Jan-Feb 2018
Municipal Safety News
" Safety is not easy, and it is not just common sense … it is a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all things and the subsequent consequences of our actions or inactions. "
– Jim Moroney, Executive Director of AMHSA
Message from Jim Moroney, Executive Director
As many of you are aware, the Alberta Government recently made a number of changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health & Safety legislation. AMHSA is committed to helping you and your organization address these new compliance requirements, most of which will come into effect on June 1, 2018.

As your health and safety association, we are working on programs that will assist your municipality in the implementation of this new legislation. The new OHS legislation covers a broad range of topics that focus on the rights of workers and the responsibilities of various worksite parties. Joint Worksite Health and Safety Committees (JWSHSC), formally Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSC), will now become an important instrument in an organization’s health and safety program. 

This new requirement ensures that supervisors and workers discuss health and safety issues in the workplace as well as collaboratively work to address those issues. Larger employers (20 or more workers) will be required to have a JWSHSC for work lasting 90 days or more. Smaller employers (5-19 workers) will be required to have a Health and Safety Representative for work lasting 90 days or more. AMHSA has already begun the process of revising our courses to address the changes with Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committees (JWSHSC) being the first course that has been revised.  

On October 17 2017, three lives were lost as a result of an ammonia release at recreational facility in Fernie, BC. To address the concerns stemming from this incident, the Alberta Government has been inspecting indoor skating and hockey arenas throughout Alberta. Their goals are to ensure that these facilities are in compliance with OHS laws and are following the recommended safe work practices and procedures with respect to the handling of ammonia. 

To assist our members, AMHSA has established an Ammonia Best Practices Committee which was formally kicked off on January 23 via a teleconference. It is our goal to provide support to our members by creating resources that will help identify and mitigate the risks associated with the use of ammonia in recreational facilities. AMHSA is currently in the process of developing ammonia-focused checklist and guidelines, which are expected to be available within the next 30 days.  

In addition, AMHSA has created a Lawn Mower and Trimming Best Practices Committee due to two Alberta municipal fatalities in 2017 that were related to the operation and maintenance of riding lawnmowers. Ken Glubish has been assigned as AMHSA’s Special Project Team Lead on both of these initiatives. Ken joins AMHSA with over 30 years’ experience as a safety professional, with almost 18 of those in the municipal sector. 

If you are interested in being involved in either or both of these committees, please contact Terri Filipski at terri@amhsa.net . 

If you have not already reviewed the OHS changes, you may do so by clicking on this link:

Jim Moroney IHT, BSC, CRSP, CSP
Executive Director
AMHSA Announcements

AMHSA is proud to announce our new classroom and online courses:
New Classroom Course: Drug Awareness (AMHSA Special Presentation)
AMHSA is now offering Drug Awareness – This half-day classroom-based course designed to provide information and knowledge about drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace. 
Recommended for supervisors, managers, health and safety representatives, human resources professionals, joint worksite health and safety committee members, etc.


Locations scheduled for 2018:

  • February 27 – Calgary
  • March 13 – Leduc/Nisku
  • June 6 – Calgary
  • September 13 – Leduc

Please call 1-877-537-9063 to register
New Classroom Course: Asbestos and Mould Awareness
This half-day, classroom-based Asbestos and Mould Awareness Course is designed to help individuals understand the various processes and procedures used to safely work with these materials in the workplace. It is not intended to replace the required two-day Alberta government approved asbestos abatement course for workers working directly with asbestos or entering restricted areas. The course covers health hazards associated with exposures and reviews the wide variety of control measures that are used to safely manage different situations. Recommended for anyone working with or near asbestos and mould. 

New Classroom Course: CRSP Exam Preparation Workshops
(Available spring 2018)
The objectives of this two-day classroom course is to (1) describe the CRSP Examination format; (2) describe each of the nine competency categories; (3) identify your competency strengths and weaknesses within each category; and (4) prepare your personal study plan in preparation for the examination. 

Effective July 1, 2018 , eligibility for this course is (1) a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (four year) in any field or a two-year diploma/certificate (minimum 900 hours or 60 credits) in OHS or a closely-related field from a recognized academic institution; and (2) at least four years of experience where OHS is at least 50% preventative, professional level with breadth and depth of health and safety duties.

  • Cost to members: Approx. $500 + GST
  • Cost to non-members: Approx. $699 + GST
New Classroom Course: Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committees
(Revised from Joint Health and Safety Committees)
This half-day classroom-based course is intended to help ensure supervisors and workers discuss health and safety issues in the workplace and collaboratively work to find ways to address them. Note: This course has been updated to reflect new Alberta legislation.

New Classroom Course: Mental Health First Aid
This is a two-day, evidence-based course for staff and managers to assist with building a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. When completed, a certificate by the Mental Health Commission of Canada will be provided. 

New Online Course: CRSP Examination Preparation Workshop
(Available March 2018)
The objectives of this online course is to (1) describe the CRSP Examination format; (2) describe each of the nine competency categories; (3) identify your competency strengths and weaknesses within each category; and (4) prepare your personal study plan in preparation for the examination.

Effective July 1, 2018 , eligibility for this course is (1) a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (four year) in any field or a two-year diploma/certificate (minimum 900 hours or 60 credits) in OHS or a closely-related field from a recognized academic institution; and (2) at least four years of experience where OHS is at least 50% preventative, professional level with breadth and depth of health and safety duties.

  • Cost to members: Approx. $400 + GST
  • Cost to non-members: Approx. $599 + GST
New Online Course: Chlorine Safety
Chlorine is a dangerous chemical that must be used with caution. This chemical has caused many incidents where people were exposed to chlorine resulting in hospital visits (many with serious lung injuries) and some even dying from the exposure. This course will help you to recognize the physical hazards, identify the health hazards, identify the exposure controls to protect, and how to respond to a chlorine spill or release.

New Online Course: Walking on Icy Surfaces
Icy surfaces are a lot more dangerous than they look. This online course is designed to provide you with strategies for preventing slip and fall injuries on ice. You will gain valuable knowledge on how ice forms, where it accumulates, and the dangers you could face if you’re not prepared

New Online Equipment Operator Courses:
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.

Joint Northern and Southern Alberta Safety Council
  • Date: April 12, 2018
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: County of Paintearth Office (invitations and details to follow in March)
  • Breakfast snacks and lunch are provided free of charge for our members

Northern Alberta Safety Council
  • Date: September 13, 2018
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: Town of Stony Plain - Heritage Park Building, Spruce Grove Hall, Main Floor, 5100 41 Ave, Stony Plain (invitations and details to follow in August)
  • Breakfast snacks and lunch are provided free of charge for our members

Southern Alberta Safety Council
  • Date: September 27, 2018
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: Town of Cochrane - 101 Ranche House Road Conference Centre (invitations and details to follow in August)
  • Breakfast snacks and lunch are provided free of charge for our members

Alberta Cities Safety Council
  • Date: June 5, 2018
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: City of Red Deer- C201/202, Building 300, Civic Yards, 7721 40 Avenue, Red Deer (invitations and details to follow in May)
  • Breakfast snacks and lunch are provided free of charge for our members

To learn more information about our Safety Council Meetings, please click here .
Audit Dispatch
2017 was a busy year for AMHSA’s COR department! 

We participated in several Certifying Partner committees, revised two courses (Health and Safety Management Systems and Health and Safety Auditing), and re-wrote our Audit Refresher course materials. We also launched a new Excel audit workbook based on the 2016 Audit Standard, began work on an updated eCompliance audit tool, conducted an auditor survey, delivered seven Auditor Updates, and shared more than 40 auditing tips through AMHSA’s Facebook page. The audit team also conducted quality assurance reviews on more than 120 COR Certification, COR maintenance, auditor qualification, and baseline audits. 

Our training focus was on updating existing auditors on the new standards and audit workbook, and we trained 120 previously-certified auditors across the province to prepare them for mandatory use of the new tool by January 1, 2019. 

Our audit analysts are busy finalizing reviews of 2017 audits at this time with a goal of having all audits processed by the end of February, 2018. If this goal is met, all of our participating employers will receive their associated PIR refunds in the WCB’s first cheque-run, scheduled for May. 

Early in 2018, we will be distributing the annual letters to participating CAOs, which detail PIR responsibilities and confirm status in the program (e.g., type of audit required in 2018, deadlines). An auditor update, which will include report-writing tips, training opportunities, and upcoming deadlines, will also be distributed by email.

If you have questions related to the Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) program, the Certificate of Recognition (COR), Small Employer COR, or the schedule of upcoming courses, please contact our Sherwood Park office at 1 800 267-9764.
OHS Report
Occupational Health and Safety Changes
The Occupational Health and Safety Act establishes the minimum standards for healthy and safe workplaces in Alberta. These laws are supported through the internal responsibility system and enforced through compliance activities.

Much has changed since the OHS system was enacted in 1976.

Most of the changes will come into effect June 1, 2018.

To see the specific changes to the legislation, please click here .
Upcoming Events
March 12-16, 2018:
Banff Park Lodge,
222 Lynx St,
Banff, AB
March 19-21, 2018:
Shaw Conference Centre,
Edmonton, AB
April 4 -6, 2018:
Sheraton Hotel
Red Deer, AB
April 9-10, 2018:
Hyatt Regency,
Vancouver, BC
April 15-18, 2018:
Banff Park Lodge,
Banff, AB
September 5-7, 2018:
Medicine Hat, AB
Details TBA
September 16-19, 2018:
People, Purpose, & Passion: The Pathway to OHS Success
Niagara Falls, Ontario

September 26-28, 2018:
Westerner Park,
Red Deer, AB

December 2018:
AMHSA is proud to co-host RUSA's
Red Deer Sheraton Hotel,
Red Deer, AB
February 21-22, 2019:
Facing Forward
Edmonton, AB
Register for AMHSA Courses
Did you know - AMHSA offers the option of online courses customized for groups?

Contact our Corporate Office for more information and for a list of approved courses!
To request or register for a course, please contact our Corporate Office.

Want more info? Check out our FAQ or email safety@amhsa.net .