Skip to content

Notifications

Non-urgent government operations are closed December 24 to January 1, reopening January 2. See the list of services available during this time.

Notifications

Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. See how to send and receive government mail during this time. 

AI search tool

Try our new Search AI tool as an alternative to the search below to improve your experience on Alberta.ca using artificial intelligence. See the AISearch fact sheet for more information.

Popular topics:

Part of Compliance and enforcement

OHS orders

Occupational health and safety (OHS) officers issue orders to get regulated parties to follow OHS legislation.

Overview

The OHS Act gives officers authority to issue orders, which requires work site parties to take measures that result in compliance with the OHS legislation.

Orders are documented on a contact report. The contact report identifies:

  • the section of legislation the order is issued under
  • officer observations
  • what a work site party has to do to be compliant with legislation
  • the date compliance has to be achieved by

Contact reports must be posted at a work site until all orders in the contact report are complied with.

Types of orders

Compliance orders

Compliance orders note an observed non-compliance, and require action by a specific date. In some circumstances, OHS may grant an extension for compliance.

Stop use orders

Officers have authority to stop use of equipment that’s observed to be unsafe, or that has the potential, in the officer’s opinion, to seriously injure workers. A stop use order is lifted when the requirements of the order are met.

Stop work orders

When an OHS officer observes that work is being done in an unhealthy or unsafe manner for workers, the officer may issue a stop work order. This order requires that work is stopped immediately, and may apply to an entire work site, multiple work sites, or to certain activities or areas of a work site. A stop work order is lifted when the requirements of the order are met.

Director’s orders

OHS directors have the same authorities as an OHS officer, but can also require work sites or a class of work sites to carry out certain actions to ensure health and safety of workers. These include, but are not limited to:

  • establish a health and safety program
  • establish a health and safety committee or representative
  • establish a prime contractor

In case of any inconsistency between this information and the OHS Act, Regulation or Code, the legislation will always prevail.

Orders may be issued to any of the work site parties described in Part 1 of the OHS Act.

Report compliance with an OHS order

A report on compliance is one way that an OHS officer can verify compliance with the order. If one is required, the officer will communicate that when the order is issued.

Report compliance with an OHS order online using your Alberta.ca Account for Organizations.

Resources

Contact

Connect with OHS:

Phone: 780-415-8690 (Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-866-415-8690 
TTY: 780-427-9999 (Edmonton)
TTY: 1-800-232-7215

Ask an Expert