Municipal Safety News
March 2019
Message From Acting Executive Director
As the strategic partner in occupational health and safety excellence for the municipal sector, AMHSA’s team is committed to providing meaningful services and support for our members and stakeholders. Providing quality training and COR support has been a focus of AMHSA since its inception, and this commitment will continue into the future.

Earlier this year, we underwent several organizational changes, and we will continue to evolve in the coming months, increasing our capacity to provide quality resources. As new staff join the team, we will introduce them to you in upcoming newsletters and at member events such as the safety council meetings. Our toll free telephone numbers remain the same – 1.800.267.9764 for the Sherwood Park office and 1.877.537.9063 for the Calgary office. You can also email safety@amhsa.net or audits@amhsa.net .

As Acting Executive Director, I am excited by the partnerships we are forming with organizations such as the Alberta Emergency Management Association, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, the Rural Utilities Safety Association, and several other Certifying Partners in the provincial Partnerships in Injury Reduction program. These partnerships will provide a valuable opportunity for AMHSA to collaborate on future training programs and other beneficial initiatives for Alberta municipalities.

I am also pleased to announce that AMHSA has been invited to participate in the newly-formed provincial Occupational Health & Safety Strategic Steering Committee which will provide direction for the Prevention Initiative for Alberta’s OHS System and oversight of working groups established to develop actions for each of the three priority injuries and diseases: Musculoskeletal disorders; slips, trips and falls; and psychosocial hazards.

Together, we are working to prevent occupational injuries and disease in Alberta, and our commitment to you continues to be AMHSA’s primary focus. 

Shannon Thomas
Acting Executive Director
AMHSA'S New Sherwood Park Office!
First Audit Refresher Course taken in Sherwood Park's new training room!
AMHSA's North Office has moved!

Our Sherwood Park office moved to its new location in late 2018, complete with a training room which will enable us to host more scheduled training in the northern part of the province. We held our first Audit Refresher course in the new space in February, and look forward to hosting many more courses and meetings there in the future.

An Open House even will be announced soon! 

UPDATE - Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committees and Representatives Training
AMHSA has been approved!

We are pleased to announce that we have received government approval of our Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committees and Representatives full-day training course and are currently accepting on-site course requests. Our first two open courses will be held as follows:
 
  • Wed April 10 – Calgary Corporate Office
  • Thur April 18 - Sherwood Park Office
 
PLEASE NOTE:
As a prerequisite to this course, attendees must first take the FREE (approximately two-hour) CCOHS Health and Safety Committees and Representatives course available online. For quick access to that website:
NEW WEBINAR! - Managing Stress In The Workplace
Managing Stress in Alberta Workplaces Webinar

Please join us for our first Lunch 'n Learn Interactive Webinar on May 22 !

With the sweeping changes to the OHS Act, AMHSA has put together a webinar that will discuss the new definition of "health and safety" and the legal duty for employers to take reasonable precautions to protect the psychological, physical, and social well being of workers. This webinar will also touch upon harassment and violence contraventions which have remained in the top five sections of legislation referenced by enforcement officers since June, increasing monthly from 4% in June when the legislation came into force up to 12% in October.

The goal of this seminar is to equip municipal employers, managers, supervisors and OHS advisors with a clear understanding of how the new definition of health and safety in this revised legislation will affect the workplace, how psychological stress impacts business results, and what to do to minimize the risk of stress-related claims and other losses. There will be a Q&A period after the webinar.

This complimentary webinar will be offered to the first 20 member participants who register on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive a certificate of completion and valuable reference materials. In order to register, click on the link below, providing your full name, position, municipality you represent, and your mailing address.


U pon successful registration confirmation, you will receive instructions on how to access the webinar, download the workbook, and information on how to test your internet connection

Audit Dispatch
The municipal sector submitted 115 COR Certification and Maintenance audits in 2018, and the AMHSA team has processed the vast majority of those audits with a few remaining in the revision process at the time of writing. Anticipated timing of PIR refunds from WCB is May 2019 for audits conducted in 2018. If you have questions about the status of your audit or quality assurance review, click here:


Watch your email! An Auditor Update is being distributed the first week of March which will include helpful auditing tips and upcoming audit-related training dates. Our new audit is now available in both Excel and eCompliance formats, and the training has been updated to include both platforms. We have room in our March and June 2019 offerings for Health and Safety Management Systems, Auditing, and Audit Refresher - call Carla Smith at 1.800.267.9764 to register. Note that if your auditor certification number starts with "16," you need to take Refresher training before conducting another audit.

Calling All Safety Instructors
AMHSA is recruiting for Health & Safety Trainers!

AMHSA is currently looking for trainers to teach health and safety classroom courses in both Edmonton and Calgary. If you are experienced and interested in joining our team, please call 587.952.2268.
AMHSA Course Highlight
First Responder Wellness Program

Find out why a retired firefighter who took AMHSA's First Responder Wellness Program thinks "the course is one of the best" he's seen.

This two-part course includes:

  • First Responder Wellness 100 Online course; and

  • Wellness Workshop (half-day)

Developed by AMHSA with the support of the Government of Alberta and direct involvement of veteran first responders, this program is intended to help address the mental health and wellness challenges that first responders face while carrying out their job duties.

This program can include all organizational members, dispatch, administrative and support staff as well as members of the first responder's family.

Please do not hesitate to contact AMHSA at 1.877.537.9063 if you have any questions.
Classroom Courses - Update
AMHSA is pleased to announce that the following classroom courses have been updated to reflect the 2018 legislation:

  • Formal Workplace Inspections
  • Incident Investigation
  • Supervisor's Role
  • Prime Contractor

For booking on-site classroom training:

North locations (north of Red Deer) - Contact Carla at 1.800.267.9764

South locations (Red Deer and south) - Contact Ilze at 1.877.537.9063
Member Spotlight
Rick Demaray Develops Enthusiasm for Wellness at City of Grande Prairie

The City of Grand Prairie's Health Wellness & Safety Coordinator, Rick Demaray, generates enthusiasm for health and wellness among employees by utilizing a variety of innovative incentives. A good example is a contest he developed that asked supervisors and managers to complete an imaginative incident report for Humpty Dumpty who fell from a wall. Rick's initiatives include 18 sessions a year that cover topics employees indicate an interest in, like a hobby pursued outside of work. His team has also partnered with AHS within the City to host a variety of topics, including depression, suicide, and other sensitive subjects.

With the support of the City's leadership team, Rick invites employees to join fitness classes held by a Wellness Committee member who has a passion for fitness. Employees are allowed to attend wellness sessions during work hours. The City pays for one hour of time, and employees contribute an hour of their own time. Rick attributes the success of his initiatives to his team and is always open to new ideas.

Favorite quote: Integrity is key: Do what you say you will do. Always - Rick Demaray

You can find this article in the DiversityCan Magazine , Spring 2018 issue.

Do you have a story to share? If so, we'd love to put you and your municipality in the spotlight! Please contact Terri Filipski .

Municipal Moments
Safety Council Meetings

 All of our municipalities are encouraged to attend our safety council meetings according to the area of Alberta they represent. These meetings are for our members only. Breakfast snacks and lunch are provided free of charge for our members.


Alberta City representatives, Teri Spohr with the WCB, Miranda McLay with Alberta Partnerships, and AMHSA staff at our ACSC meeting in Red Deer in December
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE FOLLOWING DATES:
Joint Northern and Southern Alberta Safety Council
  • Date: April 4, 2019
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: Camrose County
( Information on this meeting has already been emailed. If you did not receive your notice and would like more information, click here to send email)

Alberta Cities Safety Council
  • Date: June 19, 2019
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: City of Airdrie

Northern Alberta Safety Council
  • Date: September 19, 2019
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: Town of Edson

Southern Alberta Safety Council
  • Date: September 24, 2019
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: Town of Sylvan Lake

To learn more information about our Safety Council Meetings, please click here .
OHS & WCB Reports
Alberta Labour

Latest News on OHS information for workers and employers can be found here:


Did you know that Alberta Labour offers a monthly e-newsletter with the latest OHS news and events? Click on button below to view the latest newsletter:
Workers' Compensation Board - Alberta

New president and CEO - Trevor Alexander - joins WCB on March 18. To see more, click here

Recover while you work: Try modified work.

If you or an employee are hurt at work, there may be ways to adjust the job so that work may be continued during recovery. Find out more about modified work:

Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows




 LOOK FOR AMHSA
at the following conferences
and trade shows!
AMHSA representatives, Carla Smith and Rob Rosete, at the 17th Annual Health & Safety Conference in Edmonton

Alberta Water & Wastewater Operators Association 44th Annual Operators Trade Show
March 11 - 12, 2019
Banff Park Lodge, Banff, AB

Come see us at Booth #85
(Upstairs in the Assiniboine Room)

Local Government Administration Association of Alberta's A nnual Conference and Trade Show
April 4, 2019
Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, AB

Come see us at Booth #20

Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel 42nd Trade Show
April 8, 2019
Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, AB

Come see us at Booth #102

Alberta Fire Chiefs Association
72nd Annual Trade Show
May 27, 2019
Stockmen's Pavilion, Westerner Park, Red Deer, AB

Come see us at Booth #311
BC Municipal Safety Association 2nd Annual Joint Conference & Trade Show
September 15-18, 2019
Penticton, BC
(Registration not yet opened)




Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
September 22-25, 2019
RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg, MB
Watch for the full Conference Registration Brochure available online in April, 2019
Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Convention &
Alberta
Municipal Services Corp Trade Show
September 25-27, 2019
Edmonton, AB
Rural Municipalities of Alberta Fall
Convention & Trade Show
November 12-15, 2019
Shaw Convention Centre, Edmonton, AB
Contact Us
AMHSA Calgary
1.877.537.9063 
AMHSA Sherwood Park
1.800.267.9764