Alberta increases safety inspections

Novermber 2, 2018

As new regulations roll out, Alberta’s occupational health and safety (OHS) officers have increased inspections on work sites over weekends and other periods outside regular working hours through busy construction periods.
“OHS officers will be out in force to make sure employers and workers are taking their workplace safety responsibilities seriously,” according to a government statement.
The officers can write tickets on the spot and have the power to issue “stop work” and “stop use” orders. Both individual workers and employers can be fined for up to $500 per violation.
Alberta OHS changes made this June, include:
• All employers must inform workers about potential hazards and have access to basic health and safety information on site.
• Workers may refuse to perform dangerous work and are protected from any form of reprisal for exercising this right.
• A worker must continue to be paid while a work refusal is being investigated.