Electrician Safety Legislation and Regulations

Safety Legislation, Regulations, and Industry Policy in the Trades

• The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, Regulation, and Code are in place to protect workers from risk of injury at work.
• The OHS Act, Regulation, and Code establish a framework of rules for employers, workers, suppliers, and government agencies to ensure safety standards are met.
• The OHS Act outlines the minimum requirements for health and safety in Alberta workplaces and applies to three groups: employers, employees, and equipment or material suppliers.
• The OHS Regulation provides further clarification to sections of the Act and sets the minimum standards for employers and workers.
• The OHS Code provides comprehensive, detailed information for employers, workers, suppliers, and government agencies, and is supported by an OHS Code Explanation Guide.

Occupational Health and Safety Legislation

• The OHS Act, Regulation, and Code state minimum requirements for health and safety in Alberta workplaces.
• The OHS Act details obligations employers must fulfill, workers' rights and responsibilities, and the rights and responsibilities of others connected with the work site.
• Employers must ensure workers are aware of their responsibilities, are aware of hazards in the workplace, and are able to work safely.

Core Requirements Applicable to All Industries

• Part 1 of the OHS Code includes definitions of words and terms used throughout the document.
• Part 2 includes requirements for employers and workers to identify, assess, and control or eliminate hazards at the work site.
• Part 3 states that equipment used by a tradesperson at the work site must be adequate for the job.

Hazard Assessment and Control Procedures

• Hazards can be controlled in three ways: using engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
• Engineering controls reduce or eliminate exposure to chemical or physical hazards at the source.
• Administrative controls limit worker exposure to hazardous conditions or substances.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces exposure to known hazards.

Requirements Applicable to All Industries

• The OHS Code outlines 26 Parts of requirements applicable to all industries, including chemical hazards, confined spaces, emergency preparedness and response, and more.

Requirements Applicable to Specific Industries and Activities

• The OHS Code outlines 12 Parts of requirements applicable to specific industries and activities, including demolition, diving operations, excavating and tunnelling, and more.

Schedules

• The OHS Code includes 12 Schedules that are not included in the Explanation Guide.### Schedules
• Schedule 1: Chemical Substances
• Schedule 2: First Aid
• Schedule 3: Noise, Safe Limit of Approach
• Schedule 4: Distances
• Schedule 5: Cable Clips on Wire Rope, Dimensions of Scaffold Members
• Schedule 6: Shoring Component, Fire Extinguishers and Minimum Separation Distances
• Schedule 7: Toilets at a Work Site
• Schedule 8: Saw Blade Crack Limits
• Schedule 9: Dimensions
• Schedule 10: Minimum Separation Distances
• Schedule 11: Mining
• Schedule 12: Radiation Exposure

Criminal Code

• Added to Section 217.1 of the Criminal Code in 2003
• Asserts that employers and representatives have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to workers
• Failure to comply can result in criminal charges, fines, and/or imprisonment

Employer Responsibilities

• Familiarity with OHS Act, Regulation, and Code
• Hazard assessment and plan to eliminate or control hazards
• Providing safe work practices and ensuring employee adherence
• Ensuring employees are aware of their duties and have necessary skills and training
• Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensuring its proper use

Employee Responsibilities

• Working in a safe manner and being safety conscious
• Co-operating with employer in health and safety measures
• Reporting hazardous or potentially hazardous situations
• Reporting injuries immediately
• Wearing required PPE and ensuring its good condition
• Inspecting equipment and tools before use
• Participating in safety planning meetings
• Ensuring personal safety and controlling hazards

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

• Employers must provide education and training on WHMIS
• Training includes generic information and job-specific information
• Workers must be trained on the safe use, storage, and handling of controlled products
• Workers must be trained on procedures for dealing with fugitive emissions and emergencies

Fire Regulations

• Employers must conduct a hazard assessment to identify fire or explosion hazards
• Hazardous locations must be clearly marked to warn workers
• Flammable and combustible substances must be handled safely
• Containers for storing flammable liquids must meet specific standards (e.g. CSA, NFPA, ULC, UL)### Emergency Response Plan
• An emergency response plan is required by employers to deal with emergencies that may require rescue or evacuation.
• The plan must involve everyone affected by the emergency in its creation.
• The plan must be reviewed periodically and revised to reflect changing circumstances or conditions at the work site.

Workers' Compensation Board

• The Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) is a private not-for-profit organization, not a provincial government department or crown corporation.
• The WCB provides cost-effective workplace liability and disability insurance to over 140,000 employers and 1.8 million workers in Alberta.
• The WCB compensates injured workers for lost income, healthcare, and other costs related to work-related injury or occupational disease.
• All employers in WCB-covered industries share the cost of workers' compensation insurance.
• Injured workers are eligible to claim benefits for work-related accidents, even if their own negligence contributed to the accident.

Commitment to Fairness

• Employers and workers are entitled to a fair and expeditious resolution of any disagreement with a WCB decision.
• Where matters cannot be resolved, employers and workers are entitled to a fair and impartial review or external appeal subject to current WCB legislation.

Focus on Return to Work

• The WCB supports injured workers' safe return to work.
• The WCB develops case plans that set clear goals to bring injured workers back to work.
• Case plans include disability management and modified work programs.

When an Injury Occurs

• Workers must tell their employer the details of their injury, their healthcare provider that their injury happened at work, and the WCB by submitting a Worker's Report of Injury immediately.
• Employers have three primary obligations:
• Provide for and pay the cost of immediate transportation to a medical treatment facility (if required).
• Pay the worker's full regular wages for the day the injury occurred.
• Report the accident to the WCB within 72 hours of the incident.

Related Advisory Bodies and Agencies

• Several organizations and agencies have formed to work with industry and government to emphasize the importance of safety in every trade.
• These organizations have an industry or sector focus that enables them to provide valuable support to employers and employees.

Alberta Construction Safety Association

• The Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) is a non-profit organization funded by the construction industry through a levy on Alberta WCB premium assessments.
• The ACSA provides quality advice and education for the construction industry to reduce human suffering and financial costs associated with workplace incidents.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta

• The Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA) is comprised of members who work in heavy industrial construction and industrial maintenance.
• The COAA Safety Committee works collaboratively to improve overall safety culture and performance in the construction industry.

Occupational Health and Safety Council

• The Occupational Health and Safety Council is an administrative body that operates at arm's length from government.
• The Council advises the Minister on OHS matters and deals with appeals to orders issued to employers by OHS officials.

Work Safe Alberta

• Work Safe Alberta is an initiative of the Alberta government to reduce work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in consultation with industry and labour.

Safety Codes Council

• The Safety Codes Council is responsible for all aspects of the safety system.
• The Council accredits municipalities, corporations, and agencies to carry out specific activities under the Safety Codes Act.

Hazard Assessment and Control

• Hazard assessment and control are key activities in prevention of accidents.
• Employers must assess the work site and identify existing and potential hazards before work begins.
• Hazard assessments must be conducted whenever site conditions, operations, or processes change.

Types and Objectives of Hazard Controls

• The OHS Code requires employers to involve workers in hazard assessment and control.
• Hazard controls can be classified into three main types:
• Engineering controls: eliminate or control the hazard at its source.
• Administrative controls: control the hazard to a level that is as low as possible.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): used when engineering and administrative controls do not eliminate or control the hazard.

Hazard Assessment Tools

• Five main tools are used for assessing and controlling work site hazards:
• Hazard assessment reports
• Checklists
• Health and safety plans
• Emergency response plans
• First aid records and incident reports