Updates to parts of the Occupational Health and Safety Code (OHS Code) took effect on March 31, 2023. Visit the OHS publications portal for more information.
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 MyAlberta Digital ID for Business account.
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
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