OHS proactive inspection program

The Construction and Construction Trade Services sector (Construction sector) includes over 60 subsectors and over 200,000 workers. The program will focus on subsectors that have of a history of health and safety non-compliance and employers with poor health and safety performance.

Subsectors selected include:

• construction trade services
• drywall, plaster, stucco
• heating systems install
• residential general contractor
• doors and windows install
• roofing
• framing contractors
• brick or masonry contracting

The program will work with employers and workers to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities and to proactively address health and safety concerns, while focusing compliance activities on promoting the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).

Common hazards associated with construction sector include:

• slips, trips and falls
• musculoskeletal disorders due to repetitive use, overexertion, heavy lifting
• struck by object
• psychosocial hazards, including workplace violence, harassment, and mental health
• COVID-19

Common orders associated with construction sector include, but not limited to:

• hazard assessments
• fall protection
• entrances, walkways, stairways and ladders
• general safety precautions
• personal protective equipment
• powered mobile equipment
• scaffolds and temporary work platforms

Scope and timing

The Construction Sector Inspection Program will commence in winter 2020 and will be completed in Spring 2021. A total of 1000 inspections will be conducted.

Manufacturing, Processing, Packaging (MPP) forms a WCB group sector that includes 74 subsectors. Subsectors include meat/food processing, manufactured products, material fabrication, material processing and material packaging.

The program will work with employers and workers to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities and to proactively address health and safety concerns, focusing compliance activities on promoting the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).

A total of 33 of the 74 subsectors have been selected under the MPP program.

Common hazards associated with MPP include:

• musculoskeletal disorders due to repetitive use, overexertion, heavy lifting
• slips, trips and falls
• contact with machinery, equipment and tools
• fires and explosions
• exposure to harmful substances, including pandemic management, which includes Covid-19
• psychosocial hazards. including workplace violence, harassment, and mental health

Common orders associated with MPP include, but not limited to:

• lifting devices operation, inspection, maintenance
• manufacturing specifications
• hazard assessments
• safety training
• lock-out or tag-out
• safeguards
• noise management
• maintenance and operation of tools, equipment and machinery

Scope and timing

The MPP Inspection Program will take place between January 2021 to December 2021.

The Service Sector Program will support Alberta’s OHS Prevention Initiative by using an evidence-based approach to developing an intervention strategy for both high-risk industries and associated employers.

Based on the 2019-20 employer index and the high population of vulnerable workers through labour market impact assessment (LMIA) data, the following industries are identified for inspection in 2021-22:

• restaurant and catering
• trucking services
• food and convenience stores
• hotels and convention centres

Vulnerable workers represent a high-risk segment of the working population due to language barriers, and working in industries with repetitive motions resulting in greater risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

The program will work with employers and workers to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities and to proactively address health and safety concerns, while focusing compliance activities on promoting the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).

OHS will work with the partnering agencies to ensure a collaborative and consistent approach.

Common hazards associated with identified industries include:

• psychological injuries
• musculoskeletal injuries
• harassment and workplace violence
• repetitive motions
• working alone
• slips and trips
• improper or lack of worker training
• English as a Second Language

Typical orders issued within service sectors that employ vulnerable workers include, but not limited to:

• hazard assessments
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training
• safety training
• violence and harassment in the workplace

Scope and timing

The Service Sector Inspection Program will take place between January 2021 to December 2021.

The Select Employer Program’s objective is to use a risk-based approach to selecting employers for proactive inspections. These inspections focus on raising the awareness of the internal responsibility system.

Common hazards associated include:

• psychosocial hazards, including workplace violence and harassment
• musculoskeletal disorders due to repetitive use
• overexertion and heavy lifting
• slips, trips and falls

Typical orders issued within Select Employer include, but not limited to:

• entrances, walkways, stairways and ladders
• fall protection – all sections
• general safety precautions
• housekeeping
• lifting and handling loads
• violence and harassment
• WHMIS
• safety training

Scope and timing

The Selected Employer Inspection Program will take place between January 2021  to December 2021.

Healthcare forms a WCB group sector that includes 8 subsectors:

• Alberta Health Services
• Covenant Health
• private medical and physiotherapy centres
• home support services
• rehabilitation services for disabled
• seniors’ supportive living and lodges
• continuing care facilities
• health care services and other providers

The program will work with employers and workers to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities and to proactively address health and safety concerns, focusing compliance activities on promoting the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).

Common hazards associated with healthcare include:

• exposure to harmful substances, including COVID-19 and harmful medications
• psychosocial hazards, including workplace violence, harassment, fatigue and mental health
• musculoskeletal disorders due to repetitive use, overexertion and heavy lifting
• slips, trips and falls

Common orders associated with healthcare include, but not limited to:

• violence and harassment policies, plan and training
• hazard assessment completion and worker participation
• fit testing for an effective facial seal on respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
• training on lifting and handling loads to prevent musculoskeletal injury
• WHMIS
• general safety training and communication

Scope and timing

The Healthcare Inspection Program will take place between January 2021 to December 2021.

Mining forms a WCB group sector that includes 11 subsectors including mobile equipment operation, mining and overburden removal, oil sands operations, cement and limestone manufacturing, including quarrying.

Four distinct mining environments have been identified for inclusion: oil sands, coal, quarries, and sand and gravel operations.

The program will work with employers and workers to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities and to proactively address health and safety concerns, focusing compliance activities on promoting the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).

Common hazards associated with mining include:

• equipment operations, loss of equipment control
• maintenance activities, contact with machinery, equipment and tools
• worker competency, fit for duty
• environmental hazards, exposure to dust and fumes
• ground stability hazards, impacts by ground failures
• blasting hazards, access to explosives
• automation of mining equipment such as haul trucks

Typical orders issued within these industry sectors include, but not limited to:

• mining
• fire and explosion hazards
• hazard assessments
• general safety precautions
• entrances, walkways, stairways and ladders
• safeguards
• personal protective equipment
• chemical and biological hazards, and harmful substances

Scope and timing

The Mining Inspection Program will take place between January 2021 to December 2021.