Important to know
Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code requires that:
- all workers must successfully complete government-approved asbestos training and be in possession of a valid asbestos worker certificate before they enter an asbestos restricted area
- all employers must give 72 hours notification before starting asbestos projects
Overview
Restricted areas
All workers in Alberta who enter a restricted area due to an asbestos hazard must successfully complete the asbestos worker course and be in possession of a valid worker certificate.
A restricted area is defined as an area of a work site where there is a reasonable chance that the airborne concentration of asbestos, silica, coal dust or lead exceeds or may exceed the occupational exposure limit for one or more of the substances.
Non-restricted areas
Workers working with asbestos in non-restricted areas must be trained in accordance with sections 21 and 37 of the Code. This training doesn’t have to be provided by one of the approved agencies listed below.
Certification term
Asbestos worker cards expire 3 years from the date of issue.
Course description
Government-approved agencies provide asbestos worker training and issue asbestos worker cards. These agencies offer various courses on OHS safety for the asbestos worker. Each course must have the required health and safety content as described in the Occupational Health and Safety Training for Asbestos Workers Course Guidelines.
Workers are encouraged to discuss each course offered by the agency, and to ask about the length, price, hours of instruction, and materials each trainee will receive.
How agencies become accredited
Employers wishing to be an approved training agency must apply in writing. Application instructions are included in Occupational Health and Safety Training for Asbestos Workers Course Guidelines.
Agency login for Asbestos Worker Course Exam
Online access to the Asbestos Worker Course Exam – for accredited training agencies only.
Take Asbestos Worker Course Exam
Approved training agencies
Contact
Connect with OHS:
Phone: 780-415-8690 (Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-866-415-8690
TTY to voice: 711
Voice to TTY: 1-800-855-0511