced, stored or transmitted for commercial purposes without written permission from the Government of Alberta.