OHS eNews September 2018

OHS Act defined:

  • The Occupational Health and Safety Act is the Statute and is the enabling legislation for the regulation and code.
  • Changes to the Act require legislature approval.

 

OHS Regulations Defined:

  • The OHS Regulation deals primarily with administrative and policy issues.
  • Changes to the Regulation require presentation to the Crown

 

OHS Code defined:

  • The Occupational Health and Safety Code is part of Alberta’s strategy to reduce workplace injuries by establishing rules that reflect the most appropriate technical/scientific standards and industry best practices.
  • The Code requires provincial OHS department approval.

Right to KNOW

Right to PARTICIPATE

Right to REFUSE

Right to Know

  • You have the right to know the hazards of your job. Every worker has the right to know about anything that affects their health and safety.
  • During a “Right to Refuse,” if the employer asks another worker to complete the same task that was refused, they must notify the new worker that the task was previously refused and explain why.

Right to Participate

  • All workers have the right to participate in Health and Safety committees and other activities that affect their health and safety.

Right to Refuse

  • “I refuse to do that because I am uncomfortable doing it; I don’t have enough  training, knowledge or experience…”
  • THIS IS A RIGHT
    ► The employer is responsible to ensure all workers are suitably trained, adequately qualified and have sufficient experience to complete the task safely.► “I refuse to do that because it will put me, or another person, in imminent danger…”
  • THIS IS AN OBLIGATION!!
    ► The employer is responsible for halting work until such a time that the grounds  for refusal have been investigated and the hazard posing imminent danger has  been controlled or eliminated. This investigation must be documented and  shared with the affected persons.