Municipal Safety News
"Safety isn't expensive. It's priceless." -
Jerry Smith (R&G Transportation Inc.)
OHS Report
Alberta Labour

Latest News on Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee.

Do you need a joint work site health and safety committee or health and safety representative on multiple sites? Click here to see the latest OHS information for employers and prime contractors.

Other resources available from Alberta OHS: https://www.alberta.ca/ohs-changes.aspx

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

As you are aware, effective October 17, 2018 cannabis consumption has become legalized in Alberta and across Canada. Health Canada will be responsible for the licensing of cannabis in Canada, while in Alberta, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) will be responsible for the oversight of private retailers, distribution and online sales of cannabis.

Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association (AMHSA) has a membership group that includes villages, towns, cities and municipal districts. With this new cannabis legislation in place, you may receive inquiries and how it relates to WCB-Alberta from employers or potential employers who will be operating a cannabis business within their jurisdiction.

With legislation in effect as of October 17, 2018, any employer who becomes involved in a business activity in the cannabis industry in Alberta, whether it be involved with growing, retail sales, distribution or producing capsules/oils, etc., it will be compulsory for each employer who employs workers to have WCB-Alberta coverage for their business operations.

If any of you receive inquiries from employers who have not set up a WCB-Alberta policy, you should inform these employers to contact WCB-Alberta within 15 days of hiring their first worker to ensure the appropriate coverage is in place to cover their business operations.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact me at 780-498-7544 or email
jerry.devlin@wcb.ab.ca.

For more information, please visit WCB's website.
AMHSA Announcements
CRSP Online Course Update

For those of you who need to take the CRSP prep course, please note that AMHSA's CRSP online course will be available on December 30! Call us for more information at 1-877-537-9063 or check out the link to the Online Training section on our website and type in CRSP in the search box. Visit our online training webpage!
Ammonia and Other Toxic Gases in Arenas

Your municipality may find our Ammonia and Other Toxic Gases in Arenas: Safety Guidelines for Municipal Arena Operations in Alberta helpful in ensuring your arenas are safe.

You can find this guide, an arena inspection checklist, and an environmental release sample template in AMHSA’s SafetyNet Library on our website by clicking here .
AMHSA is happy to announce that our new First Responder Wellness Program is now released and the following courses are available:

  • ICS 100 Online course now available - FREE for members. Please call 1.877.537.9063 to get your code for a free session.
  • Wellness Seminar (free) - Please call 1.877.537.9063 for details.
  • Wellness Workshop (1/2 day) - To find out more information please click here.

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

The three elements listed above have been developed with the direct involvement of veteran first responders who understand the mental health risks and challenges faced both on and off shift. Potential participants in this program can include: all organizational members, dispatch, administrative and support staff as well as members of the first responder's family.

If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact AMHSA at 1.877.537.9063.
WHMIS 2015

On December 1, all employers must be fully compliant with the updated federal Hazardous Products Regulation.

Until December 31, save 20% on WHMIS online and WHMIS 2015 refresher courses.

Use coupon code WHMISDEC.
AMHSA's Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee Training Update

AMHSA is currently developing the updated JWSHSC course taking into account all legislative updates. We are applying to the government to become an approved training agency, and we estimate classroom training to be available in late February 2019. Please call us for further updates.
AMHSA's North Office is Moving!

Our North Office will be moving soon in mid-December. This new space will include a training room among other things. Our new address will be: Suite 176, 2755 Broadmoor Blvd., Building B, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 2W7. We appreciate your patience as things are in transition.
Audit Dispatch
Remember – all COR audits are due December 1 st . The only audits that should be submitted to AMHSA after that are those for which an extension has already been granted, or those in the limited scope process, or those conducted just for auditor qualification.

In October, the annual auditing survey results were published in an auditor update. We shared what we heard, and what we’re changing as a result. Changes include publishing more frequent auditor updates and the addition of new content including FAQs and interpretation of new audit tool questions. We are also committing to shortening our initial QA turnaround time for COR maintenance audits to 35 days. The complete update can be found on our website at: Click here!

In January 2019, the 2018 version of the audit tool will be mandatory for all audits. The Excel tool has already been utilized by several municipal and consultant auditors, and feedback is positive. However, if you encounter challenges as you’re using the excel tool, or have questions about functionality, please email krystal@amhsa.net or call 1-800-267-9764. The eCompliance version of the 2018 audit tool will be available for AMHSA auditor use in January 2019. There is a license key fee of $175 plus tax.

Audit-related training is available in the New Year - Health and Safety Management Systems, Health and Safety Auditing, and Audit Refresher - in both the Calgary and Edmonton areas. Check the website for details as space is limited.

Thank you for your patience as we work through these auditing changes. As always, we appreciate your feedback about our auditing resources and processes.
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.
Joint Northern and Southern Alberta Safety Council
  • Date: April 4, 2019
  • Time: 10 am – 3 pm
  • Location: Camrose County

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

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

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

To learn more information about our Safety Council Meetings, please click here.
45 th Annual Health, Safety & Utility Conference & Trade Show

December 4-6, 2018
Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, AB
December 4, 2018 - Pre-Conference Sessions, including AMHSA's OH&S Legislation Course, Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committees, and equipment operation.

December 5-6, 2018 - Conference highlights include:
  • Welcome from the Government of Alberta and Partnerships in Injury Reduction
  • OHS Compliance Update
  • Sessions regarding safety and utilities, including:
  • Workplace Violence Prevention and Supervisor's Role (AMHSA)
  • Trends in Water and Wastewater
  • Ground Disturbance
  • Equipment Operator Safety
  • Commercial Vehicle Compliance
  • PPE Head to Toe
  • Remote Water Meters
  • Closing Keynote (Olympian Georgette Reed)
  • ...and more!
February 3-8, 2019
AACPO Winter Conference is currently being planned!
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, AB
March 11-12, 2019:
44th Annual Operators Seminar
Banff Park Lodge, Banff, AB
April 3-5, 2019
Annual Conference
Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, AB
April 7-10, 2019
Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, AB
Contact Us
AMHSA Calgary
1-877-537-9063 
AMHSA Sherwood Park
1-800-267-9764