OHS regulations consultation

Overview

An Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Working Albertans was passed in December 2017. The act amended and updated the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act so workers benefit from safe, fair and healthy workplaces that are respectful and free from harassment and violence.

The new OHS Act, which takes effect June 1, 2018, requires:

• employers and supervisors to take reasonable steps to protect workers from harassment and violence and to investigate incidents
• workers to refrain from participating in harassment and violence

The act also makes it mandatory for:

• worksites with 20 or more workers to have a joint work site health and safety committee
• worksites with 5 to 19 workers to have a worker health and safety representative

Public engagement

Before the OHS Act takes effect, Albertans had an opportunity to share their ideas on specific rules that need to be developed and added to the OHS regulations regarding:

• harassment and violence in the workplace
• establishment, training requirements and operations of the joint committees

The period for feedback on the new regulations closed on April 9, 2018.

Outcomes

Your feedback was considered as we develop new regulations to help ensure safe, fair and healthy workplaces that are respectful and free from harassment and violence.

The new OHS regulations came into effect on June 1, 2018.

Learn more:

• Health and safety committees and representatives
• Workplace harassment and violence prevention plans